Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David

I am getting on ok with my draw bending and have made some progress with blow bending holes 7, 8 and 9 but I am really struggling to use tremolo on any bent note. Do you have any tips on how I can do this? My draw tremolo on unbent notes is coming on reasonably but I am a bit stuck when it comes to the bent ones.

Thanks in advance

Simon

Hello David, I am new here, I got my harmonica today and I never played a tune in my life! But now I am going to be good at it! I am dedicated! I have a Hohner Marine Band 1896 (Classic). It might have been the wrong choice but what can I do, I already bought it.

My question is: In the first lessons you always say I need an A Harmonica. Does that mean I can´t do the lessons with the one I got? What does A Harmonica mean? 

Best wishes! / Åse, Stockholm

David, beginner here working on walk with me chorus 1 and 2. Struggling with tongue in back coming up on  blow and especially draw on holes 3, 2, and 1. Any further suggestions.

In one of your recent posts, you used the label "no-tone wonders" in reference to what might happen if one does not focus on developing a good tone early in their studies.  I’m worried this could be me.    continue reading...

Hello Dave,

I have noticed that when practicing a lick or a piece in general is that once I achieve certain speed in playing it then when I attempt to play if slower it comes much more easily to me, so basically I aim to play some things I practice at the maximum velocity possible, not because I intend to perform them that way, but because when I do have to perform them in a slower pace they would feel like "a piece of cake".

I am not sure however if that is is best approach so I have decided to ask the master once again.

  continue reading...

Hello Dave,

I would like to ask you about something tha thas caught my attention on the Steve Baker's interview. Especially the part about improvising: https://www.bluesharmonica.com/steve_baker#TB_inline?inlineId=12303&heig...

There at the begining Steve talks about fusing the Major Pentatonic and the blues scales.

So I have tried to imagine how would that look like over the entire range of the harmonica (with the substitutes for the overbklows) and here is what I got: continue reading...

Hi David.....I have and read some of your lesson books and you have said that you only pucker to bend notes from the 4 hole down. Then you mentioned in your videos that you tongue block everything on the harmonic, incuding bends(except hole one). I want to continue the Tongue Block Method because of the different textures that are available. I can pucker and TB(except hole one)the bends from the 4hole down which sound pretty much the same. continue reading...

Hello David. 

Do you know if the danelectro  pb and j delay pedal is suitable for harmonica 

Thank you for your time

Hello David,

Your Rice Miller artist study is awesome thanks for your work! I rushed through watching the videos and heard the metronome in the background. Did you mention how many BPM you are using for the metronome? Sorry if I missed it? I just ordered  Hohner Low F so I want to give it a try? 

Thanks Sanshinboi

Hi Dave, 

How do I determine how fast or slow to tongue flutter please?

I'm mainly referring to 'Gary's Blues'.

Many thanks 

Saul