Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David

When you open the cup playing amped, do you increase your playing volume to compensate for the drop in sound going through the mic, or does the fact that the sound cuts through more make up for the volume loss?

Hi David
I have just signed up to your site for online instruction and I am finding it inspirational. I have been playing lip pursed for many years and I am trying to develop the tongue block sound. I wonder if you can help me with the tab for the George Smith track "Telephone Blues" from the Harmonica Ace album. I believe that the intro is a 1st hole draw then a 2nd hole bend then into a 1-4 draw octave but I'm a bit stuck to where it goes after that as I cannot get the descending part to sound right. I'm using an A harp.
all the best and keep up the good work
andy

Hey David how are you just a quick question i am now tongue blocking full time but when i practice for a while i find i have a little trouble controlling saliva. As disgusting as that sounds it's true to the point reeds stick while playing sometimes. Is this normal for beginning tongue blockers and if so is there a solution.

Hi David,
I'm having an issue with saving study songs on to my desktop in mp3 format. When I save a message comes up about a websaver format. Then when I load onto desktop the file is in a format with the symbol @ on the front and it will not load onto amazing slow downer. Need some help here.

Thanks
Anthony Giarratano

Hi David,

My first post here ! I'm just too curious so I gotta ask, I'm studying "Gettin out of town" at moment. Well, if that sounds too ambitious at least I listen to it a lot : ) and there is a few place in the song where he sustain the 3 draw hole step bend on a low c. I can do it lip purse (couldn't sustain it TB) but I'm not sure if it's the way he did it because in your interview he said he TB pretty much all time.. (I TB everywhere else in the song but just can't seem to find the way to sustain the TB bend here). continue reading...

David,

In the Improvising study 4 under support material section 2 exercise 1, Why do we have parenthesis around the 1 chord arpeggio notes? Do they represent draws? If so it is not consistant with the other tabbing. Also, is there a typo with the 2 as well? Should it not be the 2 draw?

Thanks for having a look,

528hemi

Hi David.

I've been listening to your playing of Blue Lights, History Of The Blues Harmonica Concert cd, and the original by Little Walter.

Are you playing the intro on the 1st octave or the 2nd on a 64 chromatic???
Is Little Walter coming on the 2nd octave?

Thanks

Hi David.
I want to ask you about your Rice Miller's Bye bye bird transcription. What version did you transcript?
I cannot find that version, all the versions i got began with a 54bend and something like 4 4 bend 3, this two times.
This one: http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/the-unissued-1963-blues-festivals/id205...

Thanks in advance.

high i have recently purchased a 1953 valco supro amp iwas curious in your opinion what would be the best mic element combo to go with this amp i figure you have one or have played through one and i know the eelment is personal choice of the sound you want i have the green bullet and it sounds fine i was just looking to upgrade and also were i could start even looking for a mic from a dependable source to purchase one i know you have fritz here on the site but didnt know if he has mics for sale with a cm or crystal i have emailed with greg hueman about making a wood bodied mic but i think the continue reading...

David i would like to personally thank you i am an official tongue blocker, i started playing lip pursing and switched while learning Take It Easy Now. I have the bends but still having trouble with high end notes but i love the full sound and the tongue slaps i'm hooked. Still don't play up to par with the lip pursing but getting there quick. When i raise the harmonica to my mouth i instantly place my tongue in position seems it's becoming habit thank you again. Never did i imagine i would be a tongue blocker