Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

I am having problems with the five hole on my harmonica.  It is fine playing scales etc but when I try and play the runs in some of your songs eg Walk with Me 1st line 3rd chorus or Feelin' for the  Blues 1st/2nd lines 4th chorus the 5+ hardly ever sounds. It seems to stall.  Is it a technique problem or a problem with the harmonica?

Really enjoying the lessons but this five hole is really starting to bug me!

Andy

Example number 4.

Any suggestion about  the first meausere, where holes 2 and 3 are bended. I found difficult going from 2'' to 2 then 3'' and back again to 2".

Hi Dave

I have a query with the Rhumba bass line 2.6 from solo harmonica 1.

I am hearing something different on the mpg recordings to what you discribe on the video lesson. You say say that the chords should not have any articulation. However, I  think I am hearing some sort of articulation when the the 123 blow chord is played. Is this just my ears? I don't seem to get the same sound when I just blow (breathe) those 3 notes. continue reading...

In Beginner 1 Movement Exercises - Application, you are using a Bb and accompanying yourself With a piece from Tongue Block study 4 in F. where is this peice on the site?

I have a question about tb-technique. When I tongue-block hole one to play hole 2 I got a more exact and cleaner sound when i use more oft he tip oft he tongue to block hole one. The more I move my tongue to the left and the righ side of the tongue covers hole one  the sound gets more „dirty“ and less exact -  especially the drawsound is lacking pressure when I do so. continue reading...

Hi David... Any instructions on over blowing?

So I have been spending 15-20 minutes each day working on improvising using all of the chorus forms. I can't help but notice that all of the licks I came up with - they suck. I don't want to take the easy way out by just copying licks from another song though..What should I do?Thanks.

I am currently working on Accompaniment Study 1. To complete my homework for the AAA Chorus form, I need to find a four bar lick to repeat. In a real life jam situation, when using the AAA Chorus form as the foundation for a solo, would it be okay if my "A" riff was an easily recognizable riff? For example, the vocal line of "Rock Around the Clock"? I'm sure it would sound okay, but would this be rude to the other bandmembers? Like I'm playing a different song from them?

Or, would hearing this riff inspire the band to move in a different direction with the song?

Hi Dave,

I'm just learning how to tongue block and have found your Level 1 lessons to be extremely helpful.  I'm now working on learning to play Walk with Me and wonder if I should be aiming to play the whole song with the tongue block method.  It's a bit of a challenge to move around the holes on the lower end of the harp (3, 1) using the tongue block method.  But I'll keep at it if this is the goal.  

I also found your "switching" lesson to be helpful in going back and forth between holes 1 and 4 with tongue blocking.

thanks continue reading...

Hi David,

I have only been on the site for a week and really enjoying it.  My question is that when I set up for tongue blocking my mouth covers 4 holes.  After I have been up and down the harp doing scales etc my mouth only seems to cover 3 holes. My question is will this improve as time goes on and my mouth muscles tone up or is this something that I really need to work on now as it will hinder me playing octaves later on.  Thanks.

Andy