Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David

I found an audio file on www.overblow.com on the D Major scale. In harmonica session you say to memorize this. when I practice it doesn't sound right. maybe bc I am just starting to learn it and its a new sound. and I 'm not sure if I am getting the 2 ' and the 3 '' & 4 ' to sound right

Thanks

I would like to supplement the great lessons on this site by learning some harmonica tunes by ear. I was wondering if you had any tips on what tunes to start with? Would it be a good idea for a novice to transcribing, to try and pick out the harp on Muddy tunes? Or is there a better way of going about this? I've already figured out most of "Easy" by Big Walter, but I was attracted to the tune mostly 'cuz of it's name being that I am a beginner when it comes to transcribing!

Hi Dave, I'm an intermediate player buying my first amp. Have talked to MegaTone and Sonny Jr. What's the difference between the ME-18 and the Super Cruncher?
thx
DW

Did you ever put out a William Clarke tab book? I could swear that I saw one a few years back, and I was thinking that you might have been the one who put it out? If so, what ever happened to it?
Thanks,
-Ryan

When you're playing the high end in first position, do double stops work the same way as in the lower and middle octave - ie. the main note is the lower note and you let the higher one bleed in, or is it the lower note that bleeds in? And can they both be bent at the same time? (You may have answerd this in the first position lessons but I haven't got there yet!)

Also, is vibrato preferred over tremelo on the high end? I've noticed that my tremelo makes high end notes sound tinny.

Dear Mr. Barrett, on Cash Money, did William Clarke use tongueblocking all the time? It seems to me he's using sometimes double tongueing on some licks. Is the intro lick played with slaps and pulls? 

G'day David, i'm looking for jam tracks suitable for All Night Long (Rock Me), Early in the Morning (as per jr wells hoodoo man blues album) and Wish You Would, such as Billy Boy Arnold played on his Back Where I Belong album.

Have you put out a set which would cover all these?

Thanks,
Dave

Hi David,
when you applying the 5 type of chorus forms during improvisation,
you choose the chorus form before play it or during a lick and choose where to go in the moment?

thanks

Best Regards

Marko

Hi David

I found a lick chart ( Mel Bay's Blues Harp Licks Chart by you .But lost the CD is there any way I can get another copy ( MB 20719BCD )

Thanks

Question about phrasing: I often find when playing to jam tracks that my phrasing is becoming too regular - everything starts on the first beat, lasts two bars, then there's a pause, repeat the lick for two bars, etc., etc. I think partly it's a consequence of concentrating on using chorus forms and partly from having a limited lick vocabulary. I don't mind that too much because I know it's just an inevitable stage in learning - you pick up a structure and apply it too rigidly at first - but it's still frustrating. continue reading...