On 24 Apr, 11:59, LJS <ljsche...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On Apr 24, 3:50 am, Dylan <DDawso...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 23 Apr, 21:33, Jack Campin - bogus address <bo...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> > wrote:
>
> > > > I plan to start listening, with harmonica in mouth, to the great
> > > > harmonica players, in order to build up a repertoire of licks and
> > > > riffs. The problem is that I don't know where or how to start.
>
> > > You need to know that the player you're trying to emulate has the
> > > same sort of harmonica as you. =A0There are an astoni****ng variety
> > > of designs and good players often use several of them. =A0You don't
> > > want to realize after weeks of slog that you were trying to do the
> > > impossible.
>
> > > =3D=3D=3D=3D j a c k =A0at =A0c a m p i n . m e . u k =A0=3D=3D=3D
=A0=
<http://www.campin.me.uk>
=3D=3D=3D=3D
> > > Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland =3D=3D mob
0=
7800 739 557
> > > CD-ROMs and free stuff: =A0Scottish music, food intolerance, and Mac
l=
ogic fonts
>
> > You're absolutely right Jack, before I can try to copy another artist
> > I need to determine if it a diatonic or chromatic harmonica that is
> > being played and also figure out what key the song is in and what
> > techniques the musician is using. This is quite a lot to do simply by
> > using my ears.
>
> > Dylan
>
> This is where a little bit of theory would be very helpful. In lieu of
> learning the notes, notation, rhythm keys and progression, there is an
> alternative that may be of use. Learn the notes of the Blues Scale as
> they apply to the regular Blues Harp. There will be harps in every key
> and players may commonly bring many to the gig. Playing each of them
> (if you have the proper harp for the proper key) will be the same
> patterns on each appropriate harp.
> If you know the Blues Scale patterns on one harp its the same on them
> all. Thus, you can tell pretty quick if your harp is the correct one
> for the key of the recording that you are trying to play with. If it
> fits, go with it, if it doesn't, either get another harp or go on to a
> different recording until you find one that is in your "key". Once you
> are synced up, you will be copying the recording much easier.
>
> If the harmonica being used it a Chromatic Harp, then you will be
> better served to bite the bullet and learn about the notes and keys
> and other things concerning theory. The chromatic harp is much more
> like a "real" instrument (meaning that it can play all the notes like
> a piano or accordion etc, not used in a derogatory sense) and thus you
> will find that it will be very useful to learn at least enough theory
> to be able to deal with this.
>
> There may be players that will use keyed chromatic harps with an in
> between style. That is, they will play off the Blue notes of the harp
> and supplement them with some of the chromatic tones to give variety.
> If you find that you are in the correct blues key, but there are notes
> that just won't come out sounding right on the simple Blues Harp, this
> might be the case.
>
> In either case, this may help you get started. You could do worse than
> to learn a bit of theory as you go along, but starting with the ear is
> the first step to learning music. If you learn the blues scale
> patterns on the harp, you can start to play the blues "a cappela"
> right away, even if you don't have any recordings and if you have a
> friend that can play in your key, you can start to jam. You will also
> be able to jam the blues over any blues tune in your key. Learning the
> blues scale will give you a base of operations that can be built upon
> and in the meantime you are learning the harp and the blues. As you
> learn to make music with just this one scale, you will be able to
> decide what you need to know next and in the meantime, you will be
> making music and learning the techniques of the instrument.
>
> Good luck,
> LJS- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Thanks LJS
I practice playing the blues scale and chord tones to backing tracks -
this is usually covers the last half hour of my daily plan. I also
listen to a lot of blues music and the great harmonica players. I
haven't yet found a way to incor****ate this listening into my
practice. The main problem I have is trying to apply a structure to
this type of listening/learning - I'm afraid it will take too much
time away from practicing technique e.g., finding they key of the
harmonica, to start with. Maybe, I should change my plan so that I
alternate between one day of practicing notes, scales etc., then a day
of listening/learning.
Dylan
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