Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David,

with LOA4 I got access to Sonnys Bird.

I started working on the song, but it seems that you're playing some chord articulations that are not notated.

Can you elaborate a bit on what you're doing on the chords?

Best,

Cornelius

Hi David,

I like how my wah-wah sounds without the mic. I can very clearly hear the tone change.

However I cannot accomplish a wah-wah with a mic. The tone difference is very very subtle if any even though I tried to adjust my pinch grip in different ways. It works a little bit better for me with the two thumbs up  approach, but overall I like the pinch more and don't want to change my grip. It's uncomfortable to play the lower holes with two thumbs up.  continue reading...

Hello Dave.  This is for Sharon.  Your music theory lessons were very informative.  It was a great review for me and I alweays pick up "new" material about the subject at hand.  Stay with it. I'm happy you are back "on the air".  Mic

Hi David

I am starting to have a go at bending. So far the only holes that I can get to bend (after a fashion) are one and two. One came first and two is next. HarpNinja is really helpful and shows that I am getting the bent notes but they sound very rough and strained to my ear. It feels like hard work straining to draw to get the bend going and I am concerned that I may be approaching it in the wrong way. I have followed the lessons on bending and your great videos with Bob and Sharon but despite that the only bends I can get feel very forced. continue reading...

Where can I get myself a tongue block trainer? I'm struggelling to get my tongue blocks in the right position.

I started to post a question about 2 draw volume problems when studying the song Temperature.  I spent several hours on this problem and could not resolve it.  Before I hit the save button on the forum, I remembered I still haven’t watched the videos with you and Hob or Sharon working on this song. continue reading...

Hi there, im finding learning new licks and memorizing them a real challenge. Can anyone give me any tips on how i can build up harp vocab or point me in the right direction. i've been learning chorus forms, but im getting a little bit bored of playing the same licks. I really can't see myself having lots of licks stored that i can pull out.Does anyone know of any good blues licks books/ebooks, as im eager to learn.

thanks.

Mark

Hello David, 

While im playing i notice there is air leaking from my right mouth corner. I especially notice this when drawing multiple notes. I tried changing my lips and relaxing/tightening them but it doest really seem to work. Could this be caused by the type of harmonica i play (i bought a fender blues one to practice in A but have 2 C harmonicas, a marine band and a suzuki harpmaster) or is it a problem with the way i play?

Regards, 

In the level 3 course titled “Bending study 2 – Expression & Stopping at Bottom” there is a PDF file called “Harmonica Notation Chart [All Keys] PDF.”   I was studying the key layout for the C and A harmonica.  For the A harmonica you have the over draws for holes 7 and 10 listed as C#.  If I follow the pattern for the other key harmonicas it looks like over draws for holes 7 and 10 on the A harmonica should be an A# and not a C#?  I’m assuming I am confused and just need to be put on the right path. continue reading...

On written example 2.1 I'm a bit confused and drawing a blank on what you are looking for in the chart.

Under whole number one I understand that on the four chord the c-note is a 1 blow and the V chord the D note is the one draw but on the one cord the g-note is not a one draw so that's where I'm confused.

Can you "throw me a bone "and clarify a bit?

Thanks