Ask Instructor David Barrett

I am a beginner harmonica player. I have looked at tongue blocking on your website and undertand what to practice. On the movement patterns i have watched the videos and also understand what to practice. My question is: What technique do we use to play a single note on the harmonica? Is it simply a pucker?I have been playing guitar and reading music for more than 10 years. My other question is in the A major scale there are 3 sharps- C, F, G the videos that I have watched do not say anyting about that.

Thanks

Stan

Hello David,

I just started last week on yout site. I have no experience at all in makeing music till now. And as a very beginner I have a few questions, so far:

1. Do i have to be able to read musical note's to follow the lessons.

2. Ik read on almost every site that a C harmonica is the best for beginners, so I baught a Hohner Special 20 C.Is it possible to follow the lessons with that harmoniva instead of an A Harmonca?  

WIth greetings,

Martin van den Brink

Haarlem

The Netherlands

  continue reading...

Hi David! I'm a beginner player from Brazil. Having lot's  o fun with The Levels-of-achievement. I'm maneging to play you favorite pattern (1.12), but at The transition end of four / repeat I went "out ou gas" (too many draws). Could tou give me some help? 

Hi Dave, 

Having received my vintage shure 520 green bullet with controlled magnetic element from Dennis Gruenling yesterday, which sounds fantastic with my windy city 10 plus,  I have dragged my bassman into the lounge to try the mic through it tomorrow (it's evening here now). I also thought I could break in the speakers as it hasn't had many hours use,  by hooking up my phone and playing music through it . Should I have it on any particular settings to get the best results or is it simply the small movement of the cone that does the job.? continue reading...

Good Morning Dave.  I trust you are doing well.  Relative to Ear Training 1, Section 3- More Exercises, do you have support material on the song examples other than the Study songs like "Perfect Shade of Blue" that I can look up.  Ex. 'All the Love in the World" and the others that were not Lesson Study songs.  Thanks  Mic

Hi Dave,

I'm working through section 4 of music theory study 3 and I'm a little confused with the charts to fill in for each hole (Ex 4.6 onwards). For example, hole two has two note opportunities on the I (G & F), Two on the IV (E & G), and just F#(Gb) on the V. Should I write them all on the chart and practice Ex 4.5 for each note option on that hole, and obviously any othe hole that presents more than one note option?

Many thanks

Saul

Looking for the design file to 3D print a TBT.

Received my harmonica for Christmas and have started working through the first lessons of LOA.  Enjoying this new challenge! 

Hello David !

I was wondering whether this kind of solo playing is generally adapted to play with just another acoustic guitar doing a basic two notes chords accompaniment.

We've tried with example 1.5 and it works really great.

I'm wondering what I'm going to try next and I was looking at the baseline examples. continue reading...

Hello David. Please, I have a question, if you allways play whith the method tongue blocking, even if you are bending two or three steps on the third hole?  I want to decide in the begining, whitch method to learn (tongue blocking or pursing), and the tongue blocking is better for me to play a single note, bot I dont know, if I can later use this method for technics like bending, as well as with pursing. Thank you.

P.S.  your website is great and I really like, how you explain and show the way how to do something

Peter

I have been working my way through the C Harmonica intro lesson and in section 2 there is a video learning Home Sweet Home, but I cannot find the tabs for it. It's not with the other resources at the top of the lesson.