Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hello David, thank you so much for the amount of wonderful content that you are creating and deploying on your website.

I am curious if you know of any simple songs, maybe traditional harmonica tunes, that you know that I can practice playing octaves or splits.

I am ironing out my tendency to fall back to the Ublock or the Cleavage block and get the TB that you teach. I am making steady progress in that regard.

I am working thru "The Split", but I had an idea about simple melodies that I can use to play octaves.

Thank you so much, as always.

Will

This question is probably way too broad, but how often do you use a "K" articulation?

I've realized lately that I rarely use it, and I'm wondering if this is adversely affecting my sound. continue reading...

David in today's tip of the day on 4th position there might be a typo. Or maybe I'm confused. You said:

as blues players we commonly play in 3rd Position for minor, but the 6th is only available in one place, the 8'+

Did you mean to say 2nd position? Or that in 3rd position the 6th is only available on 3' and blow 10''+?

Steve

Hi David,

On the very last line of The Big One on the IV, is that a 2/7 split or is it supposed to just be 2/6 or 3/7?

-Taylor

Hi David...I think I have a basic tremelo working. It's maybe not quite as fast as it could be, but, I am wondering about the vibrato. Should my diaphragm be playing a part in my vibrato, or should I try to isolate the movement more to my throat area? Is the vibrato about trying to get a subtle bend going while doing a tremelo?

Thanks in advance.

Homer.

Hi David,

I started learning on the site as a tongue blocker but I'm having trouble with blow bending using full tongue blocking. I have no problem however, doing this while puckering. Also with extremely fast licks (Minor Mambo, Blowin' My Horn, speed lick patterns from your Rock Harmonica book, etc.) it seems like I can play these faster by puckering. Less drag maybe? Maybe it's that I can cover more holes puckering with jaw movement patterns? continue reading...

Hi Dave...I am working my way thru the intermediate lessons, and in particular, I have noticed in Gary's Blues, that sometimes you use the 3 blow and sometimes the 2 draw. Sometimes for even the same lick, in different choruses. In general, I have always tried to use the 2 draw most of the time. Just wondering what your thoughts are when it comes to 2 draw verses 3 blow?

Homer.

Hi Dave...I have spent the last two evenings watching the Adam Gussow interviews, from beginning to end. I found them riveting to say the least. He definitely has a unique perspective on things. I enjoyed how all his thoughts and statements were punctuated with and actual demonstration on harmonica. I also enjoyed his sense of humour. Being about the same age, I understood many of his references to the past, both his influences and methods of learning. continue reading...

Hi David, I really love vibrato and tremelo on longer notes especially in slower blues and laidback shuffles.
( BTW, I just watched , again , David Waldman's interview and man does he have great tone and great laidback playing )
I can get a pretty good faster vibrato. My throat and tongue and memory always seem to wanna go to the faster vibrato. I try slowing down but it seems much harder for me to controle the slower type vibrato. Any exercises that you can recommend me in developing a nice slower throatvibrato?

Ok, I hate to even ask cause I know I must be just missing something. But here goes

Ex 1.5 (I've watch a couple times) If this isn't important thats fine it's just when I find something that doesn't match I have to find out what I've missed.

FACE is the notes in the spaces-correct? EGBDF are the notes on the lines, What's bothering me is EF are in both and sometimes show up on lines or spaces. I'm not trying to site read but for me, I need things to make since, now I'm looking and realize G is on the line and then later in a space. continue reading...