Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi Mr. Barrett-

Man, Gary's Blues is really a big step up from the past study songs huh? I am having a hard time getting all of the techniques right while trying to stay in time. I have been working on this piece for a month now. I still can't play it to sound perfect. :(

Hello David,

I have some issues with my breathing practicing Feelin' for the Blues. In measure three 2nd chorus I'm wondering if it is not more efficient to play the first two 2 draws as 3 blows, particularly when I'm playing the 1 draw before in measure two with tremolo. What do you recommend?

David,

There is no "Submit Recording" button on "3rd Position Study 2".  I tried to submit but couldn't find it.  Is this a bug in the web site, or intentional because subsequent 3rd position lessons will build on this and that's when we submit?

Thanks,

Steve

Hi David,

In the final homework assignment, in LOA 4, Improvising, should the end product be entirely original or should we/can we, borrow licks from material already presented?  In presenting the assignment, you mention both, using original licks and borrowing from already learned material.  (The challenge is to come up with an instrumental using all five chorus forms.)  Making it all original would obviously be more challenging.

Thanks in advance.

Homer.

Hi David. I am starting from the very beginning because I don't want gaps in my studies. Before I started with TB I was just at the point to manage overblows with the pucker. Is it also possible to play overblows with TB? 

Greetings

kai

Hi Dave.  In Temperature, you start out the 3rd chorus by slapping the 3-hole blow note.  I know the chord is supposed to be extremely short, and I'm not doing it short enough, but I clearly hear myself playing a IV chord against a I harmony.  It just doesn't sound right.  Is it OK to play it that way anyway, or should I draw the 2 hole instead? Thanks

Hi David,

I've been listening to Charlie McCoy's recordings after watching his iterview videos.

I like his bluesy and dull tone. Sounds like every note he plays is a bluesy tone.

How does he do that? Is because his customized harmonica? Is a particular model of harmonica? My hearing problem?

Thanks

Simon

Can you suggest a way to approach the five technique exercises?

- is it better to work on one exercise and move on after a couple of weeks, or is it better to practice all of them from the start?

- is it a good idea to change the harp key every day, or is it better to work with multiple keys every day?

  continue reading...

Hi David,

Just wanted to ask - when will the interview with Annie Raines be posted on the site? Looking forward to it.

BTW - if you could get Phil Wiggins to sit down with you, that would be great...

Thanks,

--jd

"to focus on everything is to focus on nothing" .. ok.. that's why practice time should be organized in different areas, and one should work (and focus) on one area at a time.

How about listening? Do you think it's a good idea to structure in a similar way the time we spend on records? Can you give us some very specific example?

I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY QUESTION, but I feel it's a crucial subject not often discussed. continue reading...