Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hey David - great series (as always) by Mark on Bandstand stuff! I was wondereing if along with all your other great plans, there was anything planned for those of us who live for jams. I'm not in a band, don't have immediate plans to join a band and therefore attend as many local jams as I can. Playing with a band, you get a chance to play instrumentals for several choruses, but in a jam, you usually comp and then get a 12 bar, or if lucky 24 bar solo. I know you have "I'm playing all night" tattooed on your finger ;-) but when you only get a short solo, how would you approach this. continue reading...

I am enjoying the Solo study. I use it as a warm up in the morning.

I have found that the TA and the TEE enunciation for the chords are the key for me. I look at the examples and voice them first. It makes fitting the chords together with correct rhythm and timing because I can pre-plan what I am going to do with the sounds.

For more involved exercises like 1.10 examples, the James Cotton lick, do you personally still have the TA TEE feel when you play? Or maybe should I say that we should still try to use it in a more involved example.

Thank you so much.

Will

Hello David,

Please tell me what does Little Walter do.... is it a shake ? the song is Long Distance Call and the place is at 40 seconds from the start.... I am trying to collect all of Little Walters recordings where he played acoustic Harp....I love to play acoustically and listening to LW play acoustically is just wonderful. I can see in many of his recordings the influence of John Lee Williamson... I hope you do an Artist study of John Lee Williamson (Sonny Boy Williamson-I) in the near future.

Thanks & Regards,
LearningTheHarp

Hey David, continue reading...

David here is what I just posted to Winslow. Thank you so much for all of the personal help and your well designed and thought out website.

Success on all notes on A harmonica.

This is what did it. I believe I might not be doing things in a text book manner, but you have gotten me bending.

I had to use my video cam that is in my Windows Movie Maker software to find out what is going wrong in my mouth. It could feel real good but be real wrong.

Here are my adjustments.

HOLDING THE HARMONICA - THUMBS UP BLOCKING RIGHT TWO HOLES continue reading...

Hi David,

My 2 draw on a harp didn't go flat but it doesn't ring out or respond as nicely as the other notes now. I took it apart, when I flick it it doesn't have the resonance. Can a fracture in the reed cause this? I've blown out reeds before but the note is still in tune it just doesn't vibrate for as long and takes a little bit more pressure to get moving now.

-Taylor

Hi David,

I've listened to your album with John Garcia and the History of Blues Harmonica album. I was wondering what other studio tracks you've laid down. For instance, what tracks have you played on for John Lee Hooker Jr?

-Taylor

Welcome home, David.

I am digging into the Solo Harmonica Study 1 and was curious if you have on your site jam backing tracks for them?
I have a metronome and I am putting it to good use.

Thanks again for all of your help and your topnotch website.

Will

Hi David,
Have you used DanEcho's French Toast Octave pedal? If so can you share your thoughts?
Thanks

I am studying your video on Temperature Chorus 5.

You are showing us the bend on the 3 hole. You illustrate with your fingers and hand how they impact the face of the harmonica. Your fingertips are moving straight into the front of the harmonica.

I have been positioning the harmonica deep into my mouth and have been blocking with the blade of the tongue. I see you impact the comb of the harmonica, where the holes are with the tip of your fingers.

Am I reading into your hand movement incorrectly with how the tongue should impact the harmonica? continue reading...