Ask Instructor David Barrett

I'm new to harp.  I have been working on bending study 1 for at least 2 months.  I can bend 1, 2 (1/2 and whole), 5 (to extent you can), and 6.  But 3 and 4 (which I have read are the "easiest to bend") allude me. I can only get them to start down a little - but less than a 1/2 step.  Is this a common problem?  Any ideas why?  Any suggestions would be appreciated as I don't seem to be getting any closer to making the bends.  Thanks.

Hi, David:

I'm having some struggles with Half-Steppin, not with the bends, but with the speed run in 4th bar of the 5th chorus. Those last four notes are really presenting a problem. I know that I can eventually get it, because I've overcome troubles with speed before, but it might take a few weeks. continue reading...

Hi David

im wondering at what stage do you suggest you send un your LOA submission?

I've been playing 'Walk with me' for about 6 weeks now and have moved on to LOA2 Temparature and the start of 'Freling for the blues' first section so I can work on the tongue block bending and slaps. 

I'm wanting to make sure I have the 'Walk with me' at the right level of proficiency before I submit it to you. 

I don't know if you can explain this easily, but how many mistakes etc do you accept for it to pass the grade?

Many Thanks

Richard 

Hi David, I'm a newby to your classes and want to tell you first of all how fantastic I think it is! I've been looking for something like this for years! I'm practicing almost every day now and love the content and structure of your lessons. I've recorded the test requirements with an I-phone app and they are in a MPEG-4 Audio (.m4a) format. Does this work for you, or can you explain how to save it as an MP3? Also, it seemed it wouldn't let me send in just the music and not the PDF. continue reading...

Hi David,

I'm currently working on my blues. Would you mind reviewing the opening four bars to make sure i'm on the right track. The jam track is set at 80%. Please let me know if there is a cost.

Many thanks,

Paul

David,

     Do you have any advice on specifics for guitarists who are learning the harp while using a holder?  Techniques that work better than others?  How to get good sound out of a mic for singing and playing a harmonica?

thanks,

Gary Reed

I've been working diligently on "My Blues" and finally got past a mental block with the timing of the 4th chorus bar 4 with octaves, pulls, chords and timing in one bar. I slowed it down to 50% and discovered I needed to concentrate on counting 123,223,323,423 etc....

I presented that method of solving my problem to a guitar friend who suggested to me that I'm describing a 12/8 time signature which he felt is prevalent in slow blues. Is that correct to think of it that way as the time signature is noted as 4/4?

Perhaps he is describing the feel Of slow blues in general? continue reading...

Hi David,

  Working my way through LOA 1.  Regarding Solo Harmonica Study 1, Ex. 2.8....

when I am trying to bend 3 draw before going into a regular 3 draw... I am commonly

getting ' whistle -type sound/ soft of like mic feed back ' then a ' pop' sound ( must be the reed

snapping ? ) ..  Not  sure about this...suggestions on what I may be doing wrong to

be creating such noises ? It feels like am taking in too much breath ?

  Thank you for your time continue reading...

Hi Dave just a quick thank you for much of my harmonica teaching have bought and still working through your harmonica master class series viewed many sites and play your trainings daily , am working on more tongue blocking than lip pursing have purchased Joe's tongue block trainer have a bunch of harps love my cross over and looking to expand my collection and get at least all in the crossover my question is this the right direction and where would you recommend buying them I buy mostly online because I live remote queensland in Australia anyway thx again 

This is a question hoping to get insight into my technique (or lack thereof). I am a player who learned in the 60's, playing (competently) on and off my entire life. I am (not unexpectantly given my vintage) an avid pucker player. I have used tongue blocking for incorporating chords and rhythms but now I am making a serious run at tongue blocking more extensively. My progress is slow.  continue reading...