CliffK
1 post
Nov 09, 2015
1:47 PM
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Hi y'all!
I'm a harmonica noob and Mickey Raphael from Willie Nelson's band is one of my favorites, mainly because he plays first and foremost for the song.
In a YouTube interview, Mickey talks about Don Brooks showing him a diatonic pattern that became "the basis for everything I play" - see 7:54 at the link below.
https://youtu.be/XjbRdj5svs4
Any ideas as to what that pattern is? Tabs would be most helpful.
Thanks!
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HarpNinja
4146 posts
Nov 09, 2015
2:17 PM
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I don't have a harp handy, but I think he just played the major pentatonic.
I am sure a lot of Mickey's playing is major based.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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mr_so&so
959 posts
Nov 09, 2015
2:22 PM
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Sounds to me like HarpNinja is correct. It's the major pentatonic scale, which is a great pattern to learn in second position that takes you right up and down the whole harp.
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Last Edited by mr_so&so on Nov 09, 2015 2:23 PM
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CliffK
2 posts
Nov 09, 2015
3:20 PM
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Thanks! I was wondering if it was the country harmonica scale that JP Allen refers to on his site (http://www.harmonica.com/country-harmonica-3317.html). I'll try the major pentatonic, though.
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hvyj
2820 posts
Nov 09, 2015
3:37 PM
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You add a flat third to the major pentatonic scale and u get what is variously known as the country scale or the major blues scale.
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timeistight
1889 posts
Nov 09, 2015
4:41 PM
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"Thanks! I was wondering if it was the country harmonica scale that JP Allen refers to on his site (http://www.harmonica.com/country-harmonica-3317.html). I'll try the major pentatonic, though."
Allen's "country harmonica scale" is the major pentatonic.
Todd Parrot has some great downloadable lessons on country patterns on his site. He also teaches via Skype.
Last Edited by timeistight on Nov 11, 2015 9:32 PM
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mr_so&so
960 posts
Nov 09, 2015
4:46 PM
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What hvyj says is correct, but my (all be it inexpert) experience with it is that you shouldn't get all concerned with only hitting the "scale notes" major 2nd, flat 3rd and major third. If you play it as a scale with fixed discrete notes, it sounds pretty weird. What I hear Mickey and Charlie McCoy, etc., doing is lots of bending and slurring between the notes, when in second position, on the three hole. That is, from the unbent 3 draw (major 3rd) down as far as the 3" (major second), with the 3' (flat third) not really emphasized, but not avoided either. Correct me, someone please, if I'm wrong.
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Last Edited by mr_so&so on Nov 12, 2015 11:49 AM
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hvyj
2821 posts
Nov 10, 2015
5:37 AM
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Yep. A common country vamp or chug in second position involves bouncing between 3D (Major third) and 3D** (major second). But the major pentatonic scale also lays out well in first position.
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CliffK
3 posts
Nov 11, 2015
6:07 PM
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Thanks everyone! So much to learn!
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