Hello Harpers of Sonic Junction -
This week we start to take apart this new study piece and remember to pay attention to the subtle differences over the I-IV-V chord changes. Some of your practice for this piece will have to be practice alone with your harp and a tuner, to be sure that your bending ability is in check and in tune. Also, I am adding some vibrato and tremolo to many of these notes for texture, so stay on top of your other techniques as well.
Dig in and have fun!
- Dennis Gruenling
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Chicago Blues
Print Chords & Tab
A Harp in the Key of E.
Loop 0:00 Playing With The Changes
Loop 1:00 First Chorus Acoustically
Loop 1:37 Breakdown of First 4 Bars
Loop 5:20 Practice Loop of First 4 Bars
Loop 5:35 Breakdown of Bars 5 - 8 (IV Chord and Back to I)
Loop 7:26 Practice Loop of First 8 Bars
Loop 7:51 V Chord and Turnaround Breakdown (Bars 9 - 12)
Loop 9:34 Practice Loop of Last 4 Bars
Loop 9:50 Practice Loop of First Chorus
Loop 10:28 Closing Thoughts
Comments
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what happened to the slow downer and no backimg track
Hi Boyd -- thanks for letting us know. It's now fixed.
Can you let me know how it works for you ?
Thanks.
Hi Dennis, I can do a tremolo, but cant seem to get a vibrato. Any recommendations would be great.
Hi Grant - one way that helped me out is this: start with a tremolo, and work on getting is very smooth and "lightly" done. Then, over time, work on doing this while simultaneously closing your airstream where you would to bend the note you are playing..but don't actually close it as much as you would to actually bend the note...just start to almost close your airstream and try to get that tremolo you are working on to kick in the note to bend during the tremolo...that is one way I have found that seems to help people.
Hi Dennis,
I'm kind of pattern oriented so I like that you describe these notes in terms of intervals rather than specific notes. That also seems way more useful since when you change keys by going to a different harp, staying in the same position, all the relationships stay the same. So just to check, the third hole unbent is the major third of the scale and also the third of the I chord. The third hole half-step bend is the flat or minor third of the scale and the dominant seventh of the IV chord. The third hole whole-step bend is the second of the scale and the fifth of the V chord.
I notice that you're using the two-hole blow over the one chord. That also seems to have a less nasty, more melodic feel. Major sixth of the scale and I chord. Is that a thing you're using deliberately there?
I focus first on getting the notes and feel into my head, then finding the notes and feel on the harp. But after that, the theory gives me a frame of reference for why certain notes or intervals work or don't work and why they give a more bluesy or more "majory" feel. I'm not very sophisticated in the theory (yet) but it's interesting and seems really helpful to me. There's no subsitute for listening and playing but I really appreciate that you're including these concepts.
b
Hi Bill - thanks! and yes, you are correct, but let me clarify...
You said: "the third hole unbent is the major third of the scale and also the third of the I chord"...that is two ways to say the same thing. the "scale" we are talking about is the scale for the I chord.
You said: "The third hole half-step bend is the flat or minor third of the scale and the dominant seventh of the IV chord." AND "The third hole whole-step bend is the second of the scale and the fifth of the V chord"...YES, just replace "scale" with the term "I chord" :)
You got it, just be careful you know the scale is the I chord we are talking about since I'm referring to the scale of 2nd position, which is the position for the I chord.
Right on!
Dennis...can ya recommend a tuner?........a simple one for us older folks.....oh and if ya do send me a consulting fees bill... keep the change.....
For a physical tuner (not something to download on your phone or computer) and standard simple guitar tuner with a microphone you can get at a music store or online (such as a basic Korg model) will do.
Cool, thanks.