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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Arzajac's Pentatonic Diagrams
Arzajac's Pentatonic Diagrams
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MindTheGap
71 posts
Nov 29, 2013
12:21 AM
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I would like to say how useful I've found arzajac's diagrams on pentatonic scales and breathing patterns, out of all the many diagrams and charts I've looked at. I found it here so no apologies for repeating it, and thank you arzajac for doing it.
Re the recent thread on visualisation, everyone needs a mental image of the harp layout, and this one does it for me, so I'd recommend it to any learner at least to have a look, what do you think?
One of the bonuses is that when you learn one breathing pattern, you get the relative minor thrown in for free, that's nice. I received a lukewarm response here when I said how much I like the 5th position, but although I'm studying 3rd position I'm still enjoying using 5th, and it come for largely for free having learnt 2nd position.
Here is the full article...
The middle octave, positions and pentatonic scales on the diatonic harmonica
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Nov 29, 2013 12:28 AM
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SuperBee
1555 posts
Nov 29, 2013
2:54 AM
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I've known about these for a long time, but I can't say I've found them especially useful. Can you elaborate some about how you actually use them?
I mean, it's not that I don't get. I understand the concept but I think it's kind of a convoluted approach to understanding it. But maybe that's just because I've mind-mapped the idea differently before I encountered this idea. Or maybe I just haven't bothered assimilating the concept well-enough to appreciate its true value.
I'm interested in hearing about how this is being applied.
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MindTheGap
73 posts
Nov 29, 2013
3:45 AM
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SuperBee - Sure. Just to say, I don't think that these are 'the answer' or extraordinary claims of that nature. Or you shouldn't try to learn scales the conventional ways. I expect that different people will tune into a different mental map of the harp - and if you've got one that works already there's no reason to change. But I do think everyone needs at least one, and building up your own one is I think is important part of learning an instrument.
But about these ones...
I found that when I started learning with 2nd position, I quickly got a good picture of the low end of the harp. I also made myself learn the high end. And they felt separate in mind's eye. The middle ground was always a bit of a no-mans-land, something to be dipped into either from up the low end or down from the high end. And a lot of songs I listened to in fact treat it this way, and tended to reinforce that. You know, play some low stuff then pop up high for a dramatic hit or riff, then back down again. Or plant your feet in the upper octave and spend time there. But more experienced players seem to be able to treat the whole range as a seamless whole - even without OBs. Well, I find that these diagrams, by treating the scales as emanating from the middle of the harp are helpful in this.
Secondly, I find that the pentatonic is a nice backbone. It's never going to give you a wrong note, and I find that adding other notes to it, be they chromatic passing notes or important blue notes, is a helpful way to build up a picture of how the other scales map out. I have found, and other learners have reported, the problem of being a bit at sea when they are out of the comfortable areas, and having this backbone is helpful - the whole of the harp can be a comfortable area.
Also, as I said, if you learn one breathing pattern you get a relative scale for free using the same breathing pattern. I know that this is not everyone's cup of tea. If the harmonica is about anything IMO it's about getting such a lot out of such a little. So getting two scales out of one breathing pattern is a good thing.
I'm sure none of these things are revolutionary or revelations to experienced players, but it could be of interest to learners. This was the only place I've seen the thing mapped out this way. Maybe it's common coin, but I've not seen it elsewhere.
I hope that helps.
I'm interested in hearing from other learners who do/don't find this useful. There might be other maps they use that are interesting.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Nov 29, 2013 4:02 AM
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MindTheGap
74 posts
Nov 29, 2013
3:58 AM
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Oh yes, and how to use it? Just as Andrew says, start on a middle octave root note and scale up or down from there.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Nov 29, 2013 3:59 AM
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