Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hello David.

I find myself learning just as much from the artist interviews as I do from your lesson materials. With that said, in his interview Kim talks about the evolution of his warble techinque and demonstrates using his tongue and split octaves. I know that split octave warbles are played in "the split" but I'm curious if you have any other material or recommendations on the technique Kim uses. 

Thanks!

Peter Allen Jensen 

David,

You can ignore the message for my Buffet Line recording review submission that I had an issue with the LOA T3 Test submission. The web site choked on the Buffet Line file saying it was too big. I then exported Buffet Line as a 192bit mp3 to meet the file size limit, and the file was accepted.

So I exported my mp3 files for the LOA 3 Test to meet the file limit size and when I resubmitted the files I was greeted with the opportunity to pay the evaluation fee. 

Know I know, export as 192 bit mp3s, not 256 bit. :-)

Mike

Hello David, I am 61 and decided to learn an instrument and decided on the harp, I am currently learning to block. My problem is hitting the notes clean. I notice that I also breath through my nose. When I pinch my nose it seems to clear up most of the problem. I watched Joe Filisko's lessons on blocking and he mentioned "pushing" which in his discription sounds exactly what I am doing and my understanding is that it's an advance technique. continue reading...

Hi David! I hope you are doing well!

I'm practicing Buffet Line and while playing along with the track, I notice that my bends in choruse 3 are not quite in tune with what you play

Are you starting your bend in the draw 3 second bend (F# note) right?

Any suggestion to nail that note in tune? Thanks

JH David,

I want to get better at using pentatonic scales. The major scale lends itself to practice, it seems to me, through use of 3rds patterns, very melodic. Do you have any suggestions for practicing pentatonic scales?

Hank H

The flutter is a challenge when putting it into a piece of music I'm trying to count beats and make my flutter consistant like a trmelo or vibrato and it feels like I,m trying to walk at one pace and juggle at another.I know when done properly it sounds different than a tremelo or vibrato but it feels real awkward and ive been working on it for a while.I know its supposed to be like multiple slaps but that does not sound right to me.

HELP!! Thanks

Hi David,

I was wondering if you know what harpswitch Charlie makes on " Puttin  on the dog " by Tom waits 

Song in Amin , he starts on third position in the intro and then goes to some beatiful warbles ,thought it was on the low d harp but that's not the case .Allthough he uses that too in the song .. Fifth position?? Great harp work for sure !

Thanks David !!

Hi David 

I guess you have been asked this question before. I am finding it hard to get motivated and into a routine with my harmonica practice. I have been on LOA achievements Level 3 for quite some time now and finding it difficult to move on . I guess coming from a Pucker player for 5 years them onto TB fully can be frustrating. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks 

Tony 

Hi David 

I guess you have been asked this question before. I am finding it hard to get motivated and into a routine with my harmonica practice. I have been on LOA achievements Level 3 for quite some time now and finding it difficult to move on . I guess coming from a Pucker player for 5 years them onto TB fully can be frustrating. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks 

Tony 

As I am going through the material at the LOA1 I've noticed that in each section except for the Song Study, there's more than what's required for the test.

For example, Solo Harmonica Study 1, for the test, asks to master/record/send Examples 1.2, 1.4 and 1.7, but the SH1 has up to 1.15 in the Section 1 and 2.1 -2.8 in the Section 2.  continue reading...