Ask Instructor David Barrett

David,

In case anyone asks, because they think it's an exageration: When I first opened your site, I saw that Aki had gone professional. I didn't realize until that moment that, if I applied myself, School of the Blues gives me everything I need to aim high. It was quite a Eureka! moment for me.
(My recent move is taking more out of me than I expected, but I see the light at end of the tunnel and know I'll be able to devote more time to improvising every day soon, which is really the heart of my struggle.)

Best,

Annamarie

More of an observation than a question but you and Mark totally sound like wine connoisseurs while discussing the sound of the Bassman changes. I love it!

Thank you for the Bassman Chronicles.
-Taylor

Ok. It's been almost a week since I think I've posted so I have a few saved up..haha.

1) When you play chromatic to you personally leave your finger on the button the whole time?

2) On the chord changes of your transcriptions, what does the '7' mean next to them (eg. I7, IV7, ect)?

3) Do you have any ideas about cleaning the tweed on the Bassman? I have some scuffs and black marks I want to clean off before attempting to laquer it.

4) After So Blue For You, what order should I do; The Big One, Blue Light, and the GH Smith Study? continue reading...

1. How do the blues scale and solo blocking work together? The solo blocking is too boring on its own, but the blues scale has "illegal" notes in it, which is the point, but doesn't that invalidate the solo blocks? How come the solo blocking has to be so particular for each chord, but the blues scale is the same for any chord? I want to play the blues; I don't get it. Very frustrating. continue reading...

Hi David,

I can't find those speakers anywhere on the Megatone site.

-Taylor

Hi David,

My wife and I recently bought a new house that we plan on being in for a long time. One requirement for our new house was that I have a place to play amplified blues harp, albeit at low volume. The house fulfills that need. So, I'm planning on buying an amp, and the Wezo ME-18 is on the short list. I had a Wezo-45 for some time before selling it to a fellow BluesHarmonica.com member. I loved that amp, and as you said, it is fantastic even at low volume. How is the ME-18 at low volume? Also, do you have any experience with the optional half-power switch?

Thanks,

Gregg

on evan's shuffle at 0:55 is he triple tongueing the 5 draw triplets?

Hey David,

I've just finished the lesson and I learned a lot.

Just a few remarks about the pdf document:
- In EX. 1.1, 3.2 and 4.2, you inverted the order of lines Ab and Eb in the wording. It's Ok in the completed exercise.
- In Ex. 4.5, I think that 8'+ is a b5th and not a 4th.

All the best,

Eddy

I have recently ben playing suzuki promaster vavled harps and I was wondering what your thoughts are as far as bending. Are they more difficult to bend than diatonics that are not valved?

Hi David

I have some questions about Harp positions , The first position is same as the Harmonica tune that I think called as straight harp , for example if we have C harmonica the 1st position is C , but about 2nd position , I think it's the 5th degree of scale , for example for C harmonica is G that called as cross harp .

But I have a question about this Chart :
http://www.bluesharmonica.com/sites/bluesharmonica.com/files/private/Pos... continue reading...