Ask Instructor David Barrett

I purchased a C Diatonic Harmonica and came to learn how to play it, but your lessons say they need an A Harmonica. Will I be able to follow the lessons using a C Harmonica? 

Hi David,

You're probably sick of my complaining aboiut not getting the bends, but ... I don't seem to be able to  (or don't recognize) hump my tongue while drawing breath and blocking with my tongue gently on the back of my teeth. Are there other exercises that might be more effective than trying to inhale while Shhh Keee Koooing? I can get the exact pitch change you've demonstrated, but it doesn't translate to a consistent, tone worthy bend. The draw bends I get could never be incorporated into a level 3 song.

Thanks.

Phil S.

Hi Dave, 

New student here. I was wondering if you could give me some tips on example 1.12 in solo harmonica study 1. I'm having trouble with having more air in than i can get out after a few bars.

Thanks!

Boris

Hi David,

I have just taken delivery of a Honer HB52 harp blaster mic and I cannot get it to work. I have a "Live Wire professional OFC low noise microphone cable from the mic into the amp and there's not a sound. I have tried my Shure SM58 singing mic and it makes a sound but is not loud like the green bullet. Am I correct in thinking that it is not the correct cable or is it likely that the mic is faulty?

Many thanks

Saul

I have been playing for some yrs now and following the lessons but .. I am playing passing thru and I realized if you take the tablature away I would be lost ? I have memorized the diatonic note layout and can read notes on paper but if you  white out all the numbers I would not be able to play . What can I do so I can just look at the music and play ?? I can with my trumpet but can't with the harp .

Hi Dave,

 I understand that Modes and Positions are diffrent things and I understand that the various

posistions tend to lean toward certain modes.  Are the positions named based on the circle of fifths ?

Example:  Key of C, = first postion , second position = key of G, third postion key of D , fourth postion = key of A, 

fifth position = Key of E, 6 position = key of B ....and so on? thus 12 positions posible based on teh circle of fifth. 

  Thank you for your time  continue reading...

I am hearing a difference between the demonstration songs in Chorus 4 for Feelin' for the Blues (Lesson 3) compared to the sheet music and the "Chorus 4" video.

Specifically for the speed lick starting at 1:21 of the "Chorus 4" video (starting in the middle of the second line of chorus 4).  Unlike the triplets in the video, in the demonstration song it sounds like eighth notes:

6+ 6+ 5 5 5+ 5+ 4 4' 4 3+

Is this meant to be an alternative for the speed lick?

Thanks for answering my question on what a "Fall" is.  My follow up question is what is the notation for a "Fall".  I don't see it listed in the Notation PDF.  I do see a "Cut" on p. 2 which is defined as the opposite of a Dip.  How does a Cut differ from a Fall?

Hi Dave,

I have discovered recordings of Gary Smith on YouTube,  obviously recorded for bluesharmonica.com. how can I access this and other interesting material within the umbrella of bluesharmonica.com?

Many thanks 

Saul 

Hi David,

In the video (What Happens in the Mouth) you appear to be exhaling (blowing)  shhh=>keee=>kooo. Am I mistaken? It's much harder shhkeekoooing while inhaling (drawing) with the tongue in place and/or behind the teeth. How to practice this?

Can you give me the "dipping" link so I can practice that, as well.

Thanks.

Phil S.