Ask Instructor David Barrett

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

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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?

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?

Hi David, I have been playing the harmonica for a little while now and have always puckered, tongue blocking was in the too hard basket and I tended to give up trying to get the hang of it. With your lessons though I am giving it a serious go now, what I have found is that the 2&5 draw  is just not happening. I get nothing out of the 2 draw, I know I am in the right place because 2&5 blow is fine. It has to be my technique but I am at a loss as to what I am doing wrong so therefore cannot begin to correct it. Any help would really be appreciated. continue reading...

Im putting in the hours to improve and I am doing so.  My technique is much improved.  I am not doing well in replicating the tone you demonstrate on the videos.  This is mostly apparent on the draw tone.  For example 2, 3, 4 draw.  

What are your recommendations for improving on this weakness?  Is it possibly somewhat instument related?  Im playing a Hohner Blue Midnight.  Im betting you play some very sophisticated harps. continue reading...

Hi David, Yesterday I purchased my first harmonica - the Special 20, C (as advised by the store owner). But as your lessons appear to be around the use of an A harmonica, do I need to buy an A harmonica or will I still be ok using the C? I thought this might be a common problem but couldnt find any other similar questions in my search, so apologies if this has been addressed before. Thanks!

Dear teacher

After learning accompaniment 3, I try to analize previous songs chords notes. Everything match but when I arrive to Blues Creepin something is different. Bar 11 of verse 1-2-and solo is I-IV. Not verse 3

I understand you start with a note of Chord 1 and pass over Chords 4 whit 1 or 2 notes.

this new 12 bars structure only arrive whit blues brake song?

Can we say its a more longuer turnaround?

Why tha last verse 3 dont have (IV) notation inside bar 11?

thank you