Ask Instructor David Barrett

I'm on Level 1, Solo Harmonca Study 1, Ex. 2.1. I've got the shuffle down, but the problem is breathing. My lungs fill up and it doesn't seem like a person can do this shuffle for so long without stopping to let air out. It actually has just one blow note and I'm wondering if people are able to play this shuffle without stopping. 

As an old woodwind player who never had to confront chords, I am most confused.  

I realize you discuss theory in terms of a C harp, but I am generally lost.

1- We discuss the C harp is really played in the key of G as this is the 5th above C.  But we then discuss the root note for the exercise as G but it is played on an A harp in the example.  If its played on an A harp then the root would really be E (5th above A).  So is the exercise really written in E?  But, when I look at the chart, there are no sharps or flats, hence key of C. continue reading...

What is the difference between a chorus compared to a verse ?

A verse is the ' main idea ' that has variations as it is played each time where as a

chorus always stays the same - and is 'that thing/idea' between the verses ?

I was looking at 'I Want You With Me ' and this question came up.

     Thank you for your time

                        Steven Barta

Hi Dave,

I'm currently on Level 2. When we submit study songs for evaluation, at what point in our progression through LOA should we begin to submit the song as a single take, played all the way through, warts and all, rather than breaking up the submission into a sequence of  personal "Best Of" sections, that, in total, cover the entire song?

Kind Regards,

ChuiChui

Hi David, really enjoy the solo harmonica studies. At thye moment i'm learning Quiet World. Once this study has finished, how can I further my studies in this area. Love this style of playing.

Many thanks,

Paul

Hey David, I put this in the general section of the forum but never got any responses. I thought I'd try here..

--

Going through the interviews, I notice some folks who play the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd postion, have never explored the 4th, 5th or 12th positions. Andy Just, for example, says he uses the 2nd and 3rd position often, but has never explored the 5th or 12th positions. 

That makes no sense to me. Isn't the 1st position the same as the 4th, the 2nd same as the 5th and 3rd same as the 12th?

For example, on an G harp:

1st G Maj = 4th E Min  continue reading...

Dave, forgive me but somehow I passed over your video in the beginner series that detailed the basic 3 chords.  Can you please direct me to it?

Thanks

gary

Hi David,

I am having a lot of trouble working on my 1-hole bend. Can you explain how you bend on the first hole? (For instance, do you pucker or tongue block the bend? do you drop your jaw?) I can get most of the other bends but not consistently yet. This one is a definite problem.

Thanks,

Karsten

No matter how hard I try (given I've only been tongue blocking for a few days, albeit obsessively), I cannot seem to make my tongue narrow enough to block holes 2 and 3 and play holes 1 and 4 together. It feels as though the tip of my tongue is too wide. Blocking 3 holes and playing the outside notes works perfectly. Is this a common issue or is it just my genetics?

Hi David, 

Very new to harmonica here. I receieved a month of these lessons for free with the harmonica I purchased. I have loved the lessons so far, but I have faced a problem where my harmonica is in the scale of C, and it seems all the sheet music you have is for a harmonica with an A scale. Will I have to find new lessons or is there a way I can make the sheet music work for a C harmonica?