Days of Wine and Roses - Harmonica - Improv Practice Session

[@petertiggeman940]

Mooi gespeeld

[@ofir20503]

Good stuff man I really enjoyed it. You made my day thanks.

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

Thanks for listening!

[@floydbarto-theharmonicaras1113]

Nice

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

Thank you!

[@teliph3U]

Are you playing from sheet music? Do you have any tips on how to learn it for diminished harmonica?

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

Yes. Though I have the melody memorized. I’m reading the chord changes when improvising. Regarding diminished tuning, and tips, it’s just a tuning layout so you must know where the notes are as with any instrument. For example I’m playing a G diminished chromatic and I know I can play the note G 2 different ways. Blow slide out and draw slide in. And of course note C can only be played one way draw slide out.

[@teliph3U]

@@MattWatsonHarmonica I know the layout by heart and I play by ear. If I am playing a note I cannot tell you what note I am playing because I have not associated the note with a label but I know which action produces the note. What I am trying to learn is to read from sheet music or to associate notes with their labels. But I am not sure where to start.

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

@@teliph3U Ok. Cool. The fact you play by ear is great. I feel it’s one of the most important skills a musician can have. Do you want to read the chord changes as well or just musical notation?

[@teliph3U]

@@MattWatsonHarmonica _"Ok. Cool. The fact you play by ear is great."_ Yes, but sometimes it is also a little bit limiting because I don't make any effort to learn from sheet music. I listened to a lot of music in my childhood, sometimes whistling to it, and I was trying to play along and that's how I learned it mostly, first for Richter, then diminished. And I also noticed it is a gradual process for me. If the music is too fast I may still get lost. _"Do you want to read the chord changes as well or just musical notation?"_ I would appreciate any advice you may have. I would also be interested how you learned music theory, mostly advanced stuff related to jazz. Is it because you started with piano?

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

@@teliph3U There’s quite a lot to unpack here. Piano is a great visual learning tool. I use it to study chords and scales. For me knowing the major scale in all keys and knowing the notes of the chords is essential. The first step I feel for you is to learn your notes by name. What ever the key of your diminished harmonica start with that. For me it’s G. So I’d learn the note names of the G major scale from the bottom of the harp to the top and back. Use the piano as a reference. Play the note knowing the note name and so on. Play slowly and think of the next note name before executing. Always know the note name you’re playing.