Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

Over the last year I have been consciously trying to play everything in the tongue block method on your recommendation.

I have come to a piece of music that requires double tonguing. You mentioned in your Articulation forum that double tonguing is the main reason for puckering. Do you recommend that I practice this puckered or is there a way of double tonguing whilst tongue blocking. Make sense?

Thanks,

Dave I have just finished Solo Harmonica 1 and 2. I feel comfortable, that I understand these lessons. I can play along with you pretty well. I have taken a look at Solo #3. At this point, these lessons are beyond my ability. You said these lessons are for the advanced players, I'm not there yet. You also said I could go to repertoire 2.5..... Where can I find these in my lessons? Maybe I just cant see them, and they are right in front oif me.. Thanks in advance for any help.. Dan

I'm having trouble getting through that series of pulls in the IV Ex 1.8 without running out of breath. Instead of pulling, I'm "pushing." Am I doing this correctly?

I cannot remember if the annual subscription is automatic or if I have do something and I thought I'd ask instead of waiting for a notice. ?????

Unless I'm missing something really obvious, I'm having trouble finding backing tracks for Piedmont and Country blues genre. I'm really enjoying listening to many of the song tracks I have and play along but thought it would be cool to work with a backing track to create something. Any place to point me at??

I"ve been working on Shakey's Shuffle and listening to your track. When I listen to your 'pulls' its almost not there (I do remember somewhere you saying its more of a timing thing than a note playing thing). When I went back to the lesson on Gary's Blues where you cover pulls, there is a definite chord sound on the pull.

Is it just a matter of "what sounds good to you" or is there something we should be working on/towards? I'm having trouble accessing the Technique video this morning so if its in there, my apologies. I'll keep checking.

many times i heard the word "shuffle" in blues but what really defines a shuffle...why not say simple a blues...or is diferent...can anybody tell me why? and somebody explains his estructure. Thanks!!! very nice videos david.
NIcolas

David,

How many Filisko harps do you have, and in what keys?

Steve

Hi David,

I'm having trouble getting up to tempo on the speed lick of the 11th Chorus. Do you know if Gary Smith is tongue switching on this one? I'm not going to say it's impossible for me, but at this point, I'm finding it extreeeemely difficult to get even close to tempo without puckering or leaving my tongue hanging over the side without tongue switching.

-Taylor

Hi David,

Hope you had a good holiday. As a harmonica player and band leader, when you call out for a Latin beat, do you usually say a "Latin beat" or are there discernible differences that blues musicians are typically concerned with between a Cha-Cha, Rhumba, Mambo, etc.? If so what are the differences that are important for us to know?

-Taylor