RE: [Harp-L] David Barrett's Harmonica Scales Books

["john merx" <mxpoet@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

All,

In response to the thought of a scale being worthless, I beg to differ. That 
is like saying that a Piano does not need the black keys or pedals unless it 
is part of an orchestra. Scales are the music. Use of scales does, as wild 
bill hines mentioned,encourage muscular and mental growth in your search to 
be a better harp player. But the truth is, if you learn all the scales, you 
know where all the notes are. Like all the black keys and the pedals. What?A 
harmonica has pedals? Yes,overbends,double overbends. Studying with Daine 
Russell I have found 6 ways to play the same key on each diatonic, and 
started learning my 3rd position and 1st position better.Buy a Junior Wells 
CD and listen to it. You'll notice that in some parts,he is just playing 
scales with twists and good tone. I have a friend in Peoria, Chris 
something, who took lessons from the late great mister Wells and he had a 
very similar style. Scales are as scales does. Plus, you never know when 
you'll be playing a horn line and the trumpet player says A, D, F, Bb and 
you need to know where those are on the harp that you are playing in the 
major key of the tune.

Good luck.

John Merx,

Located near bill hines :)