Scale degrees
Hey David,
I've done the first three Music Theory lessons and I've memorized the pitch names of each hole with blows, draws and bends for the C harmonica. But I'm starting to think that the truly complete way to get the music theory of blues properly infused with the physical layout of the harmonica would be to commit to memory the different scale degrees that each blow, draw and bend is capable of producing. That way you'd have the same information for each key of harp since the transposing would be the same.
So instead of thinking "the four blow is C", you'd think "the four blow is the root of the IV chord and the flat seventh of the V chord".
I think it's Adam Gussow who says in one of the interviews that that's how he thinks of the different holes.
Would you say that memorizing and thinking in scale degrees would be the best way to keep all the music theory stuff straight in a new harp player's mind?
Thanks,
Andrew
Thanks David,
Yes, the accompaniment studied have cleared up a lot too.
Andrew
Great. The Improvising Lessons also spend a lot of time on this (once you get to Study 7). Between Accompaniment, Improvising, and Music Theory you should have a complete understanding by the time you go through all the studies.
Hello Andrew. You've got it. This is where I'm leading you. We start with note names on the harmonica... then the note names of the three chords (in 2nd Position)... and then the scale degrees relative to the home key (the I Chord essentially) and chords. After you have this dialed in, then you apply the same knowledge set to 1st and 3rd Positions.
P.S., I recommend, if you're not already doing this now, to also study Accompaniment Playing, specifically the Hole Changes concept in Studies 3 and 5. This will help you in your application and memorization process.