Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

  Working my way through LOA 1.  Regarding the Movement Exercises Stufy 1 Patterns,

Section 3 - Movement and Breathing Patterns Examples 3 and 4.  Going through the exersize ...

Tongue Blocking and then attempting to Bend any note while tongue blocking......how do you bend

a note if your tongue over the comb blocking ?  You need your tongue to bend a note, yet the tongue is continue reading...

Hi David!

Coming back to your site and playing after a certain hiatus, I decided to review the first three levels. Now regarding improvisation skills, in Level 1, Walk with me, should I dedicate time to the licks application section and chorus forms that are part of that lesson or leave that aside until Level 4, where you address Improvisation lessons? This seems to me very similar in content, and since you now locate that from level 4 on, I suppose, at beginner level you suggest we concentrate on other stuff.

Hi David!

Approaching this exercise, I've a dubt about the notation that should be used:

Let's assume I'm analyzing a song in key of F and I want to play it in 2nd position on a Bb flat.

I found for example the first chord is F7, my chord tones are F, A, C

1) On my pentagram I will put a Bb like key alteration and design the normal notes F, A, C

2) When it comes to write down the hole numbers for the various notes, using a Bb harp I will write for example:

for the F : 2, 3+, 6+, 9+

for the A : 3, 7, 10'+

for the C : 1, 4, 8 continue reading...

Hi David,

  Am working my way through LOA 1.  You talk about the 'tongue slap '.

Where is the video of this technique?

Thank you for your time

                     Steve

Hello instructor how are you doing?

Just one more "philosophycal" question: continue reading...

David:

I am working through improvising study 2 in LOA6. I am adjusting and reordering my song based on the focus notes. One of my choruses starts with a 123 chord. For a chord what should I use as the focus note? For my two note chords I am using the lower for the focus note as the upper is more a bleed in. However I was unsure on a full three note chord combination. This will help understand where I may need to reorder this chorus or change it so I am not repeating a focus note.

Thanks

Brian

David:

You managed to provide various grooves to our study songs and solo studies. This has been useful. Would you ever consider providing a video lesson just soley focused on groove types and how to approach them? This would be good when playing with a band. If they call out a groove we will be able to recognize it and start strategizing licks.

Thanks

Brian

Hi David,

  As I work through the Solo study 1, Chording....ex. 1.12 ....as I get into the chording, I find

after 6 to eight bars, I have too much breath and need to let some out.  I need to release the

breath, but still stay in rhythm. the one 2 blow just does not seem like enough of a note

to expell all the air I need to.    My question

is that of where/how  to release more  breaths and still stay in rhythm (and not over blow the

2 blow) ?

  continue reading...

Hi David 

I'm busy working my way through Walk with me. 

I can noe play the song through 'reasonably well' and use the vibrato etc. 

The thing I'm struggling a bit with is the two hole section on the 6th Chours on the first to the second measure.  continue reading...

Hi David,

I don't know if this is something common but here is what I've noticed through the learning process.

I usually play crossover but I own also some seydel 1847 classic.

G harp, It happens the following.

When started to learn octaves I was using the seydel and at some point I found myself stuck and it was difficult to play some fast octaves passages.

I swiltched to the crossover and noticed I was able to play those better on that one, so I staied with that one. continue reading...