The question "how much theory do you need" really can't be answered adequately without knowing what one wants to achieve. Definitely a basic knowledge of harmony and scales is good, but in actuality you don't NEED any theory. It's rather, a matter of making it easier to get what you want to come out of the instrument. As much as I roll it over in my head, that's the only proper answer I can come up with. ----------
Ok here is an example when theory can help you expand your options in a tune that you could just play as a blues approach. Scales that you might want to consider a blues, a minor pentaonic, a harmonic minor, a dorian. Chord outline a minor major 7, 9. There's more but this is what I chose to use. It certainly expands it gives it an original feel to the solo that most wouldn't do it that way.
---------- Emile "Diggs" D'Amico a Legend In His Own Mind How you doin'
@Diggs - Thanks for posting this!!! My all time favorite song and I don't say that lightly. You've given me a whole new idea of how to approach this on the harp. Looks like I'll be spending some quality time with the chromatic this weekend :)
