Ask Instructor David Barrett

struggling so much with 2 draw, then I read a student post to pinch your nose and try it - PERFECT! So now need to do it without pinching my nose (or wear my swimming nose clip)

Hello, I'm a begining harmonica player and I'm having trouble breathing while I play. What happens is I go through a phrase or exercise and I will feel that I'm completely out of breath, even a little tired. I know in the first lessons we are told to close our nasal cavities and breathe through the harmonica and when I'm doing a simple 4 hole chord I have no problem doing that. However, if I try to do a single note scale I will not be able to get enough air and eventually get very tired. What am I doing wrong?

If a student spent on average 30 minutes a day practicing this song what do you believe is a reasonable time frame do you have it in shape for submittal?

I'm having one heck of a Time on the long drawn-out notes in chorus is 3 and 5 , I can't keep the timing and I'm struggling with breath control also

I'll take any advice you have

Hi , i have  been playing (with)  harmonicas for years really badly , now decided to start again and learn to PLAY the harmonica properly , prob is I simply cannot get my mind around tongue blocking and revert to lip pursing ...... I just get frustrated and put the thing down. Do you think I should battle on with tongue blocking and as if by magic it will all click or my habits are deep seated and I would be better to progress with lip pursing ...... thanks 

Hello David,

I bought my very first harmonica (Hohner Special 20 in C key).  I noticed that you recommand A key for beginner lessons.  Did I make the wrong choice for my first harmonica?

Thanks,

FrankV29

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.