Scott's Tips (Part 4)
Tip # 20
Harmonica Tips
- Every major-key harmonica has at least 3 uses. For discussion purposes, we will explore the possibilities of a G Blues Harp.
- Folk, pop or country usage You can play in the key that the harp is named after. G major. Your I IV IV chords are G, C and D. Use "straight-harping" when the tune you are playing is based on a major scale.
- Blues cross-harping You can for playing oriented sounds. So, rather than using G harp for a G Blues, the harp player will use the G harp in the key that is 4 steps up or 5 Steps down. In other words, the key of D. I=D IV=C V=5
If you are looking at this situation from the view of a guitarist, pianist or a bassist, you will need to tell an unknowledgeable harpist to grab the harp that is 5 steps up or 4 steps down from the actual key. - Dorian Cross Harping- The harpist will choose a harp that is one step lower than the "straight-harp" key. The G harp will work over an A minor to D7 chord progression. (ala Santana) It is also a fair second choice for an A Blues. I=A IV=D V=E
- Relative Minor Cross Harping- Choose a harp a minor 3rd higher or a major 6th lower than the actual key. Harpists, tell guitarists, etc….to play the key a major 6th above or a minor third below the straight-harp key.
- Two or More Harps - Some songs contain chords that are outside of the musical "comfort zone" of a given harmonica. For such situations, you may wish to use a second or third harp during the same song
- Do not play over vocals or someone's solo. Play fills in the cracks between vocals
- Back off the microphone if you are too loud
- Keep your eyes and ears open for visual and auditory cues
Open Mic/Jam Etiquette
Using a mic and an amp
- "Got Tubes?"- Purchase a small guitar practice amp that has tubes. Tube amps have a nicer natural distortion than solid state counter parts. Smaller watt amps are the best choice. The reason for this is that the amp can be turned up further than bigger amps. The natural tube distortion is the result.
- Bullet Mic?- Many people swear by the "bullet" microphone. Actually this mic is of low quality by vocal mic standards. The SM 58 and 57 are better for voice and cost less. If you are using a conventional mic, you may wish to use a foam wind-screen over the end to reduce any "clanging" of the harp against the mic. The bullet mic is sort of a "standard" for harpists. I am not sure if it is because "all the old dudes played 'em", they look cool, they are easier to hold than the standard sized mic, or they sound cool because of their funky lower quality sound.
- Distortion or Over Drive Pedal You may wish to try a pedal between your mic and your amp.
Tip # 21
"Change One Note", "Dot Dash", and Other Weird Practice Approaches I Have Discovered
"Change One Note", "Dot Dash", and Other Weird Practice Approaches I Have Discovered
by Scott Olson
Change One Note
Play one note in eighth notes. On a given eighth note, insert a different note. This note can be a successive note from a particular scale or a random choice. You may use any number of notes within the grouping. A more random approach can be added to the rhythmic aspect of this exercise. Change the note at varying rhythmic locations. Be certain that there are no "glitches" in going from one note to the next. If you discover a difficult combination, repeat it at a slow enough tempo to assure accuracy. Guitarists can do this exercise on a single string, or any combination of strings. The only rules that pertain are accuracy and one note must remain the same.
Leap Around (Set Parameters)
Choose a scale or arpeggio. Play only notes that are contained within that scale or arpeggio. Force yourself to play wide and/or difficult intervals in an accurate manner. Spend longer periods of time on more difficult leaps. You may also choose to play a steady stream of quarter notes or eighth notes while choosing random notes from the chosen scale or arpeggio.
Leap Around (No Parameters)
Choosing notes from a particular octave or from the full range of your instrument, force yourself to play wide and/or difficult intervals in an accurate manner. Spend longer periods of time on more difficult leaps. You may also choose to play a steady stream of quarter notes or eighth notes while choosing random notes
Dot Dash
Choose a number of note. Let's say 3. On a piece of paper write out all 3 note combinations of dots and/or dashes. Each dot represents one pitch. Each dash represents a different pitch. String players may use a single string or two strings. This is a very challenging exercise for using alternate picking while skipping strings.
3 Note (Dot-Dash)
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… |
--- |
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..- |
--. |
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.-- |
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.-. |
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|
-.. |
|
|
-.- |
There may be others, if so use the blank cells to write in any further combinations.
4 Note (Dot-Dash)
|
---- |
…. |
|
|
---. |
…- |
|
|
--.. |
..-- |
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|
-… |
.--- |
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|
-..- |
.--. |
|
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-.-. |
.-.- |
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|
-.-- |
.-.. |
There may be others, if so use the blank cells to write in any further combinations.
Tip # 22
Converging on Musical Independence
Yet another Scott Olson article
I would be the last person on Earth to discourage people from taking music lessons to improve their playing. I do, however, think that many players could benefit from thinking more for themselves, and being less reliant on instructors telling them what to change or to do next..
Scales
Know the formulas; think the names of the notes as you play them.
Abandon scale books and chord diagrams. Get a theory workbook; use the net etc…
Chords
Know the formulas to build chords/arpeggios. Know the scale degrees of the notes as you play them. (1, 3, flat 7th etc…)
Abandon chord books and diagrams.
Get a theory workbook; use the net etc…
Use a Metronome or a Drum Machine
'Nuff said
Terminology
If you don't know a term look it up. What a concept !
Never Guess When practicing
Music is about accuracy and organization. Do not guess or be half-hearted if unsure about something. Take steps to get it right.. Yes,
know, mistakes will happen. Do not increase the possibility by rehearsing mistakes.
Practice Habits and Strategies
Have a plan when you practice. 5 seconds, 5 minutes, 5 hours, have a plan and see to it that you achieve it..
Do you want it? Then do it. Know one will stop you but yourself.
Practice, patience, persistence.
Practice consistently.
Practice consistency.
Listen, don't just hear.
Self-Evaluation
To progress as a musician we must be in a state of dialogue with ourselves as we practice. We are our own best teachers. If you have taken lessons from a decent teacher, you should try to retain and utilize some residual critiquing skills from them.
I think most students know what they should change to be better.
I think that many times they just don't have the guts or the brains to do it.
Tip # 23
Playing Along With Recordings
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