Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hello Dave,

Here I am with another musical dilema.

I am curently trying to learn the 'mean old world' piece by little walter.

The recording where he does a lot of 3 4 trills.

On the solo he goes into a 'bent trill' and then releases.

Thats pretty common in other pieces as well in a couple of songs i have studdied here.

So my question: how deep can I afford to bend that trill before it nolonger sounds musical? 

can it be 3''' 4' or i should aim for 3" 4' or even 3' 4' ?

Hello, David! I've been of BluesHarmonica.com for a bit, just after I achieved LoA4, but I never stopped playing. Although I was drawn to this site becuase of the LoA structure, I felt I had reached a point where I needed something a bit more free-flowing and less structured, especially since this is my only experience as a musician. I started my own journey and feel I have grown quite a bit in my improvisational ability during the last year. continue reading...

While working on The Strut and doing the 1 4 draw octave I'm noticing that it's possible (though difficult) to bend both draws, as well as get a crazy psychedelic intonation related beating if you bend one slightly out of tune with the other. Obviously, working on level four, there are tons of things I could prioritize practicing, but it was a fun distraction. Are these useful techniques moving forward that I might revisit and keep in my back pocket? 

While working on The Strut and doing the 1 4 draw octave I'm noticing that it's possible (though difficult) to bend both draws, as well as get a crazy psychedelic intonation related beating if you bend one slightly out of tune with the other. Obviously, working on level four, there are tons of things I could prioritize practicing, but it was a fun distraction. Are these useful techniques moving forward that I might revisit and keep in my back pocket? 

bonjour David est se que tu aurais des bon backing blues chicago  et rein d'autre a me passer ou sur youtube  ou que toi tu as pour improviser dessus ?? merci 

Hi David, 

I'm a total novice of less than a week with a harp.

I have some experience playing brass instruments in my youth, tenor horn & trombone, both of which rely on blowing only.

I am beginning to get used to the idea of drawing as well as blowing, but I am finding the speed of transition between the two (playing a triplet - blow, draw, draw - for example) quite difficult with any pace.

Transitioning from blow to draw feels very unnatural at the moment. 

Any tips or exercises you can suggest?

Thanks continue reading...

David, i am on i want you with me, i can play all the notes, but i cannot get through the song without the harmonica clogging up with spittle, which means i cannot complete the song in one go. i have tried to tip the harmonica backwards but i still get the same problem. Is there anything i can do, because it is really holding me back. have other students found this problem or is it that i produce too much splttle. if i can solve this problem my studies would take off. many thanks

David,  I watched the video on brainstruments with great interest.  Was wondering if you play to a mental model and what it is?  Do you think anyone can devleop a model or is it an innate ability of some musicians?

Hello Dave,

I found in my drawers an old marine band harp that a friend of mine had gifted me some 20 years back.

It is marked as Dm on the cober plate.

I sounds like a different tunning. I would guess the m is for minor.

What I fail to get though if it is supposed to be a 1st position or a second position minor.

Can you please give me a hint of how I could find that out.

I am still not that far in my studdies to be able to figure it out by myself.

Thanks in advance!

Hello,

I enjoyed the interviews of you by your wife.  On your video wih her, you indicated that Blues for Mr. B by Gary Smith is one of your favorite harp albums.  I've listened to it a few times since your recommendation and love this album.

Are there any sources for free or purchased trascription tab or music for Gary Smith or other blues masters? 

Thank you!  Doug