Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

Whether it be the 8 bar blues or the 12 bar blues there's a definite structure to how the chords change. Now as a student here I am learning the songs you are putting up which follow these patterns. The question I have is to do with this. Does one's hearing these changes improve over time? Does one have to practise hearing these changes while listening to other songs? Is there some material that will help me understand this because when I jam with friends I am guilty of not being able to hear these changes?

Hi David,
I'm getting glitches in all the videos on the site. I logged out and in. Is it something on my end possibly?
Thought maybe it was a payment issue. However I went in and paid for April. Help!

Thanks

PS Problem solved no need to respond thanks.

Hello David,

I'm able to get the 7 blow bend to get flatter, but completely to the pitch before the natural--so on the F harp, I get the F flatter, but not to a complete E.....and same experience on each harp. Is that the way it's supposed to go with the 7 (like the 5 bend), or is my goal to get it to an E?

Thanks.

Annamarie

Good morning, David,

Is Kim Wilson playing 2nd position on a low C harmonica here, about 23:10?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B535bP2-KIY

Hi,

I have a chance to buy a guitar amp at cost (sadly they don't have access to harp amp) . I have access to the following amps: 3 monkeys, Egnater, Matamp, valve train, Divided, Wizard, Supro.

Any advise for me on an amp choice?

I was looking at the Egnater Rebel 20 and have a cab made with my choice of speaker. (I think that Gary Smith setup sounded good). What brand of speaker did he use?

Does it make sense to go in that direction or should I look at a specialty harp amp?

Alex.

David...Been studying the " Minor Mambo", Gary Smith artist submission and have a couple questions on the 7th chorus....
a) Are you tongue blocking when articulating the lick?;

b) Although you cover the basic principles of the lick; @ specific note arraignment;
slight movement of the harp; and, slight jaw movement, are there any other practice
techniques that you may pass on that will help me to play that passage? continue reading...

How does LW articulate the 2 draw notes at the beginning of the second chorus of Juke? I can hear the pulls on beats 2 and 3, so he's clearly tongue blocking. But he gets a very strong attack on the notes on the beat (beats 1, 2, 3, 4). I can kind of simulate that attack with a strong 'ga.' But I can't combine the strong 'ga' with pulls very effectively. On the other hand, if I do the standard slaps with pulls, I don't get quite the same strong attack as what I hear.

Is he slapping these notes? Whatever he's doing, it sounds awesome. continue reading...

Hi David,

Not sure if you had answered this before or not, but when do you think is a good point to be "ready" to submit the recording for your review? I'm working on Gary's Blues and The Strut, as well as Solo Study 1 & 2, so I'm plenty busy enough right now, that's for sure. continue reading...

Hi Dave

Could you clear something up for me. I have started Solo Harmonica Study 1. When playing 2 or 3 notes do you just open your mouth enough to play the notes you want without trying to do anything with the tongue? To put another way, is tongue blocking used for playing single notes and for multiple notes you use your embouchure to cover the notes you want.

Thanks

Hi David,
I am a little tentative on getting a mic and amp initially especially because the equipment you speak of is not available easily here. Would it hamper my learning if I were to stick to acoustic playing for a while before I go the amp way?