Ask Instructor David Barrett

If covered somewhere else, please refer me there David.

What would be an approach to tackling one chord songs? Got hit with one at the last jam and never really thought about it before. I know there are 8 bar blues and 16 bar blues but they have a chord sequence like the 12 bar blues. Can you take a similar approach to chorus forms (A,A,B)?? Are the varied in chorus length the same way (eg. 12 bars)? How do you know when the chorus is over and a new one is starting? Turnaround? etc.

Would this be a possible lesson or is it so obvious that I'm missing something??

Hi David I'm having trouble with all the 1 hole draws in the Strut I fill up with air very quickly. I think that I tense up when I see all them 1's coming up any advise ?
Many thanks Ron

David,
I have paused in my lessons to back and take a closer look at learning rhythm. I dont think it is that easy..at least for me. Your book CLASSIC CHICAGO BLUES HARP #1, has an excellent section on rhythmic training...but it is very fast, at least for me. It like learning to dance...I have to go slow.
I have sought out local teachers but the lessons bog down immediately as each one has his own way and frankly they dont have the talent you do in teaching. Not even close.
Any plans on making LEARNING RHYTHM a subject of learning on the website?

Hi David. I feel one of my weaknesses so far is a strong tremelo, and I've been working on it in different ways. One thing I'm doing is practicing Walter Horton's "Easy". Is he using the tremelo effect or something covered later in the lessons.
Thanks

what in yours or anyone elses opinion are the scales that you practice most often i have your book on scales and dont know what is the most practical or most used scales and which ones i should be practicing the most any help would be good i know they all would be good but just trying to narrow my focus a bit and i would rather play mostly cross and 3rd position stuff as i have a good liking to the minor sound thanks

Hi David

Do you know which day/ days you will be at the NHL weekend festival? I can't afford the whole weekend but might try and get down there for a day.

Thanks, Rob

David,

When playing a rhythm on the 1 and 2 holes only say:

2 draw ( slap ) then pull (1 2 pull chord ) to a 2 blow (slap) then (1 2 blow pull) then to a 1 draw, what would you do for the syncopated beat since there are no lower notes then the 1? Would you just play the 1 twice doing a singel note pull or would you throw in the 2 ( for a 1 2 chord ) for the 2nd beat?

12 bar mephis rhythum

rhythum would be like: da da da da da da da da
2 draw 2 blow 1 draw 2 blow continue reading...

Hey, David, do you offer the following transcriptions anywhere?

Little Walter:
Quarter to Twelve
Mellow Down Easy
My Babe
You Better Watch Yourself

After many hours of arching and moving my tongue to different positions in my mouth without bending a note, I finally was able to lower the 6th hole a 1/2 step, the 2nd and 3rd holes a 1/2 step and a whole step each. I thought I was arching my tongue at first, but now I realize that I'm flattening my tongue somewhat and doing something with my throat to get the desired bends. Is that an ok technique or have I taken a road that will cause problems.

Greenshoes

David,

I am practicing with my tuner and just realized that my 3 and 4 blow can be some time be sharp in pitch and I can adjust my umberture to bring it to zero, kind of bending. I did not know you could bend blow note on the low end of the harp some what? Is it normal to have some notes sharp up to +15 with a normal blow?

Thanks 528hemi