Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi, Is it an error to combine the tongue blocking with the lip pursing? I read in some sites like Adam Gussow one that for the two first holes to use the lip pursing is better and have better sound and easier bending with cleaner sound, and then you can combine those technics when playing... what you think... and what is your advice? I used to play clean notes in single hole without tongue blocking, but your videos move me to try the tongue exercises... very rare at first.

Hi David,

Ive downloaded some 12 bar blues rock tracks and am trying to put together an instrumental using licks from the study songs, but for some reason these licks dont sound right when played over the rock track. Am I doing something wrong, or should I be learning licks from blues rock songs i.e. Paul Butterfieldand placing these over the aforementioned 12 bar blues.

Thankyou for your help,

Paul

Dave - If you didnt provide the tabs for walk with me, and I tried to play the song by reading the music alone for chorus 1, you begin with a 3 draw followed by a 4 blow. If left to myself I would have started with a 7 draw for the B note instead of the 3 draw which is also B as, I use the reference point of E being the 5 blow on a C harmonica, and work up from there. Why am I making this mistake?

I have only cmaj diatonic harmonica, but study songs are diffirent key. How can i play this songs? Else can you share with me study song sheet for c maj diatonic harmonica?

Ps. Sorry for my bad english :)

Where should I post questions about Joe's lessons in the forum? Or is there another way for these lessons?

David,

Really woking on rhythm playing and have had a blast with it considering it is something I have never tried.  I was working through Joe's Study 1, but was curious if there is a study 2 or more lessons on the Fox Chase?

Anthony

Sorry also forgot to ask - How can we key in the student going through any given lesson?

1) The song begins with a 3 draw on an A harmonica. If one is actually reading the sheet music for a C harmonica - The 3 draw on a C harmonica plays note B which is clear on the sheet music you provide, but on an A harmonica a 3 draw maps out to playing a G# - Not a B, and this leads to my first point of confusion. If you want to play a note of B on an A harmonica you would have to do a 1 draw or a 4 draw, not a 3 draw. Ill probably never get this. continue reading...

hello Dave

My free subscription is about to expire in a few hours.

I m currently on Level 2. I m interested to continue to learn

with you. I m not sure the contents in you books published by Mel Bay

are up to date and easy to follow.

Your instructional videos on line are awesome and I refer to your videos a lot to 

guide me along. I am retire and I need to save $ by buying hard copy books you published. 

Instead of paying for subscriptions   continue reading...

i took up the harmonica again recently. I had played as a kid, but got freaked out about the draw notes. The guy I was studying with said my draw notes were too hard, that reeds could break off, go to my lungs and kill me. Anyway, my efforts at bending are frustrating. When I do get a note to drop pitch, it never has anything to do with my tongue. It always seems to have something to do with the shape of my oral cavity.

I'm starting to think that some people just can't bend and I'm one of them. I'd like your input before I throw in the towel.