Ask Instructor David Barrett

Dave,

On your introduction to positions you state if you use an A harmonica , 2nd position would be in the key of E - 5 notes up from A, but in your position table it states you would be in the key of D. Can you reconcile this for me?

Hello :)

Please tell me what is the right way to do it .

All songs till now i use tom blocking position but now  with this song The Strut is much more easy with puckering.

What to do?  

M

Hi David,

Throughout my life whenever I've heard music I like, I would whistle it - along with the song, in the shower, on the way to work, while riding my bike, etc. I've never played an instrument until now, so whenever I'm hearing a tune in my head and trying to recreate it, my mouth automatically wants to adjust shape. continue reading...

Just started beginner lesson on this website and the two harmonicas recommended are the Hohner Special 20's and the Hohner Crossover.  The ones I have already are a Lee Oskar in C and a Hohner Golden Melody in A (which is where I got the recommendation for the bluesharmonica.com site).  I've read the Crossover is a step above these;  however, it seems that the Golden Melody gets better press among harmonica players than the Special 20. continue reading...

Hi Dave

I am a bit confused as usual. Hope you can help.

I have recently watched one of the student study videos (can't remember which one) in which you where explaining that you recommend sliding between adjacent holes if two or more notes in a run are either blow or draw. I think you said that this is more or less a standard rule. So for example in the 4th chorus of Feelin' for the Blues is it best to dip the 3 draw and slide into the 4 draw, similarly with the triplets and the 3,4,5+,6+,5+,4.4',3,2 sequence?

Thanks.

Best wishes

  continue reading...

Dave, is it just me? or why am i naver able to get anything on Ryan Walker...page is white....always.....no content...seems only to be him...everything else is good..

Thank you...

steve

I am new to your web site, and understand one needs to walk before one can run, however I am under some time constraints as I wanted to take a shot at playing Chava Nagila with the rented band at my Sons wedding scheduled for May 2016. I did find some introductory tabs on line that really dont sound accurate enough, and are very limited. I tried looking at some sheet music, that I am new to reading, but have not really captured it. continue reading...

Due to some travels in the past few months I am still working on Walk With Me.  Improved, but there is one part I can not get.  In the areas where we need to slur between draws I can not get it. I hear you play it perfectly but I am unable to get between 3 draw and 4 draw with a dissonant leak between the holes.  I can play it a bit staccato but not a slur. 

I am attempting to play this from the right side of my month initially covering 1 and 2 the sliding right to cover three and draw 4.  continue reading...

Hi David

I am starting to look over the LOA 3 materials and have a question regarding the test / recording portion of Solo Harmonica Study 2. When you say " ex. 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.3 or 2.4" you are looking for ONE of those four examples, correct?

Best,

Andrew

hello !

I send you a material for loa 1 but i think that i sended empty pdf (writen) material. What can I do now ?

Thanks