Ask Instructor David Barrett

Dave,
I am having problems with the tongue blocking on the 1 and 2 position of the song walk with me. It feels like
I run out of room on the left and I dont get clear notes, My tongue blocking works ok for a beginner mainly from 3 on up
Al

David,
Did i miss something? I reread and found key of D mentioned...which one? D is nice and easy.
Steve

Bars 8 and 9 of the third chorus when tounge switching between the 8 and 4 draw do I stay with a five hole octave embochure or use four hole embochure which seems to set you up for the the run starting on 7 blow?

Dave, okay I know the name of this site is Bluesharmonica.com, and I'm enjoying learning blues harmonica technique, but I'm still finding myself drawn toward the scary younger sister of Blues - Rock.

The music structure is basically the same, but the phrasing is very different - and much more varied - than Blues. While most rock harp playing I've heard certainly has it's roots in Blues method, it's not quite the same. continue reading...

Dave, I'm moving now into the intermediate study (this is getting exciting!), and I have a couple of questions about pulls.

Let's say there is a pull that has an emphasis on the four draw. Do I slap to the 1 through 3 holes - leaving the 4 draw open - then pull? Or, do I slap to the 1 through 3 holes - leaving the 4 draw open - the quickly slide my tongue over the 4 hole as well, and then pull? Does it matter?

I want to get this right out of the chute.

Bar 4; 1st chorus - couldn't figure out why what I played and what I heard were different (not unusual) but think that the second note in the 2-3-2-2+ riff is actually 3" and not 3. Is it my ears or does it matter?? Man that is some big, deep tone on the recording!!!!!

OK listened a couple (actually lots) more times and on the lesson, it's definitely 2-3-2-2+ but on the MP3 file, I'm sure hearing 3" - am I too fussy?? or just play it as written??

Hi David...I'm just starting to use a bullet mic and I'm noticing that I can see a small triangle of light, right below the mic, at the far end of my cup....It's where the lower fleshy part of my palms come together....Is this acceptable when trying to get a tight seal? Thank you...

3rd position study 4 requires an Ab harp - not something I had in my arsenal. I do have one now (and you are right; Jon does a great job!!). Now I'm wondering if there are any other keys that we would need other than the standard/basic seven (A,Bb,C,D,Eb,F,G)?? Thanks

David,
I carefully followed your breakdown on a 3 draw dip in Temperature. You said it should be SLIGHTLY FLAT...i caught your 3 draw dip going from G to G#...later you started going down to F# to G#. Is it OK to just go to the G...and work on getting the F# later.... F# sounds better i know.

on the 2 note combinations..ex..3/4..do you dip both at the same time? or start on the 3 and bleed the 4? My tuner shows no notes when i do either so its hard to know what is right.

Thank you... I am now getting those notes to sound on 3 draw..G..F#.. and F.
Steve

David, my inhale vibrato SUCKS. It's very uneven and I run quickly out of breath. What is the best way to practice this to get better at it?