Ask Instructor David Barrett

Dear Mr. Barrett, why would you recommend the danelectro and lone wolf delay specifically? Is a ibanez cd10 delay just as good? Or is there a difference? 

I've been trying to play the lick I hear on Paul Oscher's version of Sugar Mama (from Down in the Delta, 1:58-2:03) - but not only on the album - it sounds like a pretty common lick. I know it's based around a repeated pattern on the 4' 4 5 holes but I can't figure out the rhythm at all. Any advice on how to play this?

Hi David, firstly i would like to say how much i am enjoying using the website , i am new to learning the harmonica in a formal way and find that the structure of the course is exactly what i have been looking for, i puckered for a couple of years and spent quite a bit of time on peter madcats dvds and tom balls sonny terry licks which are both excellent but had no understanding of musical structure and have never really played with other musicians which is definetely my long term goal, i was a bit nervous when i first signed up and realised your teaching was using the tongue blocking method continue reading...

If you're playing an AAA chorus form that uses a lot of 3draw, would you bend it over the IV chord and still call it AAA - or would you notate it AA1A? In any case I imagine it's better than not bending it down over the IV chord.

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?