Ask Instructor David Barrett

I just want to share how I made a huge leap in my bending abilities. :^)

I could not bend 2 notes together at all, as required in the level 4 songs. It always ended with a single bended note, the second hole ending blocked by my tongue.

I had taken the habit of pushing my tongue forward to initiate the bend while keeping the tongue on the harmonica, because keeping that contact was so hard at first. My tongue was quite tense, although I had succeeded in relaxing enough of its back to get some deeper bends (2" and 3"). continue reading...

Hello David,

I probably can't see the forest for the trees here.

I am looking for some "chugging" ideas; as in the "I am a man" lick-sort of thing, where the lick is played and then a "response" is made.

I would like to have a few of these ideas in mind so that I can use them for practicing when I am out and about with my harmonica in my pocket.

I will post this as well in the General Section. I am sure others have some good ideas on this topic. Hows about it?

Hank

Im having a little trouble getting 

Started what steps should i follow

And will the site keep up with where

Ive been Im finding myself bouncing 

Around.

Thanks 

Allan Bellamy 

i just signed up and wanted to get started but only have a G harmonica.

can it still get going?

jessie

I know this will vary with each person, but I thought I would ask for a general answer. How long should we be at each level before progressing if we are playing 30min-1hr a day? When you came up with the LOA program did you have a timeline for level progression? Should I be on Level 1 for 1 month or 3months..? What is the general expectation?

Hi David, another question.

I was listening to the "Introduction to Accompaniment Playing Study 3". At about the 40 second mark, you mentioned that you hoped we were studying our "note cards".

I must have missed that. Can you tell me where to find how to make these cards? I need some practice on this. I assume these "note cards" are flash cards of some sort.

Thanks David,

Hank

Hello David,

I am looking over the Level 3 Test requirements. It looks to me like I can choose one of ex. 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.3 or 2.4  for the Solo requirement. I just want to be sure. I will practice all of them anyway.

Thanks, Hank

In the Solo Harmonica lessons there is an exercise called Mark Hammel’s Submission.  In the second chorus there are some 3’ draw notes with a plus sign above them which I think means these are half of a half step bend.  If I have that correct my question is why would someone only do a quarter bend for a note?  My untrained ear can’t hear the difference. 

My second question is, how do you reliable do a quarter bend?  I use the Keee sound to get the 3’ and even then, I struggle to not pass the half step bend.

Thank you,

Brian in Tennessee

bonjour David je me pose quant meme beaucoup de questions j'ai peur en fait d'apprendre tous se que tu me donne ici en leçon et de ne pouvoir tous retenir de cela pour apres si un jour ont me demande de jouer en groupe je pense que je ne pourrais jamais tous retenir car sa fait beaucoup de choses c'est une peur que j'ai car la musique c'est un long chemin sa fait deja 9 ans que je pretique l'harmonica et dont 8 ans avec un proffesseur en françe et je doute de mon travaille et de ma memoire a pouvoir tous mettre ensemble c'est assez flippant de se dire que je rique par rapport a d'autres mus continue reading...

Hi David,

should I skip playing Eb in Chromatic Scale exercise for LOA 7?  Or the purpose was to learn overblows/overdraws and Eb have to be played?