Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David continue reading...

I've learnt how to tongue block to produce single notes and looked into bending. In all of the videos people talk about pulling the tongue back or away in order to open the air stream and produce the lower pitch. How can you tongue block for the one note if it is necessary to pull the tongue away to bend?

I've learnt how to tongue block to produce single notes and looked into bending. In all of the videos people talk about pulling the tongue back or away in order to open the air stream and produce the lower pitch. How can you tongue block for the one note if it is necessary to pull the tongue away to bend?

Hi David,

I'm putting together an instrumental for LOA 6. I'm using a backing track which is in the key of E but my A harmonica needs repairing. I was therefore going to use my Bb harmonica and play in the key of F. So using the AMD do I taking the backing track up by half a semitone.

Have a great christmas and thankyou for all your support this year.

Regards,

Paul

 David... Can a student send in songs/song studies we are working on as we progress? In other words as a beginner can I send in music every 2-3 weeks or so for evaluation/constructive criticism? Would it be considered part of our monthly membership to have this done?

I am about to learn the study song "Blues for Paul deLay" which is played on a low F harmonica. But I have a hard time finding a low f harmonica. The Hohner Thunderbird seems nice but also quite expensive, is it worth its price (around 100$ here)?. I like Hohner Marine Band Deluxe, but it seems like the low f isn't sold anymore? Any advices? I'm not so fond of the Lee Oskars I got.

David... Just to give myself a realistic time frame.. Starting December 20, 2015 when is a realistic date a beginner should be ready to turn in his audio after practicing for 1hr a day?

I was playing around with garage band and put in the song walk with me.  It seemed fast at 120bpm.  Is that the correct bpm? I was just trying to playaround and try recoding.  

Thank you.

David Saccucci

Dave, is the 'Tramp' groove track you and Gary Smith play to in the Contributors section anywhere on this website? If not where would one look?

HI David, I keep noticing my 6 draw seems to stick, but I only seems to happen when i'm coming up from the 5 draw or  coming down from the the 7 draw, so It seems less of a harmonica issure and more an issure with my technique. Not sure how to fix it though.