Ask Instructor David Barrett

Dave, It seems like every time I move on to the next lesson, I always run into a mountain.. Some things come very natural to somepeople. I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, even though I try hard, IT seems lile I alwaYS GET LOST. So this is a question that might help clear things up for me. If I was playing my F HARP, for example, The notes for my I chord would be C E G Bb ..... continue reading...

Hi David.
I am watching your chromatic studies and I wan to ask you about How do you attack the octaves?
Do you play Just like the normal Ka on tongue blocking or do you make something else?

Thanks.

Dave, I finished improvising 1, 2, 3, and 4. I asked you, even if I didnt have all of the examples for Improvising study 4, V-IV-I Transittions, If it would be alright to move on. You said yes. I now find out that was a big mistake on my part. I should have never asked you. MY FAULT, I know now there is a reason why you have you lessons set up the way you do. I need to get more foundation under me, before I worry about playing classic blues. continue reading...

Hi David,

This question may seem silly but is it true that you can harvest licks from any groove and place them in other grooves? For example taking licks from a Rhumba and placing them in a Shuffle?

-Taylor

David i have a question can i do the Solo Harmonica study on an A harp instead of a G.

Hi David,
After completing tounge blocking 5 and bending 5 studies I would like to tackle the advanced artist studies. Out of Little Walter, Big Walter, Gary Smith, & William Clarke, what would be the best order to study them? Also out of curiosity, do you eventually plan to have a George Harmonica Smith artist study? And if so, what will be the key focus (it seems like the more recent artist studies have a focus)?
Taylor

Dave I have been playing the examples for improvising study four. Even though I cant play alot of them, I have listen to all of them alot. In your video, you explained that it could take two years or more to get a handle on the examples. You also said that we should keep going back to them to pick up a couple more each month. I still go back to some of my study songs, so I know what you mean. My question is...............Can I move on to study five? continue reading...

A quick question David, is there a way to move the Solo harmonica study 2 songs into the Slow Downer ? Thank You.

Hello David,
Please tell me what would be the most important songs for every beginner to learn? I've just finished TB1 and BS2, I'm now doing solo Harmonica2 and learning TB2 i'm at chorus 5... and I am looking for great songs that I can learn with my level of skill. Can you please suggest a short list of songs to learn alongside with my regular lessons?

Thanks......

I am into Walter's boogie just now, and I am having problems just at the beginning (1st chorus).
I find very difficult to articulate properly the sequence:
3' 2 3' 3'' 2 3'' 3+ 2+ 3+ 3+ 2+ 3+ 3' 2 3' 3'' 2 3'' 3+ 2+ 3+ 3' 2 3'

The draw part is not bad but the blow one is very different from Horton's (of course!!!).

Did he play this passage puckering?