Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David, my name is Andy. I'm working through tongue block study 1. I got a Hohner Crossover in A. While playing along with Walk with Me I noticed i was very sharp. You are spot on perfect according to my tuner, and I'm showing between 15 and 30 cents sharp on every note. It's averaging 25 cents sharp on the blows and about 15 cents sharp on the draws. I've got another harp brand in C that generally plays more in tune, although the tone and response isn't as nice as the Hohner. Have you noticed any tuning issues with the Hohner Crossover? Is this me or the harp? continue reading...

Hi David! I have been practicing the second study song "Temperature" and studying the first chromatic study song as well. I'm using a 16 hole chrom harp for now: can I add some tongue slaps on the 1st hole as well? I know you don't do that because you play a 12 hole instrument but I feel like those lower chords for slaps are really nice and powerful sounding!

David, 

Any tips on the 8 hole draw "dip" in the 3rd chorus? Having trouble with this one. Does my technique need adjustment or do my reeds need adjustment?

thanks,

Peter J

Hi David! I have been checking the first chromatic harmonica study song called No Sweat. I noticed that the roman number in the 9th bar says II and I believe I hear the bass and chords playing an E chord in that blues form. Is the correct chord a Em7b5 or a pure Em chord? It is common to find a II-V-I turnaround in a blues tune outside jazz or it's an uncommon variation used in this particular song? Any popular blues tune using that II chord in the turnaround? Thanks.

Hello David, 

I would like to train my composition skills because I always try to create my own songs with a few playbacks. I have a few questions about this:

1. Why is the chord order in 12 Bar Blues I / IV / I / V / IV / I / V and in 8 Bar Blues I / V / IV / I / V / I / V?

2. What is the ii chord on the Blues Chromatic? There the order is completely different namely I / IV / I / ii / V / I. continue reading...

Hi David,

this might be a really stupid question but it's not clear in my mind so I thought I'd ask. 

Is it right to say that we actually play in 1st, 2nd and 3rd position (or modes?) every time we play the 1,4,5 chord progression across the 12 bar structure i.e. on a C harmonica:- G (2nd), C (1st) and D (3rd)? Or is this an innacurate conclusion? If so why?

  continue reading...

Hi David! I hope you are doing great. I have been practicing bends using tongue blocking... I can pucker bend waaay more easily but i'm making the switch to TB 100% for now. I have trouble with the draw 2 and 1 full bends. I can do it on the C harp tho. Any tips or suggestions for getting the bends on the lower register? Thanks. 

Hi David and the rest of the community! Sorry if I don't manage to separate this text into paragraphs! I believe the formatting in this forum is different... Anyways, I watched the wonderful Joe Filisko interview and I really liked it but something Joe said got me curious. He says that in blues playing the major third and major sixth on the I7 chord sounds too happy... Coming from playing guitar I find that statement conflicting. Many guitar players including BB King, Albert King, Eric Clapton, Matt Schofield, Robben Ford uses the major 3rd and sixth (major pentatonic scale). continue reading...

Dave Blowin my horn kicking my but ?? I have been practicing hard but this lesson is killen me ? 3rd chorus shows just how bad I am . Any reveiw or lessons I can refer back to ?? thanks

Hello David,

I am clear about LOA program but I would like to keep it aside for now and focus on learning right from level 1 for now. When I go to Lessons - By Skill Level - Level 1. I see Tongue blocking Study 1 as the first lesson. Is this the first lesson on Level 1? :) Then I move to Solo Harmonica Study 1?