Ask Instructor David Barrett

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.

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...