Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hey David,

In the movement exercises, study 1, you talk about jaw movements. I'm struggling with moving my jaw. It doesn't feel very comfortable move it horizontally. Just wondering how important it is to learn to move the jaw because I'm thinking of just not doing this technique anymore.

David,

When playing holes 1 and 2 draw tongue blocked on "Walk with me," should I play them out of the left side of my mouth on the left of the tongue or should I move my tongue to the left of holes 1 and 2 and play out of the right side of my mouth/to the right of my tongue?  Thanks.

Hello David,

I am new to bluesharmonica.com and after seeing the introduction video I was confused about something.

Can we share the study song with you for feedback only if we pay for every LOA levels? Please let me know

Thanks!

Srinivas 

Hi David,

  Regarding LOA 4, Improv. , Section 6, Homework assignment # 1:

The breakdown is this:

1) AAA - Is this just ONE verse of  a 4 measure lick played 3 times ?

                                               OR continue reading...

Hi, Dave:

Working my way through the Music Theory videos again.

Referencing Ex 1.15 in Music Theory 4, I see that outside tones are the flat 2, the flat 3, the flat 5, and the flat 6. The blues scale uses the flat 3 and flat 5. Is that because the flat 3 and flat 5 both resolve easily to chord tones? continue reading...

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