Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi, David!

So I am now dangerously close to finishing up LOA-4. I have just the Accompaniment portion left, but I really want to take my time, as this directly applies to my experience out at jams.

As I am mastering the accompaniment study, should I spend my extra time working on "The Strut" (which I've chosen to skip thus far, instead working on "Take It Easy Now") or should I spend the extra time going into LOA-5 materials? Or should I try applying the accompaniment techniques when playing along to records?

Thanks for your advice.

In LOA 1, chorus 6 of Walk With Me has what you call a speed lick. I've looked ahead and see that tongue slaps are introduced in LOA 2 so I understand that this lick includes no slaps. But I can't help but wonder if speed licks sometimes include slaps or are they almost always played very cleanly? The speed required in Walk With Me doesn't preclude some tongue slaps, particularly on the first part of each triplet, so that's the kind of thing I'm wondering about. Thanks!

Hi Daivd,

In that assignment is asked to put a lick into the 5 chorus forms,

I suppose they would be AAA, AAA with fills, AAB, AAB with fills, A B/A C.

What about the ABC chorus form ?

Following the suggestion in LOA 2 I watched the first two videos about cupping a bullet mic. Good information but I saw something and didn't get the explanation I needed. If it's elsewhere on the site just point me to it. Some background. My basic grip has the last two fingers of my left hand doing most of the holding. My left index finger is on the harp. The remaining finger is at the mic's grill, it's curve matching the curve of the two fingers on the harp but it's main focus is to provide a barrier between the harp and the mic. I think mostly I'm doing what you're doing. continue reading...

Hi Dave

I have a question in relation to Wa Wa's.

I have been looking at your post on 26.8.13 (tip of the day). Am I correct in assuming that when there is a wa notation above a note that the wa wa effect continues with a sigle breath until the note changes i.e. the first bar of chorus (solo harmonica 4) where the wa wa continues until the note drops from 2 draw to 2 whole note bend? continue reading...

Hi David,

I recently started online lessons.  I have dabbled in blues harmonica before but am trying the ground up approach.   I sheepishly admit I have trouble sounding a clear  note on the 3 draw (actually I can bend it a half step which sounds clearer) on my new blues harps (hohner 535) G and A   (also 2 draw on my new C same make).  

I feel I'm missing something basic.   What could I be doing wrong?

Ken

charlotte nc

Hi David,

With regard to the 5th chorus,  2nd line where you have the draw bends in the first two bars, is this carried out on one breath or are there slight gaps between the 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 draw notes, hope this makes sense.

Regards,

Paul

Hi David,

I have been attending my local club jam night for months now getting familiar with the players and format and, thanks to bluesharmonica.com and particularly the encouragement from the forum discussions, I have played on the bandstand twice now.  

That is quite a challenge a very exhilarating.  continue reading...

When we get to the Af Af Bt chorus form your challenge to me is to make up fills. In the earlier Af Af Af I'm given some specific examples. I like the repetition of the chorus form but find the fills to be more interesting. As a beginner I'm not sure where to find fills from what I've learned so far. What I'm playing doesn't sound anything bluesy like yours do on the video even though I know you're not reaching very far. Any suggestions about how I can find fills that fit other than the specific examples given in Af Af Af? Thanks!

I'm glad to realize that you make a series about tremolo and vibrato in your Tip of the Day.

I currently practice to unlock my tremolo and my flutter too from the triplet rythm. It would be nice if you could say something about the process and approach how to unlock it because it's difficult for me since a while to get an satisfying performance.

Thank you

Ralph