Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hello Dave, I like Slim Harpo's style of playing and I feel its within my reach to learn... do you think its good for me to try to learn a few of his songs at this stage of my skill level? do you recommend that?
Regards,
Preston

Hi David,

I know how to bend using the pucker method and am now starting to learn how to tongue block bend which is something i never knew to be possible until I started the lessons on your site.

My question is: when I practice the tongue block bend is it normal to feel the air flow through almost totaly on the right side of my mouth to the point where I feel my lower back teeth getting cold? should i be striving to get the air to flow more through the middle of my throat?

Thanks.

Mike

David,

I've been going through the Groove Training to kind of get a first run through on it before coming back to it later when I'm there in my studies.

It was very eye opening for me. I've always been a huge fan of Kimbrough, JLH, Diddley, etc. I really dig the trance-like quality to it. If you don't mind, I was wondering if you could recommend a handful of harp players and/or songs that utilize the Modal & Diddley Beat.

-Taylor

Hi David,

Most of my bending has been coming along slowly but surely. However, I came to another wall trying to bend the 3 draw a whole step (to a B) on the D harmonica. I reviewed the FAQ and bending videos but am still having difficulty.

You gave me quick fix last month with the A harp 3 draw half step bend, I was wondering if you had any juicy tidbits for my current dilemma, that being the D harp, 3 draw whole step bend. I can get the C and Bb but it's skipping the B.

-Taylor

Where on the site can we go to listen to the winning tracks?
-Taylor

Dave, the penny has dropped on how I should block the holes to work my way up a simple C scale. Yet I tried to do a simple song which combined blowing & drawing. I am finding it difficult to draw while tongue blocking. Thanks again ron0

''FROM YOUR WEB SITE'' I want to download some jam tracks to a CD so I can play my E and Low F harps. continue reading...

I'm having difficulty identifying where in a song the chords transition from the I to the IV to the V. I thought it would be helpful if the progression could be identified on a jam track and I could listen while the chord progression is identified.

Morning David.
I do not understand some BASIC concepts. I have a Hohner Chr. 12.
How does one place his tongue to blow just hole #1? This note seems more difficult than C on the four hole.
Secondly, do Chr. players have to do as much tongue blocking as the diatonic dudes do?
Finally, does the chromatic learning manual involve such an effective demo as you do in the diatonic series with Joe Tataglia?
Thanks, ron0

Hi David The first shuffle King video you played some examples. What were they ? Could you put a video on how to play them.

Thanks