On Apr 24, 6:44 am, Dylan <DDawso...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> 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. There are an astoni****ng variety
> > > > of designs and good players often use several of them. You don't
> > > > want to realize after weeks of slog that you were trying to do the
> > > > impossible.
>
> > > > ==== j a c k at c a m p i n . m e . u k ===
<http://www.campin.me.uk>
====
> > > > Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland == mob
07800 739 557
> > > > CD-ROMs and free stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, and Mac
logic 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
I don't know how many harps you have and details like that, but if you
practice directly with the recordings, you have the benefit of both
practicing to that recording as a backing track as well as direct
practice at learning what the artist himself is actually doing as he
plays. As you get to know the recording, you will develop fluidity as
well as connecting your brain with your ears.
This leaves only the selection of the recordings. If you can play the
blues on your harp with the proper patterns then you are in the
correct key! If you are understanding what I am saying, I don't
understand what problems you have with time when practicing. You need
a harp anyway and you are taking times to produce backing tracks. Once
you know what harp to use on a particular cut, there is no wasted
time. In addition, the process of determining the key of the music
tracks you like and the harp you need to play them is a very im****tant
step in developing your ear. There is no reason that you can't be
practicing technique while you are sorting through tunes to see if you
are in the right key!
Then there is the question of "What techniques are you practicing?"
Where are you getting your material that you are working on for
technique? If you are trying to learn styles that other players have
played, isn't it productive to go directly to the recordings and learn
what they are doing? Maybe I would understand if I knew more about
where you are having trouble and what you are actually doing at
present.
LJS
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