Ask Instructor David Barrett

I've just bought your Improvising Blues Harmonica book (VERY useful - it's making me go back over the study songs I've learnt and apply the chorus forms in more depth) and am working through the first exercises on creating and transcribing question/answer licks and statements. One of the songs I thought I'd try and transcribe the I chord licks from is Little Walter's 'Off The Wall'. A couple of questions about that:

First, is the opening lick (repeated twice over the I chord) an example of a statement or would you call it a question that's answered by the IV chord lick? continue reading...

Hi David,
on the 3rd chorus starting with the 2...2 draws....TB them or articulate with Gs in a pucker?
also in the IV chord...after the 2...3 blow slaps.....starts with the 12 pull....then what to do on the remaining notes....
TB or pucker ... esp on the 2 draw and then the 3 4+ 3 triplet...

Thank you!

Hi David!!!

I have a question about the interview with Rick Estrin in the section " Tongue Blocking ",
at 00:21 you play a lick of Sonny Boy Williamson II and talking about chording and articulation,
in that lick you do "Slaps Pulls" ? or do articulation like "T" or "K"?
I'd like to learn the sound of Sonny Boy and in this lick there is the essence :)

thanks for what you teach through this fantastic site!!!

Best Regards

Marko

David,
Mark Hummel mentioned in his interview that his playing improved when (in my words here) he realized that the notes available for playing in the various positions actually overlapped. Is this basically the same thing you are referring to in your theory section when you discuss the level of tones? I want to understand what he meant, but have very limited theory background to approach it. continue reading...

I've watched the videos over and over... I feel like I'm doing the things you are teaching but my flutter sounds different than yours.

I would describe yours as a mellow undulating pattern of single note and chord... mine is a much less subtle slap like shift between the single note and chord.

This is the first technique I've hit that has stumped me... if I could even accidentally reproduce the right sound I think I might be able to figure it out, but so far no luck.

Any advice?

Hi David!!!!

I have a question about thinking :)

i found that when i'm playing a study song ( that i know well ),

if i play it with the backing track and think to what i play and come next , i do errors,

if i don't think and i let flow the song i play it well.....

Thanks,

Best Regards

Marko

Hello David,
I am practising using my mic .. even when not using an amp. I am finding it hard to get an airtight cup.
More importand though.. after watching your videos..i cant see how your lips are on the harp..with the harp up against your face to block the holes.
I find that to use a pucker you have to hold the harp farther away from you face and as you go up your face gets farther and farther away which really makes big gaps appear between the harp and your cup. continue reading...

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I finally got my chromatic back after being seperated from it for a few years. I found I am really running out of breath with all the draws. Is this because of larger reeds and an overall larger instrument? Any insights on keeping some more air in the pipes?

6th chorus So Blue For You, bar 8 - mouth dry, chrom covers sticking to my lips so its hard to get the shake. I tried a lighter contact on the harp to see if that would help but then the tongue cover doesn't give me a true octave shake. When I try it on its own (out of context) and lick my lips first, it seems to work OK but back in context and by the time I get to that bar, I'm dry. (come to think of it, that's why we go into bars;-))

So is there any 'tip' or is this another case of "keep at it and it will come eventually"??