Ask Instructor David Barrett

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)

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!!!!!!!!!!!