Ask Instructor David Barrett

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...

I just found this yesterday: 

http://www.bluesharmonica.com/sites/bluesharmonica.com/files/private/Har... continue reading...

Hi,

I've loving the music theory lessons because my husband was a music minor in college and I played music in high school but never understood how to create chords naturally using the whole-whole-half method. I've been filling out harp charts in my free time and hope to have each note on each harp memorized eventually, but sometimes I do just enjoy playing free-form. continue reading...

Hi David!

I'm not sure you'll be able to answer just with the explanation, but I'll try to describe as precisely as possible. If required, i could send you a recording.

Doing the octave exercise (note to octave to note on other side), it works well for the 1-4, although better on the blow than on the draw, but when I move to 2-5, the volume on the 2 draw get weaker than usual and compared to the 1 draw. It's sometimes airy, but even when I get a good seal, it remains kinda low. continue reading...

Hi David,

I am a PC user,  I just watched under equipment lesson, "How to do Quick PC Recording for

Song Submission."  All this is so new to me...do I just go on the inter-net and purchase the

Music Creator V?   or is this done here in Blues Harmonica.com ...I don't know where to go to get Music Creator V.

Thanks for reading my question, - I'll be glad someday when I know these things.

Patricia Frizzell