Ask Instructor David Barrett

Dave

I notice your playing is nice and crisp and staccato. Do you tongue block all the time?  You taught me to tongue block and I love it. My biggest complaint with my playing is that it is soft around the edges. Like lazier than Lazy Lester. And this despite focus on ga ga in the throat. I  lip block on select moments, to Ta Ta. But I really don't like it. I get lost easily. 

I really don't want to develop a hybrid style. Any advice?  

Are there specific lessons on 2nd position playing in bluesharmonica.com?  In Level Achievement 1 the study song (Walk With Me) is referenced as being in 2nd position.  In your lesson of 'Playing With a band' you reference 2nd position and 'cross harp'. However, I don't recall that being mentioned in other Level 1 tutorials.   

So David, I know that you periodically provide advice on how to minimize problems associated with clogged reeds due to saliva issues. My question as a beginner (and I suspect other beginners are curious too) is as a professional, how often do you have to deal with this issue when you are performing or recording?

Im working to memorize the basic chords and was playing along with the jam track of Walk with me.  The D of the I chord sounds fine which is a D on the C harp.  But when I try the G (root of the I chord in second pos), it sound horrible.  Im expecting that G, B, or D will fit into the I chord.  Am I off track here?  

Also in filling out that grid for Hole/Pitch by chord, Im getting confused.  Is the F# then relative to the 5 hole a 5 overbend?

Thanks Dave........ this is great but challening

Hi David,

Must the recording for the "Walk With Me" be all in tongue blocking/switching? If that is the case, is it acceptable to have glitches?

Thank you.

Dave I am checking out lesson 1 and you say to download the pdf but there is no tablature there ? Am I missinig something ? Thank you

Hi David,

I am confused about the differences of  harmonicas in market.

Such as:

Pro

Big river

cross harp

Solo harmonica

If possible, can you tell a little about them?

Whether they are not fiting to the beginner for learning the bending?

Thanks

Which key of harmonica is more easier to perform draw bending?

I am the beginner for bending.

I would like to pick that one to practice my bending. Do you think it make sense?

Hi David,

When applying the procession of notes, if hole 3 is the focus note but you are also holes 1 and 2, do you always have to start on hole 3, or is it that you can start on hole 1, 2 or 3 so long as hole 3 is in the lick somewhere.

Thankyou, Regards

Paul

Dave - Im in Improvising study 1 placing lick into chorus form context/Section 5/ AB/AC chorus form. In example 5.1 you have that keyedn as a 4 chord. Certainly there is a G note starting the example, and a G note reappears right where you have the IV chord sign. I understand that the G note is part of the 4 (IV) chord but there is no C or E note, so why wouldnt you call this a 1 chord as well because the 1 cord also has a G note. I guess Im getting a bit lost here.