Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

I'm wondering what I am forgetting to do, that I don't have audio with my study songs?  Like I wanted to hear

tremolo & vibrato.   Do I click on two things?  like where the red and or green little box icons are by the choices?

I see the sheet music, but no sound.

thank you for your help...

Patricia

at e-mail mikefalcon3@frontier.com

Hey Dave, I understand the theory of the draw reed bent is the blow reed sounding at some point in the bend. I would assume this is the same in reverse for the blow reed. i.e. the draw reed is making the sound for the blow bend. Is this correct? Thanks!

I found your video with Jo Tartaglia (Applying Chorus Forms - Part 1) really helpful in terms of how to structure improvising practice. Especially in terms of sticking to a single turnround until it's engrained. continue reading...

David,

At the start of the third measure in Chorus 3 of Gary's Blues, on the sheet music there are two 3+ before the rest. (it goes 3+ 3+ rest 3+ 3 pull 6+ 5.) On the mp3 of you playing, and in the video when you play the whole thing, I only hear one. Am I not hearing correctly?

Thanks!

Hi, David:

Chorus four of "Gary's Blues" ends with a pull and then three 2 draws, all with slaps. The slapped 2 draw sounds weak to me, because it's only got a 1-2 draw chord behind it, so I'd like to substitute a 3+ and get the stronger sounding 123 blow chord. Is this okay?

In general, should I attempt to play your transcriptions and match your recordings exactly, or can I now begin to make slight changes? Things like the above note substitution or adding bends for expression? continue reading...

In Gary Smith's submission about Intro from the V he mentions listening to early junior Wells when Junior was doing LW.  What recording is that? Is it Junior Wells - Blues Hit Big Town on Delmark but is actually the stuff recorded for United FRcords?

Currently I play all the cool study songs and artist studies from sheet music. Do you have any efficient method or approach how to memorize these songs that I can play them without reading the sheet music?

Thank you

Ralph

Hello David,

I am new so I hope this is not to basic. I am starting to use a metronome and was wondering what bmp is the song Walk With Me. I do not see that listed for that song and the song temperature. is there a standard? by the way this site ROCKS!

Hi David 

In solo study 3  1.5   1 2"  1"  2"  1 I can't get that up and down rhythm sound  When you do it. I'm trying  tongue  switching 

( T. S. ) and puker  and  ( ko) on 2" 

Thanks  Harplayer

p.s what do you use  T.S  or  pucker?

I don't know if this is a harmonica techy question or a technique thing.

I am studying the LOA1 and getting an unclear sound on 2 and 3 blow when doing the solo harmonica studies.  The triplet 2,3,2 is very breathy like there is a 'huff' before the notes starts.  And even when the notes starts it is very breathy.  I also have trouble with the 4 to 3 draw because the 3 gets strangled.

  I don't think they are related problems, but that's what's happening.

Is it tongue position or the hole not being cleanly open?

  continue reading...