Ask Instructor David Barrett

A few weeks back, I went to a harmonica workshop with Adam Gussow where he passed out a list of his "Essential Blues Repertoire for Harmonica." I'd like to start playing out at blues jams, but I've only learned "Walk with Me" and "Temperature" so far. I want to learn a couple of the standards (for example, "Kansas City" or "Baby Please Don't Go") . Will they come up in the course of the Levels of Achievement, or is there someplace you would recommend (maybe one of the Mel Bay books you've written)? I imagine there might be some legal hurdles to put something like that on this site.

I'm working on the Solo section of the "Levels of Achievement" level 1 study 1and my question is ....

with hole 1 and 2 .... Do I tongue block (with my tongue towards the right) ?
Do I pucker hole 1 and 2?
Do I put the harmonica down and cry?

Thanks

Jake

Hi David

I lost my low key harps Low F Low D special 20's I want to get new one's . Does the Crossover come in low keys? Not sure witch one's to get. the Special 20's or the Thunder Birds . I liked my Low Special 20's

Thanks Thanks Harplayer

p.s. I was praciticing Sonny Bird and Big Walter Horton in Artist studies ( just a little here and there while going through the regular studies . is there any way to get back to the Artist studies beside sending L.O.A.

Hello Mr. Barrett-

Can you tell me how is bar 9 of Ex. 1.7 in Solo Study #2 supposed to be played?

Is the following method correct?

Thanks!

1st beat:

Play 1 draw by tongue blocking 2, 3 & 4 hole; lift the tongue to get the chord

2nd, 3rd, 4th beat:

Play 4 draw by switching the tongue to block 1, 2 & 3 hole; lift the tongue to get the chord

I'm not sure that it was covered in any of the lessons about this but I'm finding (at this point anyway) that I can only go between holes 1 and 2 by covering hole 1 with the right side of my mouth (not TB'd) and then slapping hole 2 when there is a 1, 2-i.e. Solo Study 2 Ex 1.7. Should I be tongue switching these two holes? If so, I would like to continue my practice switching, instead of the way I've been doing it. I don't want to have to work on changing and correcting bad technique later on down the road. continue reading...

Do you have any experience / thoughts about the BlueX lab mics / volume control?

Hi Dave
In your interview with Steve Guyger you discuss that somewhere in the lessons you discuss the idea of thinking in positions when playing the I, IV V. Ie thinking 3 rd position when playoff the IV chord. This interests me but I don't quite understand it and how to use this idea.mmcan you point me to the discussion?

Hi Dave

I have a couple of queries:

1. I have seen on at least two of your video lessons that you consider that slapping should be used routinely when playing. Does this mean each note or just the first note played in a bar should be slapped. I also saw your reply to a recent post(8.9.13) in which you explain which styles of song that, you consider, it best used in. Do you have anything to add to this?

2. The cupping and hand effect PDF has a downward pointing triangle with a dot underneath. What does this symbol mean?

Regards

Hello Mr. Barrett-

I am looking at the last two bars in the 7th chorus fof "Feelin' for the Blues"and wondering why is that the 3 blows are used right after the first 2 draw note? Although 2 draw and 3 blow are the same which is the key of "G", I think the 2 draw has a bit stronger sound?

I got the blues. The 2 hole draw blues. :) I've about 10 days into your (if I may), great set of instructions and I can "get" a 2 hole draw, it just ain't the note and its airy and yucky. So, any tip you can offer. I will say over the last 3 days a lot of improvement has occurred continue reading...