Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

I'm 77, and recently (pre Covid) attended a group class for aspiring, beginning harmonica players. Everything came to a screeching halt when the music school shut down. In that beginners class I discovered that I could produce single notes poorly using the Pucker technique, could produce nice, clean single notes tongue blocking, could bend while puckering but couldn't bend at all while tongue blocking. Is it even possible to bend while tongue blocking?

Thanks.

prsnrs

Hi David

I found that Throat Tremolo is hard to learn and want to get more tips from you.

  continue reading...

David,

First up I am a complete beginner at this. I have. wanted for years to play harmonica and finally got one. After reading extensively the general concensus was that a C was the one to get for a beginner, which I did.

So...the very first thing I read in lesson one in I need an A harmonica! Please help because buying one more is out of the question, I want to learn THIS one.

Thank you in anticipation.

David,

I started off with an MS C Hohner blues harp and now am on a A Marine Band harp, for several reasons, but mostly because you reccommended it. Anyway, I have noticed that the A is smaller and then the C is and I am getting a lot of air coming out of the A. 

First is that normal and are there any tips that you have to stop that airy sound?

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Hi

I am new to harmonica and have started to learn for around 2 weeks. Since I am completing new I pick up the lessons in this website and now is able to do some single (position 3-8) notes using tongue block. Of course my skill is still very basic and quite often the sounds are kind of "mixed" and I need to adjust a bit in-the-fly. continue reading...

I am new on harmonica and I can see some ppl having problem with dry mouth.

However for me sometimes I will have too much water in mouth that the water actually fills in the harmonica and impacts the sound a bit (by partially blocking the holes I guess). Sometime I may need to stop playing and then do a swallow before I feel comfortable to continue.

Is there anyway to improve this? Is it because I am learning tonge block and wrongly stimate the secretion? 

Hey David,

I've noticed that when I practice late at night, especially if I've had a salty meal, my mouth is dry and it's hard to play.

What's your take on using mouth moisterizers like these:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mouth+moistener

I suspect that even the sugar-free ones might leave a sticky residue in the harp.

What say you? 

Thank you!

Dr. Spoons

Hey David,

I've noticed that when I practice late at night, especially if I've had a salty meal, my mouth is dry and it's hard to play.

What's your take on using mouth moisterizers like these:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mouth+moistener

I suspect that even the sugar-free ones might leave a sticky residue in the harp.

What say you? 

Thank you!

Dr. Spoons

Hi David. Can I ask please - when you tongue slap are you aiming to land the slap on the beat or does the chord hit the beat and the slap follow a fraction after?

Thanks

Joel

Dave continue reading...