Ask Instructor David Barrett

i just purchased the two cd set you have and got the free whammer jammer transcription and was wondering if there is a way to purchase the rest that you had available and also the music download of your playing thanks the unpublished live performance that is

Hello David,
I have been working Solo Harmonica lessons. My 2-3-4 blow and draws lack your power. I have held my nose and seems I get better tone...or maybe holding my nose creates more resonance in my head and just sounds better in my ears.
I am finding that I might have established a bad habit in balancing my breath by breathing through my nose. However in watching your video in Solo I can see your nostrils flaring so you are using your nose too it seems.
Should I be avoiding using my nose as much as possible? continue reading...

delete this

Hi David,

Do you intend to be putting any videos up for playing scales? Are they beneficial
to practice? Just curious if it is something to be practicing along with all the other great stuff?

Thanks 528hemi

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...