Gkastraveckas
2 posts
Dec 15, 2013
8:37 AM
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Hi there, I'm new to the forum but have been learning blues harmonica for about 3 years now. I've used Adams videos, of course, some online lessons and some Jon Gindick books.
I can tool my way around 12 bars, nothing too flashy but passable. I'm focusing now on practicing scales, unfortunately the only one i know is the blues scale. I've been trying to work some out myself using scale charts showing I, II, bIII and such but it doesn't seem to click just right. can anyone recommend a better way to learn scales, and which ones to learn?
Thanks,
Gregory
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1847
1402 posts
Dec 15, 2013
10:56 AM
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this is not a scale per se
i think it is a g6 arpeggio "on a C harp"
sure someone will correct me if i am wrong
but it is very useful
draw notes 2 3 4 blow notes 5 and 6
the same notes on the upper octave are a different pattern
6 blow 7 8 draw 8 9 blow but the same notes
nothing to bend nothing to break
it is not as easy as it sounds when you are first starting out.
sometimes we forget how hard some of the simplest things are at first. it took me forever to get the upper octave
but then no one told me what notes to play,
like i just told you. so make me proud
and learn them. when you can connect those notes up and down seamlessly, you will be on your way.
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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sonny3
99 posts
Dec 15, 2013
11:03 AM
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Jason has some great you tube videos on scales.major scale from 1 blow to seven blow is good to learn.major pentatonic starting on 2 draw is great to learn.
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grahamonica
76 posts
Dec 15, 2013
11:16 AM
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This is a very good video from Lee Sankey.
Last Edited by grahamonica on Dec 15, 2013 11:20 AM
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harpfox
8 posts
Dec 15, 2013
12:43 PM
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check out jasons videos!
also learn the major scale..
which is: 2d 3dbend(whole step)3d 4d 5b 6b..Avoiding blue notes.
Note: you can add 1 or 4 blow if you want(but i think sparingly)
also....
practice them with a happy blues(major)backing track..
practice getting the same notes in different octaves..
practice going from one end of harp to other..using only this scale.
practice them tongue blocked,pursed. and then mix both...
regurgitating jasons lessons
hope it helps
cheers!
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harpfox
9 posts
Dec 15, 2013
12:45 PM
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oh forgot...
you can add the 5 overblow if you can hit it nicely.
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Gkastraveckas
3 posts
Dec 15, 2013
12:46 PM
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1847, thanks a lot! I've always played something similar draw 2 3 4 blow 5 draw 5 bent then unbend then back down, like the old Vonage commercial.
Sonny3, Jason Ricci? I have one of his albums and I've noticed him on YouTube, just never watched. I'll check it out, thank you
Grahamonica, thank you, I'll definitely watch that when I get home from work
Thanks everyone for your input, you make a newcomer feel at home here.
-Gregory
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Gkastraveckas
4 posts
Dec 15, 2013
12:56 PM
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Harpfox, I never thought of that. I never figured the major scale would fit in a Blues context. Would a major backing track just be anything that's not in minor?
Sorry, I've been playing guitar for 16 years and harmonica for 3, just never got involved in any type of theory. Guess I've got a lot to learn.
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harpfox
13 posts
Dec 15, 2013
1:21 PM
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@Gkastraveckas
of course!
don't be intimidated by this theory its really not that complicated. learn a little at a time.
just remember..
you CANT play in major over a minor backing track.
but you CAN play minor (blues scale) over a major backing track. (I think)
so if you want you can start off playing major
and then go to blues..
but focus on major scale, really cool stuff will come out of it.
ps. dont bend the 5 draw its a recipe for breaking alot
5 draw reeds.
you can scoop bend lightly in some contexts but use sparingly....
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timeistight
1452 posts
Dec 15, 2013
2:22 PM
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harpfox's scale -- "2d 3dbend(whole step)3d 4d 5b 6b" -- is the major pentatonic scale. To play a complete major scale in second position you need two more notes: 4 blow and 5 overblow. You can continue that scale into the second octave: 6b, 6d, 7d, 7b, 8d, 8b, 9b' (1/2 step bend), 9b.
The major scale is a great scale to practice in all positions. You already know how it should sound: do re mi fa so la ti do.
Once you have the major scales in muscle memory, it's easy to derive the major and minor pentatonic scales and the other diatonic modes from them.
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timeistight
1453 posts
Dec 16, 2013
1:14 AM
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In this great post, Todd Parrott tabs out Major and Blues scales in twelve positions.
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Komuso
251 posts
Dec 16, 2013
2:07 AM
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1. Choose harp
2. Choose position
3. Choose scale
4. Play (with a backing track or metronome)
5. Have fun
+
+
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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Your harmonica Mojo Dojo
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
Last Edited by Komuso on Dec 16, 2013 7:23 AM
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The Iceman
1332 posts
Dec 16, 2013
7:02 AM
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Scales are just note choices.
Understanding them opens the door to more creative solos.
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The Iceman
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WinslowYerxa
453 posts
Dec 16, 2013
11:42 AM
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Harmonica For Dummies has once chapter devoted to scales and scale patterns, and another to scale and "pathway" lick exercises in six of the 12 positions, and a backing track (one or two-chord vamp at a medium tempo) for each set of exercises.
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Winslow
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Komuso
253 posts
Dec 16, 2013
3:57 PM
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+10 for Winslow's book, though I think you should call it "Harmonica for Smarties" instead
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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Your harmonica Mojo Dojo
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
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