Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi Dave, I'm a new member and am enjoying exploring the site. I joined up to get deep into the tongue block techniques, after starting off as a lip purser. continue reading...

David, I'm really spending a lot of time trying to drag these bends out. On the bright side - I got my first overblow today! Wow! It was quick, but it was there, and I had a beer to celebrate.

When I'm dragging the 2 and 3 draw low - really low - the back of my tongue is pretty much humped on the roof of my mouth, making crunchy k-k-k-k sound (for want of a better way to put it). How do I pull these bends really low and not have to have my airway constricted to the point of the air scraping it's way through the obstruction?

I'm working on Cool Blue and (maybe overkill on detail) had the same question come up in my mind as when I was on No Sweat. Do you go with a tongue slap on each note -even in triplets (3-4-5)?? Or do you use the TS for emphasis only on certain notes? When a song is this tempo and the notes are quarter or triplet, it's slow enough to use them almost everywhere but is that overkill and ends up detracting from the emphasis that TS can give you. Is there some formula or just "what feels right". (As I ask, I realize just how "rookie" this sounds)

David,

I've been going through the Jason Ricci interview and I'm intrigued with his discussion on scales. In other music study I've done on other instruments in the past, scales represented a good part of that education. Many of the classical masters of composing based their entire works on the variations of scales. Understanding that Jason comes from a more rock background than blues, do you agree with him that incorporating scale study when learning harmonica is an important method of developing an improvising mindset? If so, do you have plans to put up scale study on this site? continue reading...

David

I can see now why you always ask the artists you interview about the 3 draw half step and full step bend..and how they learned to do it.
It looks to me that this is what separates the men from the boys in harmonica study.
I am having a heck of a time…getting anything to sound…mostly sucking air…and if I do hit one of the required notes….man…is it ugly sounding..! continue reading...

In the Solo lesson "Quiet World", you use what I hear on a lot of similar solo play - what I'll call "foot stomping". I've tried to record a number of bars on Garage Band and then extend it. It's been my foot hammering on the floor, my fist hammering on the desk, but it just doesn't come out 'musical'. I've searched through the loops in GB but don't see anything that is just a single beat. Any suggestions or tips on how it's done?? I'd like to use it when I submit Quiet World (if I ever get there) and use it for other solo harp stuff. continue reading...

David,
I have ordered a Wezo harp amp.....now the question is what do you think is the best match in a mic for this system?
I am still stuggling to get an airtight cup with my Turner w/CM element so I am hoping it is something not much larger.
Thanks!
Steve

Having trouble bending on a D harp - I can bend more or less okay on C and below and am most comfortable on A and G harps, which I've played the most. I'm pretty sure it's my technique which is at fault since I've got two D harps - a Lee Oskar and a Suzuki Bluesmaster - and the problem's the same on both: I struggle to control anything above 2 draw without getting a whistling sound. I can bend 5 draw and 6 draw on lower harps okay, as well as the blow bends up to 10 blow, but for some reason I get this whistling on the D harps. What does that mean? Am I trying to bend it too far?

Here is a good one...
Charles Bronson played the character Harmonica in the movie...ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST...directed by Sergio Leoni...A Classic!
To create tension Bronson played a short (maybe for notes with a single bend) riff..right before the bad guys got their butts kicked.
Do you know the note combination and key of harp?
My brother and I have been wondering for years...I would like to play it for him.
I figure with the bend this could be considered a legitimate blues question.
Thank you Master..
Steve

Hi Dave, continue reading...