Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David

The 5th note on the C Major Scale is G 2/3 + . So it's 2/3 played at the same time? Not sure because I don't see that on any other scale's and it's not an Ocatve right? so that would be a dirty note asJoe Filisko puts it?

Thanks

I just joined your site and finished Lesson 1 - Blues Harmonica Fundamentals. I consider myself an advanced beginner in that I know some songs, I can do all the bends on the draw holes, etc... I have always u-blocked, and both tongue blocking and puckering seem so foreign to me. I am not adverse to learning tongue blocking as it will give me the opportunity to do things I otherwise couldn't, but I have a few questions.

Should I buckle down and learn tongue blocking and then go from there or should I learn tongue blocking while I use u-blocking to learn other things on the site? continue reading...

DAVE I HAVE been working on garys blues, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE with my timeing in the past, and I am haveing trouble again with G> B>, I wanted to know if I was to use my metronome, what B. P. M., would I use, for this song? This method has really helped me in the past. I cant keep up with the recordings, and I dont want to send a submission to you, where the jam tract finishes, and I still have three measures to go. Thanks for any info...Dan.

Apologies for this as I'm sure it's somewhere in the video, but I missed it and can't find it. In, for example, Ex 1.10 where the opening notes are 1 draw, 2 draw, where are you suggesting the tongue (and face!) go? I was assuming the tongue would be on the right for 1 draw, left for 2 draw, and the face moving left, but it doesn't look as if you are doing that on the video.

Thanks
Simon Hallett

I recently splurged on a Marine Band 1896 after playing on plastic combs for awhile.. Right after I bought it, and before I took it out of the box, I called my friend who has been playing for decades and told him the news.. He told me that it's a great harmonica, but he prefers the Special 20 because it has a plastic comb and the wood can be problematic with swelling and all. After playing it for a few days, my observation is that the wood comb is slightly recessed under the ridges of the metal plates. Compared to my trusty old beginner plastic comb harps, the combs actually hang over.. continue reading...

I have finished the Basics of Music and have digested probably 90% of it. Great job by the way. How would you practically use scale degrees in the playing of the harmonica?

Thanks,

Chuck

Hi David!

in the first chorus you play on the bVI7 chord the major 7 of Bb chord,
it's can be considered an outside tone of that chord?
Because it's the fifth of I7 chord

thanks

Marko

How does one overblow? Do you need a special custom harmonica?

Hi David

How can I learn a song fast . This is just an example BAD TO THE BONE
By George Thorogood
Key:G
Played on a Bb

-6 -8 -6 7 -6 -6 -8 -6 7 -6 …

6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 7 -6 -8 -6 7
Now on the day I was born,
6 -6 6 -6 -6 -6 7 -6 -8 -6 7
the nurs-es all gath-ered 'round

Draw blow blow blow ect it is very tedious. When you start to learn a new song it just sounds like plain noise.How do you begin to hear it right from the start. It's a Big question I know . Just tired. it took me awhile just to learn Mary had a little lamb continue reading...

David,

I had some trouble with my Rhumba King entries. (Forgot to upload file, then uploaded wrong file.) Can you delete the entries "Jumba Rumba" and "Jumba Rumba (Take 2)"?

"Jumba Rumba - Take 3!" the last one from me is the correct one (don't delete this one).

Thanks - sorry for the confusion.

Steve