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

[philharpn@xxxxxxx]

As you know arpeggios are just broken chords: chords where you play one note at a time. You might try a chord book that also shows scales that go with chords. A piano photo chord book that also shows where the chord notes are on the keyboard might help. 


If you don't have a portable keyboard or piano, you might spend a few bucks and get one. I paid $50 for a radio shack keyboard a few years ago and you can probably find one for $100 or so.  I use my little keyboard to demonstrate where the bends are on the diatonic and how to hit them on pitch. 


You might find that keyboard will help you work your way around the arpeggios and then you can transfer them to the harmonica.



Once you see how the chords are built that you need, you can record them and play them back by ear. Or make your own tab. The inexpensive keyboard is not to convert you into a keyboard player, it's just another tool -- like having the right wrench for the job.


Don't worry about the speed at which you sight read: this is not a race. You just want to find the notes that go with the chord. With a piano chord picture book (lots out there) you can find the chord you want, play the notes on your keyboard and match them on your chrome. 


 If you spend a few more bucks, you can get a keyboard with built-in speakers that also will output MIDI to you computer so you can record it. Or just take the signal the earphone jack to a recorder. 


Your bandleader is right, chords come first -- then the scales that go with them.  Check your fake book (Real Book) to find what chords you need to find. FYI: Real Books come in all categories -- blues, rock, Dixieland, bluegrass -- not just the general C instrument line that is now up to volume IV. Also, volumes I-III are available in the half-size mini editions which are just as thick but smaller. Also, Jamey Aebersold  has a whole line of books and a downloadable index if you want to find which of his books contains a certain tune. 
Hope this helps
Phil Lloyd










-----Original Message-----
From: John F. Potts <hvyj@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wed, Sep 21, 2011 6:34 am
Subject: [Harp-L] Making the Move to Chromatic


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