Ask Instructor David Barrett

David,

What would you tell a pickup band if you were doing Juke?  Just say "shuffle in E", count it off and go?  That's what I did at a jam last night.  It went really well and was a lot of fun.  But I got a zz-top rock shuffle feel from the band when I was hoping for something ligther and jazzier.   continue reading...

I'm interviewing Magic Dick this weekend for BluesHarmonica.com. If you would like me to ask him a question, please do so by responding to this thread. My time will be limited to ask these questions, but I'll do my best to get as many in as possible.

Hi David. I'm literally eating this song. Playing amped with a bullet mic. The sound looks good and I'm almost done with everything. Only one thing I can't catch yet: At the end of the chorus 6 there are two wha wha, on 2 and 3+ Those sounds good acustically playing but how I can get to that wha sound holding the bullet mic ? Opening only the right hand doesn't get me to the sound like when I do it whithout mic. I suppose this relais to the sealing of the mic with the hands, I know that I should start very closed on the mic whit the palms.

Hi Dave

I would like to know if you should articulate the Wa sound in combination hand movements. I have noticed that I can get some sort of Wa sound with out using hand movements. So I was wondering if combining the two is a good idea.

Thanks in advance. Also thanks for all of your previous prompt and useful replies.

Best wishes

Hi david,

I'm working on exercises 1.1 to 1.3. My question is:

When I pull and I've to switch from a blow to a draw note, like from 3+ to 3, How I've to deal with the slap?

I start with the tongue off the armonica. I start breating as I move the tongue toward the harmonica and I finish with my tongue blocking single note 3+

After that, I find myself starting draving air when my tongue is still on the face of the harp. As I move it from the armonica It sounds like a small slap before I go to pull on 3+ continue reading...

Hi David,

I'm looking at purchasing the Tascam DR 05 of which two of the features are recording yourself and slowing down music whilst keeping the same pitch. Have you any comments either good or bad re this product and ultimately would it be a worthwhile buy.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

Best Regards,

Paul

Will you have a lesson on the TASCAM LR-10 Recorder soon?  

Hi Dave. I just banged out Creeping the Blues study song under the accompainment section of LOA3 thinking this was a test song. Apparently i dont follow directions well. But i did enjoy learning a new song.  Was i supposed to use this song to record playingthe exercise of  verse one on hole one, verse 2 on hole 2 etc. or was there another track I am to use.

Hi David,

I just wathced your lesson about mic and cupping. I'm working with a bullet mic and Everyting is good to me but I would need some advice about cupping when playing the right end of the harmonica, let's say from hole 7 to 10. How do I have to change my hands on the harmonica ? Do I have to cover the left holes with my left tumb like emulating what I do when playin low notes ?

Thanks

Could you please give me a link to a video where you talk about "Tongue Slaps"?   

Thanks