Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

In working through the exercises I notice the 1/8 notes are grouped in 4's. If they are all 1/8 notes in a bar can they be in groups of 2? Or even a bar across all 8 perhaps?  What makes grouping them in 4's correct or incorrect? 

I am so curious as I'm currently rewriting my first instrumental abd really want to group the 1/8 notes correctly so as not to potentially confuse another musician who 'may' read my work In order to play my instrumental.   Or has read it in your case.....!!!!!

John

Hey David,

In Bar 4 of the 4th Chorus how are you playing that lick? Sluring the splits a bit? Dynamics? 

Thanks,

Mark

Hi David,

I just want to clairify that I have this right.  (Don't want to waste your time listening to an incorrect submission.)

In LOA-L8 Accompaniment Playing Study 8 written submission you assign, "Play at least four different example choruses of how you could present this hook in a song in 2nd Position."

In my mind, "present" means playing it in different ways such as straight one chorus, transposed to match chords on another, in a different octave for a third, with different textures such as octaves, harmonies, etc.

Am I correct? continue reading...

Hi David,

i was looking at the LOA discussion and I noticed you've started listing the LOA level in the post title. Very handy way to see the level without having to open each post. 

As I was looking them over it got me thinking about the distribution of the levels among active and past BH.com members. 

Like in martial arts there tend to be "weeder" levels where progress slows or there is the greatest dropout ratio.  Also there are levels that once reached people tend to go the distance.  continue reading...

Hi David,

I'm a total newby and when I bought a Special 20, I didn't realize there were different keys of harmonicas. Well, turns out I ordered the key of D. From what I gather, the key of C is best for a beginner. So, I bought a Blues Band 1501 in the key of C. Did I just compound my mistake by buying a "cheap" harmonica that some say is harder to bend than one in the class of my Special 20? I want to play blues and learn right the first time so what should I do? Buy a Marine Band A like you use in the lessons?

Thanks for your time,

-Ron

ron1776@gmail.com continue reading...

David: continue reading...

Level 1 player, I can produce tone now on all 10 holes so new I not even tried bending yet "newbee" the question is that

I have tried exe.1.1 octaves and I can switch from holws 1 ,4 by switching my tongue but I CAN NOT PLAY OCTAVES TOGETHER.

at all, does this reflect BAD single note technique, I'm worried that even though I can make a tone on the holes I'm not doing it 

correctly could be just wired technihe,I have the felisko tb and it helps but it's  not definitive it seems to cover 3 holes but it continue reading...

I've got a song I've been playing that I figured out simply by humming the notes and pitch matching on my harmonica.  While I know that I'm on an A harmonica I'm not sure if I'm playing in the key of A or the Key of E (or honestly another key, i.e. 3rd, 4th... etc).  I'm thinking that its probably the key of A (1st position) but I really don't know how to tell.  I want to find someone who can accompany me on a piano, but I need to be able to tell them where I'm at. continue reading...

Hi David

Today I got a Filisko tongue block trainer and saw that I am not using my tongue as you do. I am blocking holes to either side of the hole I am playing. I suppose with a sort of u shaped tongue. To my ear this gives quite a nice dirty sound to a four slap for instance with 5 sounding initially but it explains my poor and hissy bent tone as I think i start to cover some of the hole.

Is this a recognised form of tongue blocking with advantages and disadvanatges or is it an abberration all of my own? continue reading...

Hello David,

Long time musician re-cooping from hand surgery by learning harmonica. Can you explain what the "+" in the tab mean (Lesson 1, Ex1.1)?

Thanks,

Bill