Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

how are you? I hope all fine

Yesterday i signed up to your course. Considering i m starting now for the first time to play by harmonica, and considering i am a Bob Dylan fun....which key(A-C-D ecc) i should buy ??

Thanks a lot

Filippo

Hi David,

how are you? I hope all fine

Yesterday i signed up to your course. Considering i m starting now for the first time to play by harmonica, and considering i am a Bob Dylan fun....which key(A-C-D ecc) i should buy ??

Thanks a lot

Filippo

Good Evening David,

Just wondering, is there any reason you don't go through the ABC chorus form when applying licks from the study songs. If we do have to, have you any tips that we should follow. To present, I have only applied licks to the chorus forms as specified in the section Improvising, Applying the chorus forms.

Many Thanks for your help,

Paul

Hi David,

First thank you for the quality of the teaching. I'm on on one month trial lesson but will certainly go on :)

I'm absolute beginner with the proper way of tongue playing harmonica (am a Bb horn player).

I purchased C, A, and Bb Special 20 models. I started Lesson one (LOA) and enjoy the learning. Now as days go, we are more and more aware about what can be done. I watched with great interest video Getting to Know Your Harmonica (Harp Tech Study 1). continue reading...

Hi David,

Thanks for the great lessons. I'm reviewing the Bending Study 2 study song at the moment, though I follow higher levels as well but I want to get back to the good basics in terms bending.

I was a modest pucker player. Then, I found your method and practiced hard to switch to tongue blocking according to your advice. Not easy but indeed, very important and opens a range of possibilities. continue reading...

Would you please explain why my draw notes sound terrible- raspy and snarled? Thank you.

Hello David,  I have been working on "No Sweat" the level one chromatic song.   I am having difficulty with getting my notes to sound loud enough.  (I am working on chorus 2).  I realized today that on almost all the one draw notes I am opening my nose.  So I pinched my nose while playing and I notice a dramatic volume gain( especially in bar 7 on the 1 2 2+  11+11).  I have been trying to not open my nose, but it seems to be a natrual reaction.  Any tricks, advice on how to stop this?  or why I am doing this?  

  continue reading...

I am currently  on LOA 3, so you may explain this in future lessons.

Regarding playing though the chords (I7 = G,B,D ,F, IV7 = C,E,G,Bb, V7 – D,F#, A , C ) .

I use the sound track ‘ I want you with me ‘….When I play on the I7 chord….I do not feel it sounds continue reading...

Fuschia here.  I've been blowing harp awhile, but am now going through all the levels of achievement.  One problem that I have is clogging the harp with my spit when I play-I know yuk.  Do you have some suggestions that I can start working on to overcome this problem?

Hello David.I really liked the performance training 2 (grooves) lesson. The idea of telling the band a song that they can relate to is awesome. Like the "mojo" example. It would be great to have a list of songs, one for each groove. With one like that we cold understand better the grooves and it wold be great for jam communication. Do you think you can pic some songs and create a list like that? Sorry to bother. Beast regards.