Ask Instructor David Barrett

Early observations so far....

Tongue blocking with slapping,moving around quickly seems reasonable ( for a beginner) i think its more of a slap and then a pucker sound , tongue blocking and holding a note seems clumbsy, slow and not close to tunefull.

Although im just new to this am i missing something very basic.The reason i ask is if i only tongue blocked i wouldnt know any better and would just consider it a rite of passage but when i slap and move i feel like im hitting the notes and moving along thru the tune but most probably not correctly. continue reading...

Good morning David,

I have heard you mention that you can take ANY lick, say in the lower register (holes 1thru 4)  and move it up at least 1octave or possibly even 2octaves. But if that lick has an altered (strange) note in it, you might not be able to duplicate this lick exactly like you want to or even do a sequence from the original lick. This confuses me somewhat! Could you give me a clarification on this topic, when you can do this and when you cannot? Thx, JT

Back on this planet. So, it's probably a good idea to go through everything from the beginning?best regards and stay healthy continue reading...

Hi David,

I practice Walk With Me for some time now and i was sure i am imporving its also sound good to my ears 

but only when i reccord my self and it sound bad i understand that i still no even close to submit it to you

its sound so staccato and dull. any tips to sound more fluent ?

Another issue how can i start a note for one seccond with tremolo for example in the begining of the 4th Chorus

Thank you, continue reading...

Hi David, 

I‘m new here—sorry if I missed it, but is there a list or chart somewhere on the site that tells which key harmonicas are needed for each lesson?

Sincerely,

Bearcatjoe

Hi David. I'am Berry from Holland.

i have 2 questions: In the beginning of your explaining you prepare us to blow Walk with me. 

I have to play 3 draw and then 4+ 4 and so on. Must i put my tonque on hole 1+2 and then 1+2+3? And leave the tonque all the song on the harmonica? Is it always the intention to put the tonque on the harmonica when i play a single note?

second: i 'am curious to bend and i practice every day. I study as you explain it. But do I also have to put the tongue on, for example ,hole 1 + 2 + 3 + to play the 4 draw bending  continue reading...

Hi David. I'am Berry from Holland.

i have 2 questions: In the beginning of your explaining you prepare us to blow Walk with me. 

I have to play 3 draw and then 4+ 4 and so on. Must i put my tonque on hole 1+2 and then 1+2+3? And leave the tonque all the song on the harmonica? Is it always the intention to put the tonque on the harmonica when i play a single note?

second: i 'am curious to bend and i practice every day. I study as you explain it. But do I also have to put the tongue on, for example ,hole 1 + 2 + 3 + to play the 4 draw bending  continue reading...

David,

I’ve looked ahead in the LOA and made a list of need keys.  I’ve been buying the Hohner Crossover, but the Crossover does not come in Low F.  Is the Marine Band Thunderbird a good choice for Blues in Low F or do you have another recommendation?  The Thunderbird in Low F is twice the price of the Crossovers, so I want to make sure I’m getting the right thing.

Thank you,

Brian in Tennessee

David - After a few weeks of not being on the site I come back to continue my LOA studies and in reading the forums I run across Ear Training Study 2. It sounds like something I could benefit from but diving into that lesson would keep me away from my Level 6 studies for a few weeks. The question is - Should I focus primarily on my harmonica goal which would be to study/practice each day on some portion of my current LOA lesson or is it OK to venture off the beaten path and look at some other area of harmonica playing. continue reading...

My hermonica is in the key of C. I read on the first lesson to have a key of A. Will I still be able to utilize your lesson plan?