Ask Instructor David Barrett

Obtaining a chromatic is now on my radar as LOA 5 is coming up and you recommend studying No Sweat. Looking through the other LOA's I'm not sure I saw much chromatic work in them. So my question is do you routinely get your students who show some interest in chromatic to include it as part of their daily practice routine? Also, do you believe that chromatic practice can be considered to be highly beneficial to diatonic proficiency or is is it actually more like studying a different instrument? Thanks!

DAVE,  I  AM  TRYING  TO  WATCH  SOME  OF  RYAN  WALKERS  VIDEOS.  I  HAVE WATCHED  THEM  IN  THE  PAST,  BUT  NOW  I  CANT  GET  INTO  THEM.  INSTEAD  OF  A  VIDEO,  I  GET  A  IMAGE  OF A  CIRCLE,  WITH  A  EXCLAMATION  POINT  IN  IT !!!  DO  I  HAVE  TO  INTALL  SOMETHING,  OR  UPDATE  SOMETHING? continue reading...

Hello David,

i'm wondering where does Joe Tartaglia lesson 23 appear on the website? Where is the music notation?

Thanks Roger

Hi David,

This is more a consideration than a question:

I have been working 8 months on diatonic harmonica and only once I worked on chromatic study 1 "no sweat", that was several months ago.

I decided to spread the other three chromatic lessons in loa 6,7,8 and I was a bit scared about going back to the chromatic harmonica because I played a lot the diatonic and I thought not to have much skills on that one..... continue reading...

Hi David,

With regards to Garys Blues, I'm not understanding the concept of Triplet Quarter Notes. Is there any way of showing in written format or describe where the beat lands in relation to the quarter notes.

Thankyou for your help,

Regards,

Paul

Hi David,

Just completed Step 1 in LOA 1 and now on to Step 2. Do I complete all  sections in Tongue Blocking Study 1 submit a recording and then go onto the solo section and so on down the line?

Thanks

I was interested in reading about harmonica studio work so found the Ross Garren article very intersting. I searched the site for Ross and found a May posting from you talking about Ross. But then I also saw Ross' LOA achievements. Not surprisingly, he's going through the material very quickly. Is he testing the site and making suggestions as it seems unlikely he needs instruction at those levels?

The instructions indicate that if Bending Study 3 has been completed then we're ready for Accompaniment Study 4. Would it be fair to assume that was written before Bending Study 2.5 was available and that completing 2.5 is the equivalent prerequisite? Note I plan to do both Bending Study 2.5 and 3 so I can learn the different songs but I was planning to do Bending Study 2.5 early in LOA 4 and then Bending Study 3 down the road as I'm wrapping up LOA 4. Thanks!

Hello David...I have a question about The Split.  At the end of the 6th chorus, the turnaround consists of playing the root, G, five times.  I am just wonder why we alternate between three blow and two draw.  Why not just play two draw five times?

Thanks, Homer.

Hi David,

If I am listening to a track which has no harmonica playing, how would I find out what key the musicians are playing in. The reason why I ask this is because I want to start playing over these tracks by putting into practice what I have learnt so far, so need the correct harmonica key

Also, I'm really interested in blues rock, country blues and boogie woogie style of harmonica playing. What chorus forms do these styles follow. continue reading...