Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi, Dave:

In a song like "Highway 59" or "Cleo's Mood", the band breaks on bar 12. How should a soloist treat these areas (during an extended solo)? I can imagine using this area to buildup to the next chorus, but I think that maintaining a beat or two of silence (along with the band) might be effective. How does a top level pro like David Barrett approach this type of song?

"The Tub", Chorus 3, contains several phrases that move in half steps on the 3 hole. I'm looking at bars 3, 6, and 9. Though you haven't notated slurring these notes, it sounds better to me that way. Do you prefer students to learn it with or without slurring the notes?

Hope you're feeling fine!

Hi David,

I'm not sure if i'm hearing right, but it sounds to me that for example where there is a 3 draw dip followed by a Bb (As in chorus 1, bar 12 V chord), there is no dip on the 3 draw just a draw 3 followed by the Bb. Am I hearing incorrectly.

Many Thanks,

Paul

The 3 Draw on any G Harmonica I have is difficult to play.  I've watched your video on 3 Draw issues, but even when I can play the 3 Draw, and move to 4 Blow, when I return to 3 Draw I get an airy or high pitched noise again.  What do I need to do differently?

I'm curious to know what the intended progression/flow is for the lessons.  For example I'm certianly a beginner to the tongue block technique so I'm starting at lesson 1.  Lesson one has 3 main study areas: tongue block, solo study, and music theory.  It doesn't appear that there is any real order with those areas, is that correct?  Same with the rest of the lessons? continue reading...

Hi David,

When performing the 3 draw half step bend with dip, does the dip start at the 3 draw whole step bend then go back up to the half step bend.

Regards,

Paul

Hi David,

My question involves the slap attack on pairs of eighth notes, specifically in the LOA7 test example 5.2

As I listen,  think I am hearing you slap only the first note in each pair.  Is that correct?

Thanks,

-Steve

Good Afternoon David,

Whenever I see 4/4  time, do I always set my MT-60 to 76 bpm, or is

it 80 bpm? 

thank you for your help..

Patsy

David:I am a little confused regarding the tongue block pull notation used in the V-IV-I transition licks of Improvising Study 4.   In Example 11, over the V-chord, the notation shows 4-draw on the downbeat followed by a pull on the upbeat, where the pull is notated as involving all the notes of the chord (1234).  However, in Example 12, the notation for the pull following the first 4-draw shows only three notes of the chord (123). Can you explain the difference in notation/technique?

Hi David,

I've picked up a free month trial on the 31st of December after buying a Big River Harp on key of C. After 2 days on intense training, I'm in paternity leave for 5 weeks so got tons of time on ym hand in between each diapers change, I went and baught a Special 20 in A key to start the main lessons in the hopes of following the LOA program and subscribe after my free month trial.

  continue reading...