VS: [Harp-L] Musical theory

["Haka Harri" <harri.haka@xxxxxxxx>]

I don't mean to cut down musicians who have a good theoretical background and understand all the terminology involved. But I still think that especially in blues you need to have a feeling for what you play and sing. I know musicians who have studied theory for years and can play a flawless version of, let's say "Juke". It's a matter of taste, but I still prefer listening to a couple of "mistakes" if the player has the right touch and a true feeling for the music. Outside of harp, probably the best known musician who never bothered to learn to read notes is Eric Clapton. Playing by ear and with feeling means the ability to perceive, distinguish, and understand what one hears and to further this into singing and playing. This is something which is inborn. Practice helps but if you don't have it, you don't.
Harri

> -----Alkuperäinen viesti-----
> Lähettäjä: Rick Dempster [mailto:rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> Lähetetty: 15. joulukuuta 2006 3:45
> Vastaanottaja: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx; Haka Harri
> Aihe: Re: [Harp-L] Musical theory
> 
> 
> I wouldn't be too confident about that. I don't know particularly in
> this case, but I've been guilty of romancing 'the great primitive' in
> vernacular music in the past, and in many cases found I was wrong.
> RD
> 
> >>> "Haka Harri" <harri.haka@xxxxxxxx> 15/12/2006 10:34:32 >>>
> I admit to being wrong on the lack of musical vs technical 
> talk on this
>  list. Was a little behind in my reading. Lots of good comments with
> musical content have been made. I would like to add another opinion.
>  The never-ending debate is whether a musician should have a 
> background
> of musical theory or rather play with instinct. Especially in blues
> harmonica I believe the latter is true. Case of proof are many blues
> harp greats. I'm not one of them but I know which key to use when the
> band tells me what key they're playing in. G = C and all the others
> including Bb. Then, of course, you can move onwards to positions et
> al.But I've never understood what a scale or a chord is. And I doubt
> that either of the Walters ever gave it a thought. Harri
> 
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