Ask Instructor David Barrett

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.

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