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From: "Kitich, Jerry"
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 1999 14:47:49 -0400
Subject: RE: Scales and Practice

You desperately need David Harp's book, Music Theory Made Easy, I can't
remember exactly what it is called, I've got a copy at home if you want the
ISBN e-mail me. It was written exactly to address exactly these burning
questions you are asking in a really user friendly manner.

You also do not need to know how to read music, which he stresses in his
book.

Most music stores will carry a copy, it is one of those compact, taller than
wider books with nice friendly diagrams and in Canada only costs about $12
so in the States I'm assuming you should be able to get it for $8 or so.

He starts out by explaining how the chromatic scale is an equal division
into 12 of notes an octave apart. That middle C sounds similar to C an
octave above and that the ancient Greeks divided this scale up into 12 equal
units.

Scales were formed by similar patterns of stepping between these notes,
starting on any of the 12 notes available. i.e. pick any key on piano and
by using the major scale pattern of how to step between the notes, you get
similar sounding scales, but in different keys because you start on
different keys, up to 12 scales. Major scales sound happy or bright and
minor scales sound sad or melancholy etc. More eastern music uses the minor
scales, i.e. Russian music. Happy Birthday to You, just wouldn't sound as
cheerful and upbeat in a minor scale. Blues scales sound bluesy. You can
sound way more bluesy using a blues scale than you can using a major scale,
as long as you also use the right rhythm for blues, so that's why we need
scales. Not to mention the need to be able to play together.

Harp content: That is why there are 12 harmonica keys available. Pick up a
C harp & a G harp, they both play the same pattern of steps between notes,
but the C harp starts on C and the G harp starts on G. Once you can play
something on a C harp you can play it on a G harp with the same blow/draw
pattern, because they both use the same pattern of steps between notes in
the scale. The same thing works for minor harps, but they will have a
different overall sound, since the basic pattern of steps is different, they
will sound more melancholy etc than a major harp.



- -----Original Message-----
From: Robb Bingham [mailto:robb_bingh~otmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 3:27 PM
To: Harp~arply.com
Subject: Scales and Practice


Dear Beloved List,

I'm looking for a way to understand and exercise with scales. I've been
through the archives but the diagrams and 'theory talk' quickly loses me. I
have a book from Mel Bay "Scales, Patterns & Exercises" but I really wish
someone could explain 'the point'. I mean, this book just writes out, in
notation, a bunch of scales (major diatonic, dorian, lydian, etc....) and I
ask myself why one needs a book to see notes that just go, in order, up the
scale...

No. That's not the problem. The problem is that I don't "get" the concept.
What makes a scale a scale...and why should I practice them (is it just to
know my way around the harp? If so, why not just use the chords from the
Tonic, sub-dominant and dominant)? For instance, if I learn all the scales
for my C harp, is that translatable (generalizable) to another harp? It
seems not (sharps and flats, etc, would, in other keys, get bent at
different holes, right?).

Yeah, yeah. I understand that all knowledge functions in such a fashion
(gets harder and harder the more you know) but won't this make me screwed up

for all but my C harp??? Let me put it another way: What the heck are scales

all about? How do I incorporate them into a practice in a meaningful way (helps for all keys). Also, does this mean- theoretically- that I could
always play with my C harp (chromatically), regardless of the key that the
band is in???

And, lastly, while I'm making wishes, how do I become twice as smart as I am

so that I don't have to feel so frigging behind in Music theory (sorry, that

slipped out). But seriously now, any shortcuts in Music Theory for us
wannabe musicians that waited too long to get serious? I know I'm asking a
lot but you guys always amaze me. Thanks in advance.

Robb


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