Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David, 

I am a beginer and I would like to learn how to play the harmonica. However, I am having difficulty navigating this platform. Its seems extremely confusing.  Is there a beginner Lesson 1 to start from scratch? 

Neil 

nelsw@rogers.com

Hello. The lesson "Holding the Harmonica and Wa Wa" (https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/blues_harmonica_fundamentals#TB_i...) tells us that we must block the entrances of the holes 8-10 with our thumb when doing "The Pinch". I've also read a part of Winslow Yerxa's "Harmonica for Dummies" and there he doesn't tell us to close the holes 8-10 with our thumb. Also, I don't hear any difference in the Wa sounds made when blocking or not blocking those holes. continue reading...

Hi!

Watching the Sharon Barrett video and David mentions the Daily Exercisses. I'm trying to find them but my eyeballs don't seem to be finding them.

Any help?

Hello, I am a new harmonica player and i'm still trying to master the higher notes on my instrument. I understand that I must relax and lower the back of my tongue but I have difficulties finding the right position of my tongue in my mouth. Do you have some other tips : the shape I must give to my tongue or the place I must put it in my mouth ?

Thanks.

bonjour David je fini les cours a la fin du mois et apres j'arret je vais continuer seul la route du blues chicago  car j'ai beaucoup appris ici avec vous bon il y en a encore du travaille  mais j'ai besoin d'apprendre l'improvisation et cela je veut le faire seul car j'ai fait que apprendre des cours et technique depuis 9 ans et maintenant je veut faire le reste du chemin moi meme je tenais a te feliciter pour tes cours ton travaille acharner et le joueur que tu est a mes yeux un king j'espere que c'est bien comme cela que l'on dit en anglais langue que je ne connais pas hihi tu continue reading...

Hi David,

I'm curious if you have ever transcribed this performance from East Meets West at Moe's. Really powerful straight ahead harp here. I love it. I'd love to see any tabs that might exist. At the very least I wonder exactly what he is doing with that repeating lick at about 4:17. The lick is one thing but the way the band builds the energy really makes it. I just discovered this album last night so I have not dug in at all.

Thanks in advance!

SJ

Hi David, 

I am starting on Improvising Study I and recall a tip in the last set of flash cards about developing a lick notebook organized around focus notes.  That sounds like a good idea, but could you clarify what you mean by focus notes? The more I learn, the more I find out I don't know, lol. If the topic comes up in the lesson, just point me that a way. 

Thank you!

David

Please assist me in finding the place where the correct holding of the harmonica is demonstrated

Regards

Andrie

Hey Dave,

I think I got it right that I'm used to playing Dm on a C harp in third position.  Is that correct?  I've played it mostly for heart of gold.  I've got a friend playing a gig Wednesday that want's me to sit in on a more standard blues three chord twelve bar groove and its in Dm.  I'm trying to figure out how I play that using some of my old favorite second position places and thinking I'm not going to be able to, and wanting to figure out how to play that third posiiton Dm but not all so high up on the harp. 

Thanks

Greg

David Hi

I interested in exploring the Hohner Pentaharp. What are your thoughts and are you looking at doing lessons for the Pentaharp.