Ask Instructor David Barrett

I think I know what you are going to say anyway, but I'll ask :)

On LOA4 using the pull technique, (although I understand and can do the actual technique as described), I have found I get the same musical effect by using the very back of my throat like a cough reflex. Like a vibrato but actually closing the throat.  Is this a legitimate way to achieve the same thing, or is there some musical disadvantage to doing it this way? 

Thanks

Hi

I can not high speed train. Is there a special articulation? Speed as Palmer McAbee. Thanks

Hey David,

When playing through my amp I notice that some notes jump out. To be clear i mean that they seem to stand out from the rest...louder. I looked through your amp videos and did'nt catch any discussion on this. Why would/could this be? and how to correct this? is this normal when playing amplified and the player adjust for this? I do not hear this when playing acoustic. Amp? Element? Technique?

Thanks in advance,

Mark

Ive seen a few of the top harp players (James Cotton and more) play live and the most noticable thing I see is the cheeks of these guys going in and out like a bellows.  They go from a fully expanded pair of cheeks as to noticable sucked in look on the sides.  Its a massive amout of movement.

Im still a beginner (but improving).  Is this something to be emulated by beginners?  I still do not not get a very good or rich sound.  I have not yet worked on any bending.

Should I be working on this?

Gary K

Hi David, continue reading...

David:

I've looked all through Lessons 1-3 to find the page you did on scales. I'm feeling a need to better understand and more so, learn and memorize the different scales, i.e., Blues, Pentatonic, etc. As you can tell, I'm sort of jumping a bit, back and forth and all around Lessons 1-3 (mostly 1 and 2 still). Didn't I see one practice page that had the different scales on it? Or was that in a dream somewhere. Heaven knows that would be possible, as I'm putting in about 9-10 hours a week on harmonica. Family says they're noticing a difference. That's a good thing! :) continue reading...

David, continue reading...

Fox Chase Lost John. Lesson is unavailable? Thanks.

http://www.bluesharmonica.com/fox_chase_lost_john_joe_filisko

David:

In Submission #7 Part 4: Masking the Harp: Holes 1-6 and High End   Submission #7 Part 4: Masking the Harp: Holes 1-6 and High End are you and Gary Smith playing with a C harmonica? I'm trying to get that 9 blow, 9 draw, 8 draw, 8 blow, 7 draw, 7 blow, 7 draw, 6draw, 6 blow riff down. continue reading...

 Dave, accompaniment 2 song...I Want You With Me... Where the song calls for 3+, should I replace it with a 2D if I'm getting a decent sound from 2D? It's not as good a sound as my 3+ but I was thinking I should incorporate the 2D instead to eventually get more proficient and a better sound. At the same time I don't want to jump ahead of myself but feel if I don't continually use the 2D I'll never get better at it.