Song Analysis
My experience with the study songs up to the end of LOA 3 is that I found I was focusing so much on the notes and the techniques that chorus forms were an afterthought even though they were also being studied at an introductory level. But then I really paid attention to the written music and noted that you've labelled each verse with its chorus form. So reviewing each verse and comparing it to the chorus form has begun to make the songs easier to understand. Instead of just notes and techniques each chorus now has a form that makes sense and that simplifies the licks making them much more logical and not just what at first appeared to be unconnected ideas.
I've noticed there are Joe T videos where you analyze Temperature. Haven't watched them yet but I'm hoping what I describe above is what the two of you do? Is there more of that approach ahead?
Presently, I'm working in Level 4 of the Levels of Achievement program where I'm required to memorize some essential major, pentatonic and blues scales. As a result,I'm not sure now which scales to use when playing over the I, IV, or V chords in a 12 bar blues progression. As I understand it, if I have a C harmonica and I'm playing in second position then that puts me in the key of G. Now, if I'm playing over the I chord, do I use the G Major Pentatonic scale or the G Blues Scale. If I'm playing over the IV chord do I use the C Major Scale, C Major Pentatonic Scale, or the C Blues Scale. Finally, if I'm playing over the V chord, do I use the D Major Pentatonic Scale or the D Blues Scale. Any help in this regard would be deeply appreciated.
Hello x10x10, great questions. Playing the C Harmonica in 2nd Position, Key of G, you would use the G Blues Scale over all the chords, just making sure if you hold a note it should be a note of the chord you're playing over. You can use the C Blues Scale for the IV Chord and D Blues Scale for the V Chord, it is an option, and worth exploring, but what I mentioned does the job very well and is more common.
The same approach applies to the Major Pentatonic Scale, though adding the root note of the IV Chord (C) and 3rd of the V Chord (F#) when over those chords sounds very good.
Now, which scale to use?
This depends on the feel of the song. If the song is very blues, dark or minor, then the Blues Scale is your appropriate choice. if the song is light, happy and major (jump and swing blues is in this category), then the Major Pentatonic Scale is the appropriate choice.
In the end, these are just concepts to explore, but what I mention is pretty solid advice. Sometimes it's a mixture, borrowing notes from both scales, so you'll want to be open minded.
You will learn more about this, in great detail, in your Music Theory Studies and Improvising Studies, so you're welcome to advance deeper into those for all the analysis of what I mention here and ask me questions as you need me to fill in the gaps.
Good morning SmokeJS. Yes, the phrasing and underlying music theory is always there, waiting for the student... you in this case... to grow to the point where they can look past the foreground (notes and technique). Understanding comes over time as skills that needed your conscious focus move to the subconscious, allowing you to address elements like articulation options, dynamics (especially how to emphasize important tones relative to the chord you're playing over) and how what you play is heavily influenced by the composite of notes played in a given groove by the other musicians.
To directly answer your question, yes, as you continue your studies you'll see more and more if this in your lessons, especially in the Accompaniment, Music Theory and Improvising Lessons. Check out Improvising Study 11 when you get a chance. The music will be too difficult for you to personally play right now, but I think you'll enjoy how far this process can go.