MindTheGap
2242 posts
May 05, 2017
10:19 AM
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I know how much some of you like music theory! Here's a useful website where you can pick a scale (key and flavour e.g. major, minor, blues etc.) and it shows you the scale. So far so ordinary. But it also gives you a bit of blurb about how the scale is constructed, why it is like it is and how it lays out on the piano and the stave.
Nothing on the harp here, there are sites that do that too. But if you want to learn scales more conventionally, this one is good I think.
It does chords too - basic and altered ones. There's loads of sites that show you guitar chord shapes. I remember learning those when I learnt guitar, with no proper understanding of the background.
https://www.basicmusictheory.com/
Last Edited by MindTheGap on May 05, 2017 10:21 AM
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Killa_Hertz
2327 posts
May 05, 2017
11:39 AM
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Uuuuhhhhggg. .... scales?????
No but seriously, I'll have to check that out. I really need a little more theory in my life. I'm lacking big time.
I like to sit down and figure out a scale on the keyboard and play around with it. Do some rhythms using minor chords th as the sound all dark n ominous. But just count the major using Whole Half W www have. Then finure out the chords ... then make them minor.
Scales are much more fun on the hey board.
It seems a bit useless on the harp. Not useless, but . ... you know.
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Fil
306 posts
May 05, 2017
2:04 PM
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I hear you, killa. Tedious sometimes, but maybe not useless. I've been putting time into the 3rd position scale, 'up-down-sideways', because the jam I join a couple of times a month always calls a couple of minor tunes. I can't say I'm real creative yet, but it's saved my ass on some songs I don't really know.
MTG, the site looks worth digging into. I'm beginning to feel my inadequacy in theory. I'd like to sound a little like a serious musician some day, maybe be thought of as one, even if it's just harp....
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Phil Pennington
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MindTheGap
2243 posts
May 05, 2017
3:55 PM
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Yes, I was indeed thinking of you Killa.
Thing is, for harp in 2nd position the note layout is so natural for blues, holes 1-6, that I agree I don't think doing scales adds all that much. It really suits playing by ear. When you start looking at other positions though, it's not quite as intuitive and scales are more needed. Like with other instruments.
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Killa_Hertz
2328 posts
May 05, 2017
7:53 PM
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MTG ... I figured you were talking about me .. lol.
Well that statement really makes sense. I mean even in second position... the blues scale is very useful. But other positions are much tougher with no scales. I know the basic blues scales are essential, but I just really don't get the usefulNess for all the other scales. Not saying their not useful ... I just don't get em
I'm thinking about taking since lessons with Michael Rubin. Maybe he can break it down to the point that it actually starts making sense.
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MindTheGap
2244 posts
May 05, 2017
10:29 PM
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True, I'm not sure practising all the scales is especially useful on a blues harp. Too many missing notes for one thing, unless your going for the full chromatic overbend thing.
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Killa_Hertz
2330 posts
May 06, 2017
12:04 AM
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I'm sure there are great practical uses for all the scales and ways to apply theory to the harp in a way that makes it worth learning. But other than knowing the root notes of the I,IV,V and things like that ..... everything else seems like it doesn't really have much practical use on the harp. But that's just coming from my limited knowledge, Im sure once I learn more , it will start to make sense.
I still want to learn theory. Just to be able to understand music in a deeper level. I'm actually thinking of picking up another instrument just to help me learn it.
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Tuckster
1579 posts
May 07, 2017
10:36 PM
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I've been trying to learn the chromatic in different keys other than Dm.You MUST know some basic theory to play it. Or,as I've found out, any other instrument but the diatonic.You can just jump right in without any theory knowledge on the diatonic. That's cool,but all the really good players know some theory and practice scales.I hate playing scales but I know it's necessary,so I (reluctantly) do it.It really comes in handy if you have to play a song that isn't a I-IV-V blues scale.The really good players-like Ricci- know various scales frontwards and backwards to the point that they don't even have to think about it.
P.S. I'll bet most of you guys have played the minor pentatonic without even knowing you did.
Last Edited by Tuckster on May 07, 2017 10:41 PM
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