Ask Instructor David Barrett

Dear David,

in the instruction video about positions, you say that the second position a fifth up the scale of the harmonica (so when 1st position is A, 2nd is E, when 1st is C, second is G). However, in your position chart (http://www.bluesharmonica.com/sites/bluesharmonica.com/files/private/Pos...), all the second positions seem te be up only 4 (so when 1st is A, is says that 2nd position is D). Is this a mistake, or am i missing out on something?

With kind regards, René

Hello David, I am having trouble with my 5 hole draw note on my A harmonica.   I am using the harp nija on my iphone and when I am playing I only get a C# instead of the D I should be getting?  I took it apart and found nothing stuck in the reeds.  Is there anything I can do or should I just grab anothe A harp? 

Thank You

David Saccucci

Hello David, I am having trouble with my 5 hole draw note on my A harmonica.   I am using the harp nija on my iphone and when I am playing I only get a C# instead of the D I should be getting?  I took it apart and found nothing stuck in the reeds.  Is there anything I can do or should I just grab anothe A harp? 

Thank You

David Saccucci

Dave I am beginning to practice the C major scale - I noticed that your 7+ C note in music tabulature that should fallout on the staff, actually corresponds to the 10+ C note - which is situated over the top of the staff, an octave higher. continue reading...

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.