Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

I'm working on tone and I have a question.

I'm working on getting the harmonica deeper in my mouth, or another way to put that is to get the harmonica to contact my tongue further back from the tip.

So that really helps with tone, but when I focussed on really maintaining this and not allowing it to come out again, I noticed that I could still bend the 2, but couldn't bend the 4 and 6. Is it necessary then to move the point where the harmonica contacts your tongue back and forth as you move up and down the harp? continue reading...

Hellow David,

When you use the "Shakes" (Level 1, section 1)

Are you playing this with the technique of "puckering" or "tong block" ?

Bernd from Belgium

Hi Mr. Barret,

I have been working on this exercise for awhile now. The part that is tripping me up is the begginning of the third measure. The lick moves from a triplet of 3 draw, 4 draw, 5 blow to a 2 draw. I am wondering whether I should try to quickly switch my tongue after the 5 blow to hit the 2 draw. I have been trying to do this and have struggled to get a good, clear 2 hole draw played quick enough at speed.

Thanks,

harpsquealer

Hi David,

I'm having some trouble with decaying my volume on long notes. It seems like I decay until about a third of the volume I played the note, then even though I'm still trying to play it very quietly, the sound just stops.

I saw in one of your tips of the day that it only needs to be quiet enough to disappear into the band. But sometimes the band is playing quietly or even stopped, and it's quite obvious.

Any tips?

Regarding practicing Bending.  To make sure that we are on the same page. 

Draw: 1,2,3,4 and 6

Best to start with a C harp ?   After that  becomes doable....what is the order of keys

of harp that you would recommend in leves of increasing difficulty ?

                  Thank you for your time continue reading...

Dave - In chorus 4, and chorus 6 of walk with me what does this notation stand for. Why dont I see it in your basic notation sheets. It sounds like a slide from 1 note to the other in chorus 4, but I think you said it was a shake in chorus 6. Chorus 6 is confusing because it looks like you are going down from a 6 blow to a 5 blow and immediately therafter you go from a 4 draw to a 5 blow ( which doesnt seem possible) - Im not sure I understand how to do that/what I am missing.

Hi David, which of the interviews would a beginner get the most out of watching?

Hello David.

I have some problems with jam trak Strut. I dont know why ..it is about some

disturbances in the track. It is just with in the Strut ...When I listen on the computer it is ok...but if I listen with the loudspeaker it is not ok.

Other songs are ok with no problems to listen with loudspeaker.

Some ideas how to solve this problem?

Thanks :)

Hi David, I just started trying to tongue block and I know it will take a while, but I could use some help. I can get the full 4 hole chord, but when I go for a single note no matter what I do, I can't seem to get up to the 4th hole, I keep sounding the 3 hole. Or If I get it it's always the 1-4 octave.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Grant

Hi Mister Barret

I whant to know if I have to tongue block all lesson 1 solo. 

I need to switch my tongue left to right between 1 and 2 ( draw or blow ) ?

ex 2.8 slow blues 2 : Im supose to tongue block 2 - 3 -3' on my left side and switch tongue to right for 4 - 5 ?

Im supose to be able bending left and right side of my mouth?

Thank you

I have a little problem to speak english.

Yanic Bourgeois