Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi, What action is played boogie woogie? + tongue blocking. I got lost in school. Thanks

Hi Dave

Is there a place in your lessons/interviews where you discuss the side to side "trill" tonguing technique(as opposed to Big Walter off and on) that LW and Kim Wilson do?

Hello, I can now play all the different sections for level 2 and I want to start recording myself to see where I need to improve and work on.  I just had one quick question about the accompaniment section.  I really enjoy this song so i will probably play around and record the whole thing. For the level 2 test submission is it only ex 1.12?

Thank you. 

Have a great weekend. 

David Saccucci

Hi David,

I have been on the site for 4 or 5 months now and I've learned much. With regard to draw bends I find I can easily bend all the drae notes but there is a problem. It seems that I can only get the bends down to within a half step of their full range. This is especially problematic on the 2 and 3 draw. I have yet to get the 5 draw to ben at all.

I use special 20 and marine band for practice.  Is the problem with me or could it be because the factory specs are not as tight as they should be for proper bending?

Thank You for your advice.

Regards, continue reading...

Hi, David. How much BPM, track Walk With Me. Thanks.

You can play the diatonic Hohner and Seventh chord, thanks.

I have a questions on Chording ex 1.2

When I do the 123 draw cord and move to the +234 blow cord, am I to do a tongue block on the 1 hole when blowing the +234 cord?  I can get it to sound like your examples but just want to make sure I am learning the proper technique.

By the way I can tongue block single notes very well as I started learning that way.  Just never really worked much on cords until now.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Dave,

I was wondering the reason why C and E are not among the focus notes. Couldn’t they be used when starting the IV chord during a solo? I suspected maybe focus notes are meant to be used when starting a new chorus only, but still curious.

Thank you.

From a practical playing standpoint, what keys should I be able to blow bend? I would think that an A harmonica would be the upper limit for practical purposes. Anything above that would probably be too shrill (and really difficult to accurately hit).

If I can master the blow bends up to an A, should I be satisfied with that?

What harmonica should be used to play with a guitarist playing in D Minor?