Ask Instructor David Barrett

While working on making the change from 4 hole octaves to 5 hole octaves I found myself trying to tongue switch while holding a 5 hole octave. For instance switching between 4 and 8 on the V chord. I did this because part of my learning to switch to hole 1 involves going from 4 to 1 with the octave in-between. But the five hole embouchure is a bit trickier as switching involves tongue blocking 4 holes in the wider embouchure. Is this worth pursuing? Thanks!

I purchased a harmonica in key of C. I am a complete beginner.  Should I have purchased a harmonica in a different key?

Hi David,

Im trying to learn rollin rhumba version 1. Daft as it may seem, I cannot grasp the beat and my playing is way off.

While on the same subject, in blues creepin over me version 1, on the 1st line I have real trouble in playing bar 5 where there is a shake leading to a 4+ 3 in terms of keeping the beat.

I have tried to tap out a beat with my foot but to no avail.

Have you any suggestions as I'm struggling to move forard in these two songs.

Thank you for your help,

Paul

Jam #4 in this book is described as being minor with a major feel. Comparing it to jam #8, a minor song, there's a distinct difference in feel but I can't put my finger on just where the difference is coming from. If jam #4 is in minor it's difficult for me to determine where the minor aspect is coming from. The chords are in capital Roman numerals so they appear to be major. Is there something I'm overlooking? Thanks!

Hi David,

I tried to do vibrato for the first time, and it was really challenging. I recorded the attempt and uploaded it to an mp3 file, I wonder if you could have a listen perhaps and tell me if i'm close cause close to the middle the it felt llike something is happening but I want to make sure im in the right direction.

Here is the link:http://picosong.com/PXhAthanks,

kobi

Really like this rhythm pattern in your book. The root octave being played on the and of each beat gives a great John Lee Hooker boogie feel when used with the b7/root split on the first beat of the pattern. As a guitar player I initially had to watch my breathing in this simple pattern mostly because on guitar I'd play the and as an upstroke and for some reason this impacted my harp breathing but a bit of practice quickly cured that. One question. Can you think of any songs where the harp uses this rhythm? Thanks!

I'm a big fan of Joe's after attending his Saturday seminar in San Jose last April and getting thje opportunity to ask him a question. Joe's recommended hold with the 90 degree left index finger bend is a bit different from yours though yours is not as extreme as the hold Joe warns against. Your hold has the relaxed looking left arm that Joe advocates. Wondering if you've discussed this at any time in the past?

Hi David

When moving quicky from the 4 draw to the 2 draw, it's hard to keep a slight 3 draw from creeping in.  I see two ways to deal with this: apnea or taking the harmonica out of your mouth during the move.  Do you have a preferred method?

Really enjoying the Joe T. videos as they confirm we all mostly have the same issues and if one of us can do it then most any of us can do it.

As is often the case, I'm just a bit confused by video order. Joe's Pulls video and Solo Study 2 Ex 2.1 and 2.2 are sandwiched between Temperature and basic bending both from LOA 2. As best I can tell pulls aren't introduced until LOA 4 with LOA 2 being restricted to tongue lifts. Should I wait until reaching LOA 4 or is this appropriate for LOA 2? Thanks!

On a video somewhere deep in the site I heard you mention your Kalamazoo Model One originally belonged to your grandmother. Very fortuitous as they're great harp amps. On the video the amp has an original 10 inch CTS speaker just like the one in my amp. My question, and it's purely out of idle curiousity, concerns Jam Tracks & Soloing Concepts 3 where you mention Mitch Kashmar played through your Kalamazoo Model One with a 10 inch Jensen that replaced the original 8 inch speaker. Is this the same amp? How many speaker changes has it had?