Ask Instructor David Barrett

I noticed that you prepared this site a few years ahead as some of the interviews were obviously performed well before the BluesHarmonica.com debut. I'm curious --

Do you have any archival material of Pat Ramsey? He and Jason Ricci are my main inspirations (in fact, sometimes they almost sound interchangeable). Ramsey definitely left us too early.

I just realized I dont have the best Blues Harmonica Jam Tracks to study 2nd position and Soloing.
Which one should i get...Blues Harmonica Jam Tracks & Soloing Concepts...MB99105BCD or the 110DC? Or is there another better one?
I would like to have tracs for all the common keys we will be studying. I have C harmonica Blues Tracs but it only covers C harp.

Good day David,

First let me be clear, I'm an Absolute Novice!
No, not just to the harmonica... I've never touched a musical instrument in my life!

I subscribed to BluesHarmonica.com about a month ago and I'm following the "Beginning Study Plan".
I've watched a good number of the videos (Blues Harmonica Fundamentals) and the first few in (Tongue Blocking Study 1).

Here is my question:
Where do I really start? continue reading...

David,
My last question was about not understanding the Chord concepts. I remembered I had your book..."Exploring 2nd Position...Level 2". Its great!
Much better at describing the Blues Scales and Verse forms than on the website..(I think).
Your Movement exercises & soloing are very good and fun.
I love the licks..very cool...
Question: is Ex. 3.6 advanced? page 12
Again, the book is a must...
Steve Baker said you were "the best harmonica teacher on the planet"....who would know better than him?
Steve

David thanks for the last 33 weeks that I have been on your great site it has gone so fast, I must be learning something ,got myself CX12 chromatic so even more to think about ,next year hope to get my B-Radical in key A that I ordered June this year.
Have a great Christmas and new year
Ron in cold UK

Just been listening to the Lost Fox Train piece off Hazmat Modine's brilliant album and it got me thinking about the different air brake noises I've heard on train pieces (as well as on other stuff). Is there a variety of air release techniques in the same way that there are other techniques like pulls, slap, trills and so on? I guess it depends on the player too, but I've definitely heard a range of different sounds.

David wrote:

"To be patient is to have the capacity of calm endurance. To give yourself time is to actively work toward a goal without setting a limit on how long you will work.” Master Bong Soo Han [Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams, pg 16]

You mean I could suck at this FOREVER?!? ;o)

Happy anniversary to you, too! This is one of the few sites out there that I feel I truly get real content worth my investment. I can't wait to see what you have in store for 2011.

Great job, happy holidays, and a Happy New Year, too.

Hi David continue reading...

David,

I'm watching the Brendan Power interview (after you recommended I look at his tunings for some of the nutty stuff I'm trying to do), and I got to wondering (and hoping) - -

Do you plan this year - or in the future - to explore alternate tunings and music styles on this site? I know the name of the page is Bluesharmonica.com, but I'm curious as to whether you plan to reach out into areas like rock, jazz, country, pop, etc.

Not bored or dissatisfied, just wonderin'...

Dave,

Regarding the third position study song Blowin' My Horn:

On the 6th chorus at the first measure of the change from the I to the IV chord the transcription notates 3+/9+ as the octave. Granted it can be done but it is very, very challenging at full pace (as though this song was not already challenging enough!). continue reading...