Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi Dave, I need a reminder of your music theory teaching method: I'm listening to Level 3, Accompaniment Study 3, Section 3: "Blues Creapin' Over Me, Part 1" and following along with the sheet music. The sheet music says Key of E (A Harmonica in 2nd Position). In that video, the descriptions of which holes are the root, 4th and 5th (G, C, D) don't match the Key of E (E, A, B). I think my confusion is because I have forgotten that you have said, probably many times, you base your music theory discussions on the C harmonica. continue reading...

I bought a special 20 about 2 weeks ago and since I can play single notes just fine, I started trying to bend. I can get the 4 draw almost down to Db, but the lower I get, the weaker and more distorted the sound gets, and eventually it stops playing completely (it sounds really bad and weak). I'm wondering if it is normal for the clearness of the sound to go away while exploring bending as a beginner? 

Thanks, David!

My chromatic has enough room on the comb to the left of the 1 hole that i can easily play the 1 hole with my mouth to the left of the hole. It makes for a super-quick and clean slide to the 2 hole. Is it a bad habit to get into though, and should I instead practice only positioning my mouth more directly over the 1,2, 3 holes and tongue block the 1 hole?

Thanks for your help, David!

Hello David,

Am I right in thinking that solo harmonica study three in L6 is the same as in L5 or am I missing something?

Many thanks

Saul

Hello David,

I am currently working on the song writing part of L5. I am using one of Jimi Lee's jam tracks. Am I meant to provide licks for every chorus in the track, I've counted 13 on my chosen track, or should I just do six choruses?

This is for the submission material btw.

Many thanks

Saul

David, I've been at this for a few days and am tossing this out there in the hope that maybe there's something to be tried that will be the proverbial light bulb for me.  I have no problem with bends on holes 1, 3-6 on either C or D harmonica.  I do find it easier to obtain the 1 hole bend by using a pucker for lower keyed harps, such as A, Bb.  And I can hit the half step 2 draw bend on C or D easily.  It's moving the tongue back from those half steps that has me feeling like there is no room to draw back the tongue further.  I feel that this bend should feel somew continue reading...

Hi Sir David

I have just started to watch yourvideos from Lessons part, but Im kinda confused about the order

Could you please guide me the order of lessons inside each Level? is it started simply from left to right? or it has some special precedure?

Thank you in advance

Hi David,

I recently joined Blues harmonica.com and am having a great time learning the harmonica with you.  I've just completed and thoroughly enjoyed your Music theory study 1. As one with no musical background I really like  the way you present the information and find it simple to understand. You refer to study number 2 and 3 in your closing comments  and I'd like to proceed but I can't find them on the lessons page. Can you help?

Kind regards, Simon

I have been playing for many years - but with very limited techniquesl I'm one of those people who can curl their tongue and I play almost entirely using the tip of my tongue on the bottom of the harmonica to direct air in and out to one of more notes.

Am I cursed with this well-engrained playing approach or can it be used to plan the same solefull licks as you teach?  Tongue blocking is proving difficult for me since I've played so long "curled"? 

Hey david, thanks for getting back to me quickly on my last question. I just have one more quick question, is it normal to run out of breath while I'm learning? and is there a good way to work on this to be able to play longer?