Ask Instructor David Barrett

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)

Hi David.

I've been really putting a concerted effort into tongue blocking and am now able to do most draw bends while tongue blocking.  I am noticing, however, in the second bar when you get the 4' 3 2 3+ 3+ run I just can't move quick enough with the tongue block.  I end up with a crappy bend on the 4' and a chord for the 3 and sometimes the 2.  Is this an example when you might switch to a pucker embouchure for parts of the run and then back to tongue blocking? 

Are you playing the entire arrangement tongue blocked or do you switch it up? continue reading...

Good morning, David:

In your "Accompaniment Study 4-Fills", you mention that repetition of fills is a good way to introduce a theme to a song. It also follows the typical vocal phrasing of AAB. Are you suggesting repetition within a single chorus, or do you recommend using the same fill through the entire song?

Also, when you discuss "peeking in the cracks", the playing seems pretty active. We are playing in the cracks, playing the fills, and playing behind the vocals. Because it's so busy, should I limit myself to the 1st of the chord when playing behind vocals?

David, I love R&B oldies and maybe not so oldies 70s - 80s.

What songs come to mind that have harmonica parts in them that I could practice.

Other than the blues genre, what artists did you like and jam to?

Stevie Wonder etc.

Will

I'm trying to play a simple chorus, simon and Garfunkel's The Boxer, just the Lay la Lay parts in the chorus, any suggestions with what keys would sound better? thank youu!!!!!!!!!!!

David,

Should I be working to incorporate slaps into Feeling for the Blues as I go on? In fact, more generically, should I be using slaps almost as a matter of course in my playing, to get richer sound?

Thanks!

David, in your last Tip Of The Day you wrote:

"This week I'll share with you my favorite passages from Gerald Klickstein's book, "The Musician’s Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness" Oxford University Press, www.oup.com ISBN 978-0-19-534313-7 continue reading...

Hi Dave continue reading...

Hi David,

Gary's Blues is a lot of fun to work on and I really enjoy the technical and cool licks. At first its really tough but luckily, as you state over and over, it gets easier. continue reading...