Re: [Harp-L] Chromatic and Diatonic - Understanding Music Theory?

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

Mike,
You are on the right track.  Learning the 12 major scales on chrome
will definitely lead to knowing the names of the notes on any harp
without memorizing each harp.  My Meat and Potatoes videos are leading
up to how this works, so start from the beginning and it will lead to
this answer.  Or barter with me, custom harps for lessons!  I can
explain everything in just a couple of lessons.  You can get a lot
more done in an hour than in a 10 minute video.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com

On Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 11:30 AM, Mike Fugazzi <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Thanks!
>
> I have an acoustic guitar, but no motivation to learn it, lol.  That would
> by far be the best move, but my guitar-coordination is pretty much zero.  I
> am pretty atheletic, but I physically can't play the drums or guitar with
> enough coordination to keep at it.  It isn't sucking at it that frustrates
> me, or going slow, but not being able to physically keep it together, lol.
> ----------
> Mike Fugazzi
> vocals/harmonica
> http://www.mikefugazzi.com
> Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/MikeFugazziMusic>
> YouTube <http://www.youtube.com.user/mikefugazzi>
> Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
> <http://www.mikefugazzi.com/fr_customharmonicas.cfm>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 11:26 AM, Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>  Hi Mike -
>>
>> I would say learning any new instrument will be instructive in making you
>> a better all around musician. And being a chromatic player myself, I'd say
>> it is a great instrument to devote time to.
>>
>> However, I would take to heart something that many folks have said over
>> the years, including Dizzy Gillespie, which is that horn players (and I
>> believe this also applies to harmonica or I wouldn't be bringing it up)
>> should always learn a chordal instrument such as piano or guitar in order
>> to develop a better sense of harmony and music theory. It can also be a
>> tremendous help if you are composing. Just something to consider...
>>
>> Anyway, have fun with your first chromatic, it's a truly wonderful
>> instrument!
>>
>> - Slim.
>>
>> http://www.slidemanslim.com
>>
>> On Nov 9, 2011, at 8:42 AM, Mike Fugazzi wrote:
>>
>> I just ordered my first chromatic, an Educator 10.  I have no idea how
>> into learning chromatic I will become, but am very open to learning
>> how to at least play a song or two.  Ideally, I would be able to use
>> it to help with brushing up on and studying music theory.
>>
>> Howard Levy talks about visualizing a piano in his head when finding
>> notes on harmonica.  I am totally guilty of only playing harmonica and
>> being able to ignore some of that reasoning by changing the key of
>> harmonica or picking a position I already know.  I don't have to think
>> much about note names and relationships if I know scales/intervals.
>> Meaning, I have a deficit in knowing note names as I can just
>> transpose intervals and keys by switching harps.  I also can, and
>> have, skipped learning some positions and scales because I can just
>> use a harp and position I already know well.
>>
>> Am I way off base in thinking that learning some of these things on
>> chromatic can help my understanding of diatonic and music theory in
>> general?  Like if I learn my scales in 12 keys on one chromatic and
>> know the note names and intervals, will that help my diatonic thinking
>> (sorta like how Howard thinks of a piano)?
>>
>> It is ok if it won't, as I can still have fun with chromatic.
>>
>> If what I am saying doesn't make sense, here is an example.
>>
>> If you call out a tune that is diatonic to C, I can find the tonic of
>> each chord on a C harmonica.  I can probably even improvise over most
>> changes.  I can even tell you the note name of each whole.  However,
>> if you asked me to tell you the note names on a Bb harp, I'd have no
>> clue.  I could give you the tab of a scale, but I don't have the
>> relationships of the intervals down enough to calculate the note
>> names.  Furthermore, I can only play the scales I know, I can't think
>> of what a new scale would look like without a reference guide.
>>
>> This is frustrating when I see a guitar tab for a song and see the
>> note names but can't figure out how that best lays out into a
>> position, etc.  I have to look at a chart of 12 harmonica keys and
>> find which harp has the right notes in a way that is easiest to play
>> and then I don't know what chords/double stops I can play as I don't
>> have the scales memorized by notes, etc.
>>
>> Obviously, I could just start memorizing diatonic harp charts along
>> with scales by note names, but that is way boring compared to learning
>> that to actually play an instrument.  I want to be able to think
>> things like, "Oh, that song is Em, C, G, D...it is diatonic to G and
>> the chord tones of the Em are Em, G, B and D", in keys that go beyond
>> a C harp.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>>
>>
>