Ask Instructor David Barrett

Can you bend the notes on a chromatic harmonica. Without selecting the half note by the lever.

I purchased a Marine Band Crossover harmonica in G. I signed up for your lessons and then learned I need an A harmonica. How nice.  Can I postpone this course until I have the correct harmonica?

 Bob Lee

Howdy David,

Just to be sure, the shake technique  uses tongue blocking so you have to move the tongue too. Is my understanding correct?

Thanks,

MG

Hello David,

With the submission material for accompaniment study 6: playing examples 1.2 & 1.6, should I presume to play just one verse with each to Used to be my baby jam track?

Can I also submit the whole song for an appraisal, or should I send that seperate from the LOA 6 submission stuff?

Thanks

Saul 

Hi David! Thanks to the amazing lessons, now I need a good value for money tube amp.

I looked through all your reviews and the forum.

I had decided on the Laney CUB 10, but as it is no longer available, anywhere!

Would you have another recommendation at a similar price? My Mic is the Hohner HB52.

thanks a lot!

Hi David,

Is there a way to download videos when I am offline. I can download mp3 but I could not find any button to click to download your videos. Thanks!

Hello David,

In 3rd chorus, the long held notes at the start of each line last for a whole bar and 3 beats as you say in the video. So the next note is played on the 4th beat right ?

What about the long held note in the 5th chorus, 5 chord ? It's the same length of time but the next note comes a bit earlier right ? It's on the upbeat after 3 ? So same count but start a bit ealier ? Any tips on how to count that ? It's quite challenging for me.

Hi David,

I have come across your videos regarding Pentaharp. It is interesting. Is it made exclusively by Hohner? If I want to explore the capabilities of Pentaharp which key you would recommend to purchase?

On a side note, I understand that whatever you can play on Pentaharp, you can play on a regular diatonic harmonica. Pentaharp is just easier to start jamming as fast as you can get a note out of a harmonica ...

Thanks!

MG

Hi David. How can I find out in which key the song is? Do I have to have a trained ear to hear it? Or just try different harmonicas and hear which sounds better? Is there a more "scientific" approach to know that? Thanks!

Hello David.  I am stumped on the Key Reed uses for "Honest I Do"  (The very Best Of Jimmy Reed) from Ear Training Position study.    It is in First Position and based on my research should be in Key of A however using the C Major Pentatomic Scale it sounds horrible.  The only key that came close was Bb.  Any suggestions?  Thanks, Mic