Ask Instructor David Barrett

I'm having trouble with breath control on the lump bassline. I find myself running out of breath by the end, due to the number of draw notes. I know there are so many reasons to use 2 instead of 3+, but would it be okay to substitute 3+ at times, in this case? I'm just doing a bassline in the background, so I think it would be okay to alternate bars between 2 and 3+.

Hello, I have been playing the guitar for 12 years and decided to learn to play the harmonica, got a Hohner J.J. Milteau blues harmonica as a gift from my girlfriend which contained a free 1 month membership for your site and decided it was definitely worth to contitnue the subscription. Keep it up!

As for the question- how do you positon your tongue to play the examples 1-9 for SHS 1?

Edit: Specifically i was thinking of one note examples- 1,3 and 8.

Thanks!

Happy Birthday Dave! Thank you for all that you do for us.

-Taylor

Hi David! Wonder  what tuning you have on your harps,  and who do them for you ?  BTW: Happy Birthday to you, have great day !! Thanks/Micha.

When writting the actual notes on the the lines of sheet music...how do you know......

1. Whether  to make the line extending from the note go up or down ?

  (example 4.4 - the first note 'C' - the line extends down from the note and in example 4.5 the first note 'A',

     th line extends UP from that note)

2. What side of the note to extend the line from (in front of the note or in back of the note)

  (example 4.4 - the first note 'C' the line comes off of the FRONT of that note and example 4.5 the first note continue reading...

Is the requirement for LOA 5 only one of the three examples suggested? When I work through an LOA I like to work on each topic every day. So given that at this level I'm spending months on on LOA I'll have lots of time to do the three examples suggested. Any pitfalls to be avoided if I decide to work on even more of Solo Harmonica Study 3? Thanks!

Regarding Solo Harmonica Study 1, Ex. 1.10 (Three Harp Boggie - James Cotton)....the First two eigth notes

1 draw ( D) and then 2 draw  (G) ,  are you tongue blocking both the 1 draw to the 2 draw or puckering...challanging to get a good tone on the 2 draw when tongue blocking,....I am assuming tongue blocking just because of the

emphasis on it....none-the-less...just want to make sure ?

           Thank you for your time continue reading...

Hey David, I like the way you teach. Despite that I am kinda lost. Bought a C hohner to start learning. I dont get the order of the lessons. Do I really need a A or G harmonica to go along with the lessons? Thanks.

Hi David,

I've watched all the videos on you and ryan performing the side pull many times over in the last few weeks. However, I still do not understand how to perform the side pull so that the correct sound is produced from the harmonica.

Please help,

Many thanks,

Paul

Hi David, Im now and find your lessons very professional and useful.  I have stuggled with top of tongue blocking as I make gallons of water in my mouth.  I have had better success in using the bottom of my tongue keeping the tip on the upper not lower edge.  Ive been able to do (now) 1b & 4b succesfull.  As a former sax player Im mindful of starting off with bad habits that can before liabilities later.  Is there any real problem using this technique?  It allows me to avoid turning the harp into a fountain.