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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Seems like i missed some critical points in blues
Seems like i missed some critical points in blues
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ratzbi
1 post
Sep 18, 2011
10:44 PM
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Hey all. i actually play for around half a year now, i've mastered the bending techniques,
learned some melodies, single note is a piece of a cake for me and i started to figure out that throat vibrato thing.... BUT! (and there is a big BUT)- i just cant figure out all that blues harmonica thing.
i've got some question for you guys and i would be thankful if you could clear that huge fog of blues harmonica for me :
1. i know and learned the 12 progression bars ( I I I I IV IV I I V IV I I), but i just did not understand how and when should i play specific notes. I'v watched a Jason ricci video in which he tells us to start each chord with the root note, meaning if im now playing in the first (I) chord i should start with 2 draw, on to the 4 blow when its IV and 4 draw in V, But after i really start with them what other notes can i add to each chord? i mean- what notes can i play except the 2 draw, 4 blow and 4 draw? (In musical theory. some will say there are no really rules when improvising).
2. Except the 12 progression bars there is the blues scale, right? 2 draw, 3 draw half a step, 4 blow, 4 draw bend, 4 draw, 5 draw and 6 blow. does that mean that when i play blues i only play these notes? if not, what are these notes for?
3. This whole positions thing: i know that when i want to play blues i need to find out what is the key of the guitar (or the accompanying player is) and add 4 keys to that key, thus finding what key harmonica i need to use. my question (for example): if i use a A harp when my guitar play is playing on a E, does my playing automatically turns into second position with every note i play? or are there specific notes i need to play in order to play "second position"?
hope i made my questions clear. i feel as if i got confused in myself :\ please try to understand, because i feel really frustrated. i just cant find clear answers to these questions.
(btw, i posted this in harmonicaclub too. i would like to get as many replies as i can).
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Baker
157 posts
Sep 19, 2011
5:06 AM
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Hi Ratzbi.
Your description of how you work out the key of the harmonica you need to use IS the description of how to find out the harmonica you need to use for 2nd Position. So when you do this you are selecting the correct harmonica to play in 2nd position.
The blues scale you have outlined is the 2nd position blues scale. Any of these notes should fit comfortably over any chord in the 12bar progression, as long as you have the correct key. Figuring out the way these notes sound against the different chords (I,IV & V) is a matter of experience. Try them all out and see how they "feel" against the different chord changes. You can play any of these notes when improvising.
You are not limited to only these notes. Think of them as safe notes which will always sound fine against any of the I,IV or V chords in a blues context. You can include other notes depending on the feel of the song you are playing.
So, imagine you are playing an A harmonica in the key of E. You are playing in 2nd position.
The 2nd position blues scale is - 2 draw, 3 draw half a step, 4 blow, 4 draw bend, 4 draw, 5 draw and 6 blow. (In one octave at least) – You can play any of these notes over a 12 bar progression in the key of E (Where the I chord is E).
I hope this all makes sense.
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KingoBad
925 posts
Sep 19, 2011
6:53 AM
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Get Jon Gindick's "rock n blues harmonica" book. It will get you up to speed on the bare blues basics, but with a good foundation. It has a cd, and will get you on the right track. Adam's lessons are indispensable after that. Then you should start copying your favorite blues songs. Start with Hoochie Coochie Man, etc to pick up the blues harp language. Once you start learning songs- the sky's the limit.
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Danny
Last Edited by on Sep 19, 2011 6:54 AM
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ratzbi
2 posts
Sep 20, 2011
12:32 PM
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I appreciate your help, my friends! thank you very much and have a great day! :)
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