I do not know if I named it as 6 diatonic scales. I believe I said 6 minor scales, but in any case, my definition of diatonic is "relating to one scale only" in which case, if you chose notes only from the blues scale, it would be diatonic to the blues scale. ANyone else have a definition to share?
Two things up front struck me as different from my understanding; 1 Dorian is a mode, not a scale 2 that Eb you make mention of is a "minor 3rd" not a "flat 3rd" ---------- Sun, sun, sun Burn, burn, burn Soon, soon, soon Moon, moon, moon
I don't get it. Why don't you just play 3rd position? It will sound much more Dorian. ---------- Sun, sun, sun Burn, burn, burn Soon, soon, soon Moon, moon, moon
Jinx, A mode is a scale. Even scales we do not asscoiate with the seven main modes of the major scale are modes of themselves. Minor 3rd and flat 3rd are synonymous. In each situation , 2 different terms, same meaning.
What makes 3rd position dorian sound more dorian than first position dorian? It may be easier to play third position dorian, but the dorian quality remains the same no matter what position you play it in. Dorian is about the notes in a dorian scale. Play those notes, sound dorian.
The point of the video and the seventy videos leading up to it, is that it is possible to play any scale in any position. But as we will see in future videos third position dorian lays out VERY easily, whereas first position dorian is very difficult and convoluted. You need 3 draw bends, 2 of them right next to each other on hole 3, two blow bends, one of them in the very difficult to master hole 10, you need three overblows. Not for the timid.
So in a way, you are anticipating the future lesson. I will always talk about each scale I look at in 1st, 2nd and 3rd position, the three positions that every self respecting harp player should have familiarity with, imo. I will look at them in that order.
Some of them will be difficult and some will lay out easily. Part of the learning is which one is hard and which one is easy, so the intermediate harp player can focus on the easy whereas the advanced harp player can challenge himself with the hard. Occasionally, I will look at other positions if I feel like the scale lays out particularly well in those positions.
Hope that helps.
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2012 8:03 PM
: of, relating to, or being a musical scale (as a major or minor scale) comprising intervals of five whole steps and two half steps
By that definition, even the harmonic scales fail, but even the more liberal definitions I've heard require seven notes, no more or less.
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2012 11:10 PM
Time: Thanks! You are talking only about the term diatonic, correct? I will consider myself schooled! I would have to rewatch the video, but I am fairly sure I said 6 minor scales, not 6 diatonic minor scales.
Jinx: Thanks for giving at least one video a try. Clearly it is not for everyone. I started out with thousands of hits, went down to a steady 500, then a steady 300 and recently a huge drop to 100. To me, although my ego would feel better if lots watched, I know what I am doing. I have information that really helped me and I am giving it. Take it or leave it.
On the other hand, I know the internet can make what I consider to be an innocent post seem like I am condescending and that would be a big turn off. My reply to you was intended to respond to your statements and explain my method and not to condescend in any way. So if that was what caused you to say "not for me", I hope I have cleared that up!
No, I didn't find you condescending at all. It's just the idea of blowing dorian in 1st position makes my brain explode.
For me the beauty of the harp is it's easy access to all the modes through position playing. I'm not much of a musician but in 3rd position I'm a drunken sailor at the scarborough fair with no trouble at all.
1st position dorian is "not for me" because I always take the easy way out!
OK< I thought you were saying my vids in general were not for you. I am quick to take things personally. I hope you continue watching, because there will be plenty of easy way vids and hopefully your understanding of what makes them easy will increase so you can look for other easy things using the "notice the easy things" method I am teaching!
Well yeah, if your teaching method is "notice the easy way by starting with the hard way", then it's not for me either. I just assume start with the easy way.
Do you play all the modes in 1st position?
---------- Sun, sun, sun Burn, burn, burn Soon, soon, soon Moon, moon, moon
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2012 7:50 AM
"Well yeah, if your teaching method is "notice the easy way by starting with the hard way"
I don't believe you watched all of Micheal's videos, as he Does start rather slowly.
What is wrong with having a challenge? This is what great people do, Readily accept challenges. Personally, I am glad Micheal doesn't throw us all that same useless "harmonica theory" BS.
Checking in to say once more: thanks for the lessons mr. Rubin. I for one hope the drop in views will not deter you. For people like me that never had decent music-theory, these vids are a way to not feel stupid anymore. And good karma will be met sometime or other. The quality is there, so all will be well I reckon.
Heck, as far as I'm concerned, you can pick up the pace. There's so much to do! :)
That being said: The discussion above seems like a non-discussion. Every method that will make the easy look easy has to cover the difficult. Every method that teaches the difficult has to start with the easy. These lessons do both. If this isn't for someone, it's nothing to do with the offered method.
Thanks Miles! Jinx, my videos start from a total beginner's perspective on theory and build one step at a time to where conceptually understanding the last video is easy for the viewer who has watched all the videos. Playing it is another choice. At this point, I have already covered how easy it is to use the dorian scale in third position in my series on modes. It is a 13 video series starting here:
Now I am exploring how the mixolydian scale or mode is bluesier than the major scale just by changing one note. The dorian scale or mode is bluesier than the mixolydian by one more note. Finally we will look at the blues scale, which changes it just a little bit more. We are slowly but surely understanding that a flat 7, flat third and flat 5th are bluesy notes and that a 2 and a 6 are acceptable in blues, but not AS bluesy. Once that is done we will begin analyzing some classic blues solos.
When it comes to exploring a scale in first, second and third position I always go in that order. So, yes, sometimes that means the harder version of that scale comes first or second, where the easy version comes third. However, if you have watched all the videos, conceptually understanding the first position video, no matter how physically challenging it is on the harp is easy. At that point, the student can decide how important it is to challenge himself.
When I teach privately, every student plays the scale, singing the overblows if he cannot play them and then jams on the scale. By playing the hard scales, he gets more excited about the ease of the easy scale. He is therefore more likely to practice and utilize third position dorian, for instance.
Although I would love it if you watched all my videos and learned something, my next statement is not really about convincing you to watch my videos, but more about interesting you in a method of learning.
When you feel resistance to an idea, work hard at it for a while. I call it arguing with yourself. If at the end of it, you still hate the idea, you at least proved it to yourself by truly trying it. If you love it or it leads you to new ideas or a clearer understanding of your old ideas, great.
For example, I do not like the sound of valved harps nor the powerbender. I am friends with PT and Brendan and respect and enjoy their playing, but tonally I do not like those sounds. I bought a Seydel set up by PT and a $40 powerbender from Brendan. After months of work, I have a new appreciation for each.
So my suggestion to you is dive into my videos from the very first one and not only watch them, but practice the ideas. Argue with yourself. If you are right, you have proven it to yourself and hopefully have not lost much time on your own path.
But if you do not want to, I understand.
To answer your question, I can play every mode in first position.
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2012 9:37 AM
I appreciate what you do Mr. Rubin. I could play in positions somewhat with the associated mode, but your lessons have taught me that I can play some cool, interesting stuff in "non-typical" modes for the postiion being used.
Your lessons have enticed me to learn the blues scale up and down the harp in six different positions. Some really cool licks that cannot be done in second are available in 5th such as blow splits to get the root and flat third. Some really dark draw backing splits available in 6th that sound great for minor blues. I played a couple of breaks on Sky is Crying recently in 1st position and stayed mainly in the middle of the harp using OBs. Even did a fat 1 OB on the 4 chord. I love it.
What Michael teaches will make anyone a better all around player.
Question about the blues scale. Since it does not have the typical steps and 1/2 steps of other scales and does not tie to a mode..how is it perceived in the music world? Is the blues scale actually taught as one of "the" scales in college theory?
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2012 10:02 AM
I've looked through your method, and I see some problems. Problems that, In my opinion are resulting in the drop off of views that you mentioned.
But, don't get me wrong...I'm a big fan of methodology and I greatly enjoy checking yours out. Keep on putting it out there! ---------- Sun, sun, sun Burn, burn, burn Soon, soon, soon Moon, moon, moon
Jinx, I would love to hear your opinions on what they are, privately or publicly. If you want it private, email me at Michaelrubinharmonica@gmail.com
I'll try and keep a thick skin and hopefully improve.
Remember, there is a difference between what I teach on Youtube and what I teach privately. Privately I include how to physically play the harp and we do lots of jamming. Youtube is about a 15 minutes chunk at a time. What I have been able to explain in 70 videos in a year and a half of semi weekly videos my private students learn in around 3 months of weekly hour long lessons as well as learning the techniques and jamming. In my opinion, there just isn't enough time in my life to get the stuff I am teaching on youtube out before I die. Therefore I let other youtube teachers teach the other stuff.
Harpdude61: Great! I am glad I helped you! It sounds like you have really extrapolated my ideas into your own direction!
I am typing this from work. I think I understand much of what was being conveyed in this video from a theoretical perspective.
The words communicated. However, when it came to the sound-- the sound did not. The difficulty in getting some notes, the timbre changes, other aspects of the sound made it an unmusical experience. Or, since I'm an unrepentant blues fan, an unbluesical experience. Just my opinion.
I've chipped in these thoughts to make the point that theory is fine, but the proof, for me, is always in the listening.
That said, I appreciate the wealth of information in your videos, Michael.
Hey Michael, I would be happy to review and give you a complete critique of your video series. We would need to work out some sort of consultation fee. A deposit up front a the balance on completion. ---------- Sun, sun, sun Burn, burn, burn Soon, soon, soon Moon, moon, moon
