Re: [Harp-L] Standing at the chromatic

["G. E. Popenoe" <gpopenoe@xxxxxxxxx>]

Everyone has been giving you excellent advice. You have to practice  
for sure.

I love to include playing with the radio or CD's as part of my  
practice. I usually save it for last like desert.

On the fast pieces, I initially play slow long lines over the groove.  
I'll sometimes play the scale over the tune using a note for each  
beat. Then I'll throw in simple variations here and there. Then I'll  
keep adding variations and I'll throw in the occasional faster lick.  
Pretty soon a I have a reliable collection of moves I can make for  
that tune.

Do this on enough tunes and you will see patterns emerge just like you  
do on the diatonic. You'll have a arsenal of licks in a bunch of keys  
and you got them by having fun playing along with your favorite music.

Be sure to switch genre to expand your vocabulary. Even try a genre  
you feel you don't like. I've learned a lot that way.

In regard to the double C's pick one that fits most easily into the  
fingering pattern for that key and stick with it. To be honest with  
you, I got fairly proficient on the instrument without thinking much  
about the double C's at all. I kind of naturally gravitated to the C  
that worked for me in that key.

If I can give any growing chromatc player one piece of advice, it  
would be,  " Excercise and trust your ear, make lots of mistakes and  
don't over think the intrument."



Gary Popenoe

On Jun 23, 2008, at 4:55 PM, "John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx> wrote:

>    I'm the guy who submitted the post about the difficulties I  
> experience trying to play the standard chromatic.  The problem I  
> have is not that I expect it to be the same as the diatonic.  I know  
> what the differences are and I have a reasonable understanding of  
> how the chromatic works.  BUT, if I'm improvising at a medium or  
> fast tempo I tend to "lose my place."  I'm frequently unable to keep  
> track of what note I am playing by ear alone. And, if I hit the  
> button at the wrong time, it's a mistake everyone in the room will  
> notice.
>     I don't have a problem keeping track of where i am on the  
> diatonic because 1) there are fewer holes on the diatonic and 2)  
> since most of the intervals on a diatonic are different, each hole  
> has a different "feel" in the mouth to an experienced player.
>    Other than ear training (which I could probably use) does anyone  
> have any suggestions on how to keep track of where you are when  
> improvising on a chrom at fast tempo?
>    JP
>
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