Ask Instructor David Barrett

I am trying to understand the note progressions in the blues scales. When the notes in the different octaves don't match - for example in the C blues scale when the 3rd is not flated in the lower octave, but is flated in the upper octave - is it just a mattter of availability. If a person had the overblows mastered would you in fact use the exact same progression in all of the blues scales in different octaves? continue reading...

Looking at the features of the FInale products I noted in the description for PrintMusic:

"Play a brass or woodwind instrument into a microphone using our exclusive MicNotator"

Does this mean you could play the harp into a microphone and it would notate the music? It says it will record an acoustic single line instrument. This would be spectacular!

David,

How do you approach Stormy Monday? It gets called a lot at jam sessions, especially Monday night sessions. A really good R&B singer in town heard me play and suggested I sit with him on that tune next time I see him. I think
he figured hey it's a bluesy tune so a harp would sound good. But it's a tough chord progression to navigate without overblows or a chromatic. continue reading...

David, when I started playing (several years ago) i learned the major scale 1st postion and used it for pracitce a lot. As time went on I did the same for 2nd and then 3rd , using various keys and going from one scale to another. During all this time I always started on the root. Is it important for me to try to break that habit - I see in theory you don't approach 2nd and 3rd this way.

David, can you advise me on more songs that I can work with that would have a backing track and the .pdf or sheet music for the blues harmonica?

I am working on 3 of the songs on the website but I would like to have other ones to work on and jam too. I am finding out that when I buy the jam tracks it does not come with the .pdf or score sheet. I am getting into the bends and I am using the A, G and C harmonicas.

Much appreciated!!

Will

Howszit Dave , I've been studying Gary Smiths blues for mr b song , i think I got a ok handle on it for the most part except the head . Is the head +2. 2 3'3" 3'3" 2----. With the 3draws a little dirty w/the 4draw, One more question, the last submission with Ryan were you we're playing the breaks as a theme, is that on your album and is it on I tunes? I hope to be packing the Smith&Barrett tone one day! Lol. Awright!

David,

What do you do in this scenario:

1. You get up on stage at a jam and are handed a PA mic.
2. It's really loud, shrill and awful sounding - like the treble is goosed for a singer maybe.
3. The singer says "Let's hear some of that harp!" and you have to play a solo.

Also, after the song, what do you tell the PA guy (or in this case the bass player standing next to the onstage mixing board)? "Low treble, high bass" or something like that? I don't own a PA and have never worked with a PA mixing board so I'm not sure what a good default harp setting would be. continue reading...

Hi David

I just read about the work shop on Harmonica Master Class. On 4/10/14 say's
" Sales will be open during this time " Does that mean I have 2 pay extra for the classe's I want to take ex: Bending with Winslow Yerxa’s

I thought that the $545 B H .com registration payment covers what ever I sign up for.

Thanks

Hope 2 Be There : )

Hi David

Happy New Year!!!! Will there be any lesson on chugging this year? and any new Artist Studies ex: DeFord Bailey ?

Thanks

Are there people you work with (or have worked with) that you could recommend as private instructors?

I know you have your "School of the Blues" private instruction. I was just thinking that with the demands of your [this] growing website, plus your other gigs (for example "HarmonicaMasterClass"), that maybe you could see that there is still a need for good one-on-one instruction.

I'm just starting out. My son is also just starting out. Can you offer any suggestions for private, regular harmonica instruction?

Thank you Sir.