Ask Instructor David Barrett

hi david

this is tommy

i have noticed a reed is out of tune and and flat

i do not wish to try and reshape it back into tune

it is an Osker harp, i am familiar with replacing the whole reed plate, or repace the whole harp

is it possible that someone can replace the one bad reed? 

          if yes, could you refer me?

thanks

Hey David, 

I'm working on LOA 6 and trying to get my blues scale down. Something I'm really struggling with in that scale (and frequently in other songs/exercises) is this gross gargle sound I get during certain bends. With multiple attempts, I can usually reduce it, but I don't consciously know what I'm doing differently to not get it, which means I can't premptively avoid it. 

I always tongue block, but I did experiment with bending while lip pursed, and when I do that the gargle goes away. continue reading...

Suppose that 2 and 3+ are both mastered (which is not yet stable for me, either way, so I cannot reliably experiment).

On your examples, one can find both as slaps on a I chord. Often I find that my slapped 3+ would sound better as slapped 2, because the chord is more adequate. When I come back to your recordings, it isn't so, though (except the repeated 3+ on Temperature, for which I would be interested to compare with a pro-level 2 alternative...). continue reading...

1 and 2 draws are the first beat, the second beat to the right is a1,2 drawchord which happens to be on the right followed by the 2+3+2+ triplet to end in the 1,2 draw, meaning that 

( 1.2. 2+3+2+) are played at the same beat? 

Thank you in advance.

Dear Mr Barrett,

I would like to unsubscribe before my free coupon comes to an end, but when I try I get a message that says "access denied". continue reading...

Hallo,

I would like to beginne the harmonica learning with Key C and have no harmonica Key-A. But for the lessons in Level 1 one need a harmonica in Key-A. Are the lessons also suit to harmonicas of Key-C.

Hi Dave,

I'm struggling a little with my shakes, (and I don't mean alchohol withdrawal haha). Is there a tutorial on them, or is it simply a matter of finding my way?

Thanks

Saul

hi dave

i was thinking of a 2x10 cabinet

or even some thing more elaborate

do you suggest an open back or closed?

also

when you modified your bassman re issue, or any bassman 

  besides the tube changes, the speaker changes, and the half watt capacitor changed to a full watt

are there more changes often made into the circuit board by harp techs?

i have a 55 bassman and a 60 concert

thanks

tommy

One thing confuses me in the bending study number 1 explanation. Your Ssh-Kee-Koo transitions (without harmonica) sound as if you were forcing the air through with much pressure, getting a "hissing" sound. But I suppose that when bending the air flow should not change drastically, else speed would be very hard to achieve.

I suppose that the hissing is exaggerated for educational purpose, to better hear the pitch change? Or does bending actually require a much harder breathing pressure, the control of which would be part of bending control? continue reading...

Hi David continue reading...