Ask Instructor David Barrett

Feelin' Good is already available on transcription with your Serious Fun CD if desired. But.....is there any chance that the Butter Strut (from your recent concert) and Matchstick (from your History of the Blues CD and recent concert) will be available on transcription any time in the near or distant future?

Now the "tip of the day" is a great thing and a constant reminder to me of how much there is to learn and keep in mind BUT........ the Video Tips have taken it to another level. To see and hear what you are describing is awesome. Another lesson in how I need to learn to actively listen to music.

And for what its worth - the Feelin' for the Blues presentation is absolutely "sick" - a term I've learned from the young 'uns means awesome!!! that was some demonstration of 3rd, 2nd and 1st position playing Thanks!!

Holy cow! That Butter Strut track on the harmonicamasterclass YouTube page is a real killer and clearly a great (and unexpected) groove to have in your repertoire. Is it an original composition and, if it is, how did you come up with the head and the song structure? It's very different than any of the blues structures I'm getting used to!

Dave,
I just watched the Tom Ball interviews. I have to admit I had no knowlege of him or his work till now.
He described teaching himself the harp from the ground up... before the days of books on harmonica..or even finding teachers. I dont know how he did it , his motivation must have been unearthly.
I know I could not do it.
I really liked Tom.. and as always your interviews are so helpful for all of us as students. continue reading...

I finally got my feet back on the ground from a global whirlwind over the past couple of months. I open Bluesharmonica.com for the first time in a while this weekend, and what do I find?

You were in Trossingen?!?

I was literally down the road from you in Neckartenzlingen for three days the same time you were in Trossingen! JEEZ, I wish I had been checking the website more frequently.

Wow, small world... continue reading...

Your advice on using second position licks over the IV chord in third position has been a real eye opener - I hadn't made that connection between the different positions before. It's definitely helping my playing. continue reading...

Hello David! of all the harmonica's, the 3 draw on tha A, is the most difficult. you use the A harmonica for the walk with me lesson, i am working my way through it, but i need some advice as to getting a better sound from the 3 draw...it not only sounds like a strain, but it also is hard to draw on...
help?

thanks, T-Bone
T. Hoovestol

Glad you're having a great time in Europe. Hope the trip home is smooth and safe.

As a technical writer, I learned to ask the "dumb" questions, because if I have it someone else will too: So,

1. What's a monitor? and

2. In your awesome site with so much information, is there a spot I can go to that talks about monitors?

(I can't keep up with what you have already, and my guess is there's so much more to come.)

If you go from a 4 dip bend to a 5-2 side flutter, do you

1.play the 5 first

or

2. play the 2 first?

(As in Off the Wall, 5th chorus, 7th bar)

Thanks,

Anne Marie

(Sorry I wasn't clear. I write for a living, so I tend not to be clear unless I'm being paid :-)

Dave,
Ex. 2.6 Rhumba 3
after the 3 combo..
it goes 4 5+ then a chord 4321
you say to take your tongue off ...but dont you have to move down one hole first to the 4.so that your not drawing draw 1-5 holes.?
Thank you!