bigpapa
1 post
Feb 16, 2010
12:05 PM
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Hey guys...new here. I started playing a couple of years ago...I have been told that I am one of the best players in Birmingham already (I hate writing stuff like that but trying to make my point). I know very little theory and couldn't even begin to name notes or play scales, but seem to have a knack for knowing what notes to play when needed. Does everyone learn this way or is learning scales and notes the usual road to playing well?
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barbequebob
479 posts
Feb 16, 2010
12:10 PM
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There are often times where it's somewhere in the middle or really both. Many players kinda "bull" their way thru but many eventually try to really learn where they are on the instrument, which is the better way to go. Just blowing and hoping for the best may get you by in the short run around lesser players, but at some point that's gonna catch up with you when you're around vastly superior players and it can be a very humbling experience, so I'd suggest taking the time knowing the notes, scales, and music theory, plus getting your time together and learning the groove is THE right way to go and it will clearly set you apart from everyone else.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2010 12:15 PM
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barbequebob
480 posts
Feb 16, 2010
12:17 PM
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One thing I should add as a reason for learning scales, theory, time, and groove is so that you avoid being another harp player that perpetuates a too often very true and VERY negative stereotype of harmonica players as being the dumbest musician on the bandstand.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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LeeEdwards
21 posts
Feb 16, 2010
1:09 PM
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Hi bigpapa and welcome. barbequebob is giving you some sound advice. If you've got so far playing by instinct great. If you start hitting the books though you'll find out that there is a name for every technique and concept that you currently use by instinct. Once you delve deeper into those topics and fully understand what you've been doing all along not only will you find more uses for those techniques and concepts, but having the knowledge and understanding will give you much more confidence and a sense of self empowerment. This will, of course, aid you in becoming a better player.
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"You will never get every possible thing out of an instrument, but the instrument will get every possible thing out of you" - Ray Charles.
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bluemoose
125 posts
Feb 16, 2010
1:21 PM
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hummmm..."playing from the hip".
Doesn't that hurt your back? :)
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Bluzdude46
483 posts
Feb 16, 2010
1:23 PM
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No Moose, if that were so playing by ear would give you a stiff neck
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The Original Downtown Philadelphia Fatman... Accept No substitutes!
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bigpapa
2 posts
Feb 16, 2010
4:13 PM
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well...i guess that i should have posted that i know some theory...on guitar. i have been playing guitar for 20 years, which helped me in knowing the chord progressions. once i figured out which position gave me the sound that i wanted...i was off and running. but, as i said...i couldn't tell anybody how i play it...i just make it happen.
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GermanHarpist
1106 posts
Feb 16, 2010
4:52 PM
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Blues Harp and Music Theory,... definitily a peculiar topic. ;)
I'm teaching some music theory to a guitar friend at the moment. We approached it with the help of a music theory book he had lying around. We realised soon that only very little of the theory had actual relevance to his playing.
I.e. theory should IMO be tought in the order of relevance. So that the things learned should be applicaple right away or at least soon.
I can't remember having ever seen music theory structured in relevance exactly to and around harmonica playing...
Btw. Welcome to the forum, bigpapa! Have a look on the forum how-to and don't forget to put your pin on the map. ;)
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germanharpist on YT. =;-) - Resonance is KEY!
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2010 5:05 PM
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pharpo
160 posts
Feb 16, 2010
5:05 PM
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Just my 2 cents.......While hitting the books and learning music theory is a noble endeavor...I don't believe that it is necessary, nor should it define you as a player. Many of the Blues greats could not read music ////crap some of them could not read or write the Kings English.
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Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
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LeeEdwards
24 posts
Feb 16, 2010
5:48 PM
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"I can't remember having ever seen music theory structured in relevance exactly to and around harmonica playing..."
I would say that is because music theory is not specifically for any particular instrument, but for all instruments. Each and every instrument is capable of producing notes whether it be a sax, trumpet etc. Learning the mechanics of the instrument to play those notes is a particular skill. Learning what to do with those notes once you can produce them is where the theory comes in. Yes, you'll figure out some things that sound good without learning theory, but digging into the theory will force you to approach things in ways you didn't know existed.
When I start teaching a raw beginner with no previous musical experience I always emphasise the fact that they are going to have to learn about two things. i)The mechanics of the instrument and ii)Music. They are two separate entities that eventually get combined together. For any student with no previous musical experience the amount needed to be learned can be quite daunting and usually takes a long time.
In contrast, if a beginning student of mine already plays a few instruments well and has a good knowledge of music theory, once they get past the steep learning curve of being able to play all the notes available on the harp (the mechanics) their progress is usually very rapid and we head into the refinement stage much quicker. Which leads me to....
@bigpapa - If you know some theory, having played guitar for 20 years, I'd hasten a guess that you have already developed a keen sense of relative pitch. You know what notes sound good where, have a feel for the intervallic relationship between notes and are using this knowledge and skill subconciously in your harp playing. I would still recommend practicing scales regularly though and exploring theory as much as you can. You never know when you'll discover something new.
Phew! This post was longer than I anticipated. I'm going for a lie down.
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"You will never get every possible thing out of an instrument, but the instrument will get every possible thing out of you" - Ray Charles.
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