Ask Instructor David Barrett

Not really sure how to ask this one. I've been told I'm too hesitant or 'shy' in my playing and I need to be more assertive. I've worked on timing and am trying to reduce the amount of force I use in blow/draw. Do people like Gary Smith, Andy Just and those that play 'gritty and dirty' just use more force, have certain amp settings and pedals, use certain notes or ??????????? I've listened and listened but just don't seem to be able to translate it into my playing.

Does my question even make sense?

Hi, I'm a beginning leftie and naturally hold the harmonica in my right hand. It feels very awkward if I hold it in my left hand. I've tried but it just doesn't feel right.
Is this OK, or should I try to switch to the left.

Cheers
Terry

Hi David...

Just wanted to ask you about this pedal you talk about in your last video in the Equipment Section. Is that the DE-1 DAN Echo Effects pedal? just to make sure. I liked it.

Thanks

Claudio

David,
In "Feelin for the Blues" where are you starting the 3 dip? In the notation material it states that the dip would be "around a quartertone or half step" and I wondered if this is one of those instances where it more of a feeling for the passage than it is a "rule". I see that if you are trying to learn a passage exactly as it is written you would certainly want to end at the notated pitch - in this case the 3 natural, but where to start the dip was escaping me.

Does cupping make a big difference on the high end of the harp? I find that I dont hear much difference
when trying to cup on the high end. Maybe I am not cupping correctly when playing up there?
It definitely feels harder to me to maintain a good cup on that end.

Thanks 528hemi

Trying to learn Walter's Boogie (very slowly). Couple of questions -

I've tabbed the 5th and 6th bars from the second chorus, not including the tongue flutter intro, as follows - I think it's more or less right.

My question is this: should you articulate all these notes with a 'g' or 'k' or whatever, or is the passage too fast for that? I guess at least notes carrying stress should be articulated. I have to play it very slowly to get the bends at the correct pitch but I have a hard time articulating everything when I try to speed up.

end of bar 4
[bent 2 draw, 2 draw] continue reading...

Hey David as you know I write all my songs I usually have my buds site in as we work the song out, or i do it with loops in logic, but today as I was working out the rollin rumba in 3rd position words came to me for this track where can i get good backing tracks like the ones you have are you having your guys put them together for you?

Hello David,

Where would be the best place to obtain the "Amazing Slow Downer"? There is alot of websites to download from, but which oe is the safest?

Regards
Harmonica Hank

David,
If you could, let me know if you got Temperature in a useable form. I had some problmes on the first song getting it to you - I show it as mp3, but then again that is what happened the first time and it was not right.

Thanks,

Bob Freeze

do you know if they have garage band for a pc and not the mac and if not is it just as easy to use the music creator 5 that you recomend and if so will you be doing a how to use video on that as well thanks