Accomp. study 2
Hi David, first of all let me congratulate you on such an awesome site for learning the harmonica. Blues Harmonica.com is an essential tool for anyone wanting to learn the harmonica in terms of the pdf layout, videos and instructional advice.
Reference accomp. study 2 and the song I want you with me, I am having some difficulty in understanding the harp solo from 2:57 and 3:22. To explain, the solo does not seem to follow the structure of the 12 bar blues. For example in the solo comencing 3:22 if the solo followed the 12 bar blues you should have the fist four bars each commencing on the note E, however each bar starts on the note G. Please can you explain, I am totally stuck at the moment.
Many thanks,
Paul
Many thanks for your speedy reply, however I'm still not fully understanding. If we take the harp solo at 2:57 for example, then looking at the first line there have a one chord which is shown as 3 blow which is a G (Second position on a C harp) that I understand, If we take the second line I would have thought that the four chord would have been a C (Maybe a 4 blow) and not an E (2 blow).
Please can you explain. Once again many thanks,
Kind Regards
Paul
Morning Paul. Though the Accompaniment lesson focuses on root notes for the accompaniment, we're in the solo now, and the solo being restricted to the root note of a chord would be pretty boring. In this case, the E of the IV Chord you mention, is the 3rd of the IV Chord. The IV Chord is C E G (Root, 3rd, 5th), so any of these notes are good options. In addition, the 6th (A in this case) or Flat-7th (B-flat in this case) are also good choices. Beyond that, pretty much any note is valid in a solo, if used in support of those important Chord Tones.
So, to sum up. This Accompaniment Study 2 focuses on Root Notes for the Accompaniment, but the solos will move outside of that for interest. As you continue through your Music Theory studies and Improvising studies, this will all become more clear as time goes on. By the way, you'll start using other notes of the chord in your next Accompaniment Study as well.
Glad you're enjoying your studies… keep the questions coming.
Many thanks David, now I understand
Kind Regards,
Paul
Thank you Paul for your kind words, I'm glad you're enjoying your studies.
Ah, yes, what you're missing is that all the notation at BluesHarmonica.com is in C Score… as if you're playing a C Harmonica. So, in this case, it's the C Harmonica played in 2nd Position, key of G. This way it doesn't matter which harp you use, the notation and understanding remains the same.