Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David!

I saw the Blue Midnight hohner blues harmonica and i'm interesting for buy it. So I´d want to know your opinion about this harmonica. I have a Marine Band and Special 20, these are similar of the Midnight?

Here In Brazil, we don't have this harmonica yet, do you know a store that sell and ship to Brazil?

Thanks for your attention!!!

Hi David,

What are the + notes above the 3 draw half step bends on the 3rd chorus of My Blues? I thought the plus above meant to bend a quarter step. Also, on the 2nd line of the 3rd Chorus there is a > sign above the 6 and 3 blow octave. What does this mean? I looked under the notation key but am still confused. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Taylor

Dave, just a fast question, I am getting ready to do my analysis for focus notes for the different chours lines of Temperrature.. I dont just want to look at the answers, I want to make sure I know what I am doing. My question is Would I be correct In thinking that my focus note will always be the note that is repeated the most, and the one that you hold on to a little longer? Sorry for some of my lame questions, just want to make sure I going in the right direction. Thank you Dan

Hello David,

Whats the difference between a dip and a slur?
Example... a slur from 3' to 3 and a dip on 3?
Thanks....

David,

I'm trying to figure out something really cool you sometimes do on ending longer notes. For example, the draw 5 flutter on bar 8 on the first and second chorus of "the split.". You sort of crescendo into the end of the note, ending it abruptly. It's very rhythmic and sets up the next phrase well. The effect seems more pronounced on the amplified mp3 recording than the video, but present in both. How exactly are you ending that note? Stopping it abruptly with your tongue, a slight gliss off, or....?

It's really cool!

Steve

David,

I know you use Filisko harps. What tuning do you use? Pure 7 limit just, a compromise tuning, or equal? By listening I'm guessing it's a compromise tuning, perhaps similar to the current marine band tuning? continue reading...

Hi Dave.
I think I am getting easily (after hours and hours of working) the bends on the high octave while tongue blocking, but I need an exercise, lick, song piece,..., that demands perfect bending control for the harmonica high part.
Can you advice about that?

If possible I need the same for 3 draw bends articulation but if possible not an exercise but a song.

Thank you in advance.

Hi David,

Are there any lessons on the website that teach the Side-Flutter tongue?

-Taylor

Dave, on wed., aug 30, i sent you an audio e-mail of me playing all 5 different chord forms. it was a lengthly piece, and i was told that i could not send it, because it was too big of a file. i was going to resend it via 2 different e-mails today, but when i got into me e-mail on thurs. i found an e-mail from you saying 10-4 no worries. I wanted to make sure you got my recording before i moved on to somethingelse.

I've started going through the bending lessons.

What I've found is that on my Special 20, pretty much straight away I've been able to bend every hole. No probs.

However on my Marine Band and Suzuki Bluesmaster I've had no such luck and can at most get a little wobble here and there.

What is the reason for such a difference with each harp? What do I have to do differently to get these darn other harps to bend?

Thanks