[Harp-L] How we learn Blues Harp

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

Why don’t most diatonic players read?  Well, assuming they want to,  
(which may be an unwarranted assumption) the problem is  
transposition.  Since you change  harps and positions depending on  
the material when you are playing diatonic, it is almost impossible  
to associate a certain written note with a particular hole or  
location on the diatonic harmonica.  This isn’t a problem on the  
chromatic because you ordinarily use a single instrument and the  
relationship of the holes on the instrument to the written notes  
stays the same.

I can sort of read music.  At least i can read well enough to learn a  
tune from a chart if you give me enough time.  Can't sight read,  
though.  In order to play from a chart i need to convert the notes to  
degrees of the scale and then decide what key harp to use in what  
position.  I know which holes correspond to what degrees of the scale  
in which position, so I don't have to struggle to transpose if i do  
it this way.  And it IS a lot easier for me to learn a tune this way  
than just from listening to a recording. But unless i am familiar  
with what the tune is supposed to sounds like, I almost always need a  
recording to guide me as I learn a tune from sheet music.  I can't  
usually do it working from a chart by itself.

JP