Re: [Harp-L] Difference in the chord structure between bluegrass & Blues?

[MundHarp@xxxxxxx]

I'd never EVER played "bluegrass" music,  until I met the great  "Western" 
singer songwriter/singer Karmann Powell in Arizona USA last year....  While 
I was in AZ I played with several "bluegrass" outfits... OK... The "blues  
scale" simply isn't used.... (Much)... But as long as the harmonicist plays  
TUNEFULLY... It seems to fit right on in there.
In my opinion, the harp can mostly play the fiddle part in a song... In the 
 same way as harmonica may also play the steel guitar part in a C&W  band...
Best wishes
John "Whiteboy" Walden
Just now... In England.
 
 
In a message dated 9/14/2011 6:57:36 P.M. GMT Daylight Time,  
clay@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

I will  never deny any method of learning or practice. We all have 
different goals or  perspectives when we start to play music. Learning melodies, 
chord  progressions, positions, theory is all very important and something I 
should  do more of but ...  many players I hear suffer from too much thought,  
infringing on their free flowing expression. Harmonica, played in second  
position is almost magical in its ability to adapt to so many of popular  
music's chord progressions and grooves. Bluegrass, reggae, ska, funk, hard  
rock, etc., played in second position will allow a new player to get a  
positive experience early in their learning. I consider the harmonica a vocal  
instrument. Pick up the correct key instrument and one can start to play with  
others, making this, maybe, the most democratic melodic instrument other than 
 the voice. Of course, democracies are a bit messy but this is a discussion 
for  another forum.

Playing bluegrass helped my early playing because I had  to listen to and 
recognize chord progressions that did not follow the blues  pattern, but 
still used the blues chords. Then when a fourth or fifth chord  was introduced 
into a tune, a minor chord or 6-2-1 turnaround was tossed in, I  had to 
recognize it and play with it, or be quiet accordingly. The recognition  of when 
to be quiet might be the most important lesson a beginning harmonica  player 
will get, regardless of the style they play.

Listening to the  fiddle is valuable because a harmonica often fills that 
function in a song.  Check out the chunking rhythmic banjo or mandolin 
because a harmonica can  produce a cool "chunking" rhythm. Sing the vocals with 
the harmonica following  the phrasing as much if not more than the melody.

My bottom line  advice, along with all of the other posts, is to allow a 
new player to jam  with a bluegrass tune in good old second position and have  
fun.

Clay


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