Ask Instructor David Barrett

Dave Im getting lost here. For example 1.1 your 1 draw you say is essentially equivalent to the fuller chord 321 draw in ex 1.2, but in example 1.3 your 1 draw is now equivalent to the 21 draw in ex 1.4. Why does that change. Also I dont understand where tongue blocking occurs with chording - do you forgo tongue blocking and just use the pucker technique for chording. continue reading...

Hi David,

Can I order the "We Are The Blues" CD from you? or is it here in the

Blues Harmonica website?  (maybe I didn't look in the right place?)

Thank you so very much...

Patsy

Hi David,

Many thanks again for the excellent workshop in Trossingen. It was really a very nice week.

As I told you, I registred on your website, looking forward to making progress.

Sincerely yours,

daniel thirion 

Dave, I've watched your FAQ on shakes. Very helpful. 

My question is, what happens to your cup when you shake when amplified?  Do you hold it or let it go?

Hi Barrett,

I am new to harmonica. I am really really enjoying this website after trying out many.I have a question. You mentioned that for a good embrochure tongue should be lowered.Is this to be followed all the time ? I find it difficult to lower the tongue while tongue blocking as I loose grip onto the holes. I watched a video for fundamentals. Can you please give me your suggestion on how to practise this ?

Regards,Sai.

my ultimate goal is to play jump blues with the blues harp. I love the way Louis jordan had these playfull exchanges between his alto and whomever was playing trumpet at the time. i want to have that same exchange with another harp. Also creating a big band like sound with two harps.

However, sometimes when i hear people talk about jump or swing the chromatic is mentioned. Am i learning on the wrong instrument for my goal? I hope not because i really love what Im learning.     Peace, Eldridge

I'm working on the Pull technique.........is the pull between the 5 blows at Ex 1.5 10th measure IV chord a draw or a blow?  The Pull technique can be done on both blows and draws, or just draws?  Thanks

Hi

I just discovered the scale degree chart for cross harp...you know...4 6 1 4 6 1 4 6 1 4 for the blow holes and 

5 1 3 5 7b 2 3 5 7b 2 for the draw holes.  This seems a whole lot more useful to me playing cross harp than the 1 3 5 1 3 5 

chart.  Can you explain why you encourage memorization of the straight harp chart over the cross harp one?

Thanks!

Harpo Mark

Hi David,

If you have a bar of music with an assortment of quarter eighths, and sixteenths notes, does the interval start at the first note in the bar and whatever subsequent position the rest of the notes lie, the interval is always taken from that first note or does the interval go from note to note.

Hope this makes sense.

Thank you,

Paul

 David , I am currently using "melody assistant" to write music for harmonica but I find any difficult to report some effects . What software do you use ? Is it it available ?Thank YouRiccardo Migliarini