Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

I've recently joined and am enjoying the site so far. I notice on your tab sheets you list the Key, followed by the Groove. The Groove section will list an Ult Jam track such as "Slow 8 Bar Blues in E". I assume these are backing tracks with no harmonica being played over them. How do I gain access to these Ult Jam tracks?

Thanks and enjoy your day,

Greg

Hello David,

when i play study songs or other pieces i often get stuck in triplets with pauses. Mainly on them where the first note is a pause.

Everytime they occur i got stuck for days/weeks and try to play them more consistently

Ive tried many things like:

rhythm exercises on youtube and bluesharmonica.com

playing triplets with -2 to get the triplet feel and playing with the pause afterwards. (During this practice i count in my head ta-ta-ta and with the pause i try to think the first ta away) continue reading...

Dave, for the level 3 accompaniment playing study for the test, where do I find the jam track or do I find my own off site.   Thanks  Bill Nelson

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