Ask Instructor David Barrett

Dave

In the  submission for accompaniment playing study 3 you say "play one chorus per hole of the harmonica, for the first six holes" .

Does a chorus = 12 bars ?

If so, do you want 6 x 12 bars for a total of 72 bars recorded?

Sorry for so many questions

Tom

I just got my result from submitting the Level 1 achievement test.  In the evaluation email there is a link to download an Artist Study for Jerry Portnoy.  As a student who just completed Level 1, how do I use the Jerry Portnoy Artist Study?   I’m not sure if I should just listen and take note of some of the new techniques or should I learn this song?  It seems a little advanced for my limited knowledge. 

Brian

Hey David,

1. On beat four of the first and second bars of the 4th chorus of "Walk With Me," Tongue Blocking Example #1, the notation says 3 blow, but on the recording, it's definitely a 2 blow. Am I correct that this should be renamed as 2+? (The notes are written correctly on the staff.)

  continue reading...

Hey David,

I'm really enjoying learning the harmonica through your superb website. 

Regarding Tongue Blocking Song Example #1, "Walk With Me," the instructions say to use an A harmonica in the 2nd position, but in the written music itself, the first note says Draw 3 underneath a dotted half-note in B. 

Wouldn't that note be the case for a C harmonica, not an A harmonica? 

Just wondering if I misunderstood the exercise or if the notation should be changed either to G# for use with an A harmonica or kept as is but to be played with a C harmonica. continue reading...

Hey David, 

I'm currently wrapping up chorus 4 in the walk with me studysong from tongue blocking study 1. It is going pretty well, however after a bit of playing my spit seems to build up at my mouthcorner on the right side. This on its own is pretty irritating but it also causes that place to be dry and irritated after a bit of playing. 

Is this an issue that more players have, and could you think of any reasons and possible fixes for this?

Can you pleaz give me some tips on Bending?

Hello David,

I am on a kind of crossroad and I need your guidance chosing the right way.

I am fairly new to the diatonic harmonica (started August last year) and I initialy started puckering, cos the first teacher I had is a pucker player. So naturaly he pointed me towards some excersizes to develop a faster jaw movement when moving up and down the instrument. continue reading...

Hi David,

In music theory 2, exercise 2.5, the mixolydian scale, why does Gb = 7.

Regards,

Paul

Hi, 

What key do you think tony joe whites harmonica is in? I know nearly all of his songs are in E, but not sure what key harmonica he plays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2Yt1khnbKI

Thanks

Hi, 

What key do you think tony joe whites harmonica is in? I know nearly all of his songs are in E, but not sure what key harmonica he plays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2Yt1khnbKI

Thanks