Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hallo David.

First approach to the chromatic harmonica, I have a couple of issues:

1) I can slap the notes but 2nd hole draw make a sort of muted sounds if I try to slap it. Also, in order to get a good tone on that draw hole i need to keep my throat very opened, much more of what I do normally with other holes. continue reading...

Hi David.  I've been at a standstill for a week now on the 1st chorus. Particularly on the 4/5 bend at the beginning.  I've found I'm making small progress blocking the 2 and 3 but is that proper?  I want to nip in the bud any bad habits.  I can bend these notes individually with litttle difficulty but combining them only gives me small results when blocking the 2 and 3 (the progress I'm looking for).  Should I be doing it this way or block 1, 2 and 3 for an easier transition to the 3/4 dip?

Hi David,

I have just submitted level one test, the problem is i'm not very good at using computers. Can you please let me know if you have received all the information. Sorry to bother you.

Kind Regards,

Paul

Hi david!

I'm going through chorus forms study for improvising in level 4.

I was wondering about ABA chorus form. In your lesson it doesn't appear but I suppose I can play a lick, then go away with a B lick and playing again licks A in place of the tournaround. What do you think about that ?

Thanks.

Hi, David:

In Accompaniment Study 4, you mention that a harp player needs to come in strong on the first 2 bar fill, or else someone else in the band will take the fills.

Is it assumed that, if there is a harp player, he or she is taking the fills? If I come in strong on the first fill, do I need to worry that someone else might be trying to take the fills also?

Always thinking of courtesy onstage and always interested in the hidden language among the band while onstage.

David,

Should I be slapping the turnround triplets in bar 7 of the 4th chorus of Feelin' for the Blues? I'm slapping more or less OK elsewhere, but can't quite get that measure together.

Also, I'm slapping the 3 draw dips in the head, bar 1 (well, working on it). I think that's what you're doing - am I right?

Thanks for the advice just to back off a bit and play through the song a couple of times daily. It's got a lot smoother and I'm enjoying it rather than struggling.

Kirsty

David:

I have studied several different martial arts over the past 25 years and noticed a lot of similarities between the LOA program and a martial arts program. Your different color level harmonica holes roughly mimic belt color ranks. The exercises and testing (testing fees) have some similarities. Some of the study habits even draw parallels. Did you pattern any of the LOA program after a martial arts program?

I also notice harmonica teachers and their approaches and styles seem to be like martial arts teachers (like Zen masters?).

Thanks

Brian

Hi,

I just signed up and love the site! I was wondering what lesson to start on? I see that when there are more than one lesson on a perticular subject they are numbered, but outside of that I dont know where to start. Is there a list or site map that lines out the order to take the lessons in?

Thanks

Ol' CS

Hi.

Up till now, I haven't paid too much attention to the starting point of my dips, but I've begun noticing that, on the 3-hole dips, it tends to be closer to the hole-step bend than to the half-step.  Especially on higher-pitched harmonicas, where that half-step bend involves such a very slight movement of tongue and lips, it's hard to hit that bend when I know I'm going to be leaving it immediately.  Especially when I want to articulate it, it automatically comes out a hole-step bend.  continue reading...

Hi David,

Although I have checked the notes on the A harmonica with harpninja, which are fine, I find that when recording songs with my usb microphone onto audacity, when listening to the recording, some of the notes sound out of tune. Is there a way of altering the settings on audacity to eliminate this, or do you know of another programme which I can use to record my study songs onto.

Many thanks for your help,

Paul (St Helens, England)