Ask Instructor David Barrett

Hi David continue reading...

Hi David,

I am still working on material for LOA 4 and I have got some stuff which is ready for submission and some which is not (Solo Harmonica Study 2, Ex 2.2 = ready; Gary's Blues = not yet ready). I was wondering whether you would accept some material submitted now and then the remaining material, when it's ready.

At the moment I am practising all the material, including the stuff which I think will pass now. If I were to get this passed now, I could move on to practise the second part of LOA 4 submission material.

Thanks,

  continue reading...

Hi David!

First time posting, let me take the opportunity to thank you for the site!With less time on my hands structured learning helps a lot! :)

Sorry for the longer post, I'm sadly not sure what information might be important on giving guidance and what is completely irrelevant.(Using A harmonica) continue reading...

Hi David,

I am practicing Gary's Blues and don't find it easy to get the tremolos sounding on the very short notes (see bar 9 where tremolo is indicated after dipping the 3 draw). Are these 'short note' tremolos a necessity to pass LOA 4? I don't have an issue with tremolo on the longer notes (see 4 draw in bars 2/3).

Thanks,

Mark.

Hi David, 

In Gary's Blues and Take It Easy Now, one of the things I'm struggling most with is the rhythem. So far, I've been able to figure out previous songs just by repetition and using my ear but with these songs it feels like I need to be counting the beats and I'm struggling to do that and play the right notes. Any tips? 

Thanks

hi David, how are you?

I have played harmonica for a while but using tongue blocking 4 to 10. so, I'm starting again to see if i can make it all tongue blocking/

you mentioned we should use the top of the tongue , is that right to say that the tip of the tongue touch the bottom curve of the harmonica? 

thank you,

Silvio

Hi David,

I have recently noticed that when I draw on hole 4, the left end of the harp is slightly inside my mouth and when I try to move up say to hole 6, the left side of my mouth hinders that movement. It's like I have to move the harp slightly forward before sliding it to the left and drawing on hole 6 

Should I practise playing hole 4 (and possibly hole 3) with the left side of the harp outside my mouth or something else to help with that quick movement to hole 6? continue reading...

Working through LOA4, Accompaniment, Section 2 - Vocals with Fills, Example 2.1 Fills, "I Want You With Me",What is the chord one in this song? E, or E7, or something else, and how do we know that?I also noticed that in the third bar of the song one of the fill notes is 5+ (C#). This confuses me. C# is not a note that I would pick if I had to make up my fills. It does not belong to E (or E7) chord notes. (But I know that my thinking is wrong, because it actually sounds nice in this fill). continue reading...

Hi David,

I’m working on improving my improvisation. I’ve already studied chorus forms and focus notes, and I’m trying to build up my vocabulary of licks (main licks, turnarounds, V–IV–I, and pickups). I’m someone who likes to structure things quite a lot — including improvisation — and that’s why I have a question regarding licks. continue reading...

Dave

It's a mystery. A good example is the lick in Ex 5.1 in Improvising Study 1 Chorus Forms. 3-blow then 3-draw. Most of the time, when I'm warming up with it, it plays fine, but then when I go to record myself, the draw produces no sound. I can't figure out if it's a positioning problem or I'm trying too hard or just too tense because I'm recording. I've tried slowing it down and I've dtried playing softer. The results still seem inconsistent. Is there a work-around or an exercise I could try to get past this?