Re: [Harp-L] Making the Move to Chromatic

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

Offlist
John, I teach all the stuff you are talking about.  Skype lessons are
$45 per hour.  I agree with your guy that arps are very valuable, but
I also like scales.
Michael

On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 9:31 AM, John F. Potts <hvyj@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> Well, I've been trying to learn chrom for the last few months in part
> because a bandleader i work with has been insisting on it and in part
> because i finally found a chrom that i enjoy playing and that's not sticky
> or temperamental (the Suzuki SCX-48 and SCX-56).
>
> Surprisingly. I'm navigating the double C's just fine, and after years of
> playing diatonic in 6 positions, it sure is nice to have an instrument where
> all the notes are always in the same location. Thinking in terms of sharps
> all the time took a little getting used to, but I've been able to make that
> adjustment.
>
> I'm not having much problem in learning to PLAY the chrom. I can play scales
> and specific melodies without much difficulty.  BUT, being able to solo and
> improvise on the chrom is a different and much more difficult challenge. i
> get around pretty well on the diatonic in different positions because i know
> the breath patterns for the available scales and since my options are
> limited (I don't OB) I've learned to optimize within those limitations. But
> on chrom there are no such limitations since one has a complete 12 tone
> chromatic scale available instead of just certain patterns of notes.
>
> The bandleader who is insisting I learn chrom (and who has a Masters in
> Music) tells me that learning scales isn't the most effective way to learn
> to improvise.  According to him, learning the arpeggios of the chords to
> each tune is the foundation for effective improvisation. Since i play no
> other instruments and since one can't "build" chords on a diatonic, my
> knowledge of chord structures is less than fluent,  And I haven't been able
> to find any books with tab for arpeggios.  I've been advised to use books
> with music for sax or flute.  I don't sight read, although I can make sense
> of a chart, but none of the books I've looked at label the arpeggios by name
> and it's tough for me to recognize what chord is being arpeggiated just by
> looking at the notes that are written out, so it's hard for me to orient
> myself in a music book.
>
> Maybe there's a better way to go about it.
>
> JP
>