A Beginner's Notes, Research, Resources and Comments
By Michael P. Garofalo
Books
Blog Posts
Blues
Chords
Chromatic Harmonicas
Discoveries
Goals
Hardware, Electronics, Software
Harmonicas
Improvisation
Internet
Links
Listening
Low Key Harmonicas
Music: Albums MP3 Videos
Musicians, Harmonica Players
Objectives
Other Harmonicas
Percussion
Positions
Progress Reports
Psychology
Quotations
Software DAWs
Teachers
Techniques, Tips
I enjoy playing harmonicas as a minor hobby. One book that I recently read was of great benefit to me: Musicality: How You Too Can Learn Music Like a Gifted Prodigy, Unlock Your Musical Instinct, and Unleash Your Inner Natural. By Christopher Sutton. 864 pages, Musical U, 2024. A wide range of good ideas, principles, and tips for a enthusiastic musician. The unlocking and unleashing aspects were excellent, and "gifted prodigy" means a very hard working, confident, informed, and dedicated musician.
Another Day in Paradise
By Phil Collins
1989
Diatonic Harmonica
Key of C Major
VERSE 1
6 -6 7 -6 6 -5
5 -4 5
She calls out to the man on the street
7 -6 6 -5 7
"Sir, can you help me?
6 7
-6 6 -5
5 -4 5
It's cold and I've no-where to sleep,
6 6 -6 7 -6
6 -5 7
Is there some-where you can tell me?"
VERSE 2
6 -6 7 -6 6
-5 4
He walks on, doesn't look
back
7 -6
6 -5 5 6 7
He pre tends he can't hear her
6
7 -6 6
-5 5 -4 5 -6 6
Starts to whis tle as he cros ses the
street
6
6 -6 -6 6 -5 7
Seems em bar rassed to be
there
CHORUS
-7 6 6 -4
5
Oh Think twice, 'cause it's
5 6 6 -5 5 -5 5 -5 5
-5 6 6
An oth er day for you and me in par a dise
-7 6 6 -4
5
Oh Think twice cause it's
5 6 6 -5 5 -5
-5 6 -5 5 5
a no ther day for you, you in par a dise
4 -4 4 -4 5
just think about it
VERSE 3
6 -6 7 -6 6 -5
5 -4 5
She calls out to the man on the street
7 -6 6 -5 5 6 7
He can see she's been cry ing
6 7 -6 6 -5
5 -4 -5 -6 6
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
6 6 -6 7 -6
-5 7
She can't walk but she's trying
[CHORUS]
VERSE 4
6 -5 5 -5
5
Just think a-bout it
7 -6
Oh lord!
-5 6 -5 -5 -5
-5 5 -5 5
7 7
Is there noth ing more a ny bo dy
can do?
-7 7
Oh lord!
5 -5
6
-5 -5 -5
5 7
There must be some thing you can say
VERSE 5
6 -6 7 -6 6 -5
5 -4 5
You can tell from the lines on her face
7 -6 6 -5 5 6
7
You can see that she's been there
6 7 -6 6
-5 5 -4 -5 -6 6
Pro bably she moved on from ev ‘ry
place
6
6 -6 7 -6
6 -5 7
Cause she did n't fit in there
[CHORUS]
Reading Sheet Music for Harmonica
Discoveries #2 (July 8, 2024)
Harmonica Studies by Michael P. Garofalo
I have been diligently working on learning to read standard music notation, sheet music, when
playing the harmonica. I had been using for many years the harmonica tablature notation showing what hole to blow or draw into. Sheet music notation tells me what note to play and the duration and sequence of the notes played. Most diatonic harmonica music books have lessons using a C Major harmonica, the sheet music for each song, and under each note the harmonica tablature. I focus now on the sheet music and ignore the harmonica tablature. I am using the book 'Easy Piano Sheet Music for Kids', by Avgusta Udartseva, while learning, which does not include harmonica tablature.
For me, what are the benefits of reading standard musical notation (sheet music):
1. A better sense of the flow and timing of a composition.
2. There is far more sheet music without harmonica tablature that is readily available.
3. Following traditional musical learning using sheet music is very valuable, and essential for real progress in music playing.
4. Learning to connect names of notes (CDEFGABC) with positions on the sheet music, and connecting these with diatonic harmonica holes for blow or draw notes (20 notes on a 10 hole diatonic harmonica).
5. Learning to read sheet music more efficiently, effectively, knowledgeably, and beneficial for playing properly.
6. I am learning more musical theory each day.
7. The visual spacing of the notes on the sheet music is more useful to precise playing and improving one's anticipation and timing.
8. Improves my learning how to play better.
9. I enjoy learning challenges, tests, new methods and techniques.
10. It is intellectually and emotionally satisfying to make progress in playing music.
11. The challenge of new ways of looking and seeing; new ways of communicating with symbols.
12. Harmonica tablature can be useful, but must be left behind for real progress to occur.
This has been a significant and transformative learning experience for me! Why did I wait so long to learn how to read and play from sheet music? Why did I not take classes from a music teacher? Why did I not take community college or private classes in musical theory and education? Nevertheless, this is all just muddy water gone past under the bridge for a 78 year old man playing the harmonica on his own. I must focus on learning NOW, and ignore my regrets and failings. PRACTICE NOW and enjoy myself.
Harmonica Studies by Michael P. Garofalo
My Musical Objectives
June-July 2024
Study The Idiot's Guide to Harmonica Playing for 30 minutes each day.
Attend an online class at Harmonica.com with Luke twice each week.
Fluency with C Chords:
I C Major CEG (Blow Holes 456 or 789 or 123 or any 3 adjacent holes)
IV F Dyad FA (Draw 56 and Draw 9 10)
V G Major GBD (Draw Holes 234 or Draw Holes 1234
G7 GBDF (Draw Holes 2-5)
Dm DFA (Draw 456 and Draw 89 10)
Playing, Jamming, Learning, and Practicing with
various C Major Diatonic 10 Hole Harmonicas:
Hohner Special 20 Progressive
Hohner Crossover Marine Band
Suzuki ProMaster MR 350
Seydel Sohne Blues Session
Lee Oskar Tombo
Learning how to play 5 simple folk music tunes properly all the way through:
Streets of Laredo, Annie Laurie, Marine Corps Hymn, Michael Row the Boat Ashore,
Blues Piece in C.
Intermediate Objectives (June-Dec 2024):
Find a good harmonica teacher in Portland, Oregon, or Vancouver, Washington.
Learn how to use the Band in a Box computer software ($160)
Purchase Novation Launchkey 49 MIDI Keyboard Controller
using seamless Ableton Live DAW software ($240).
Learn how to use DAW software.
Continue to advance my understanding of musical theory and history.
My Musical Goals
Playing the harmonica daily.
Learning how to play better chords on the harmonica.
Learning how to play harmonica rhythmic patterns better.
Listening to harmonica music.
Learning some harmonica musical theory each week.
Learning to interpret standard musical score notation for a harmonica.
Learning how to play easy popular tunes.
Learn how to use Band in a Box software.
My Musical Mission
Listening to all kinds of music over a lifetime.
Enjoying the pleasures of music over a lifetime.
Seeking positive, uplifting, spiritual, and mystical experiences via music.
Enjoying playing the harmonica.
Sharing good sounds with others.
Encouraging and supporting musicians.
Background, Introduction
I have owned various harmonicas since my childhood days.
I have enjoyed playing various harmonicas by myself.
I have used various books, CDs, MP3s, charts, and online learning resources to learn
how to play the harmonica.
I now focus for 30 to 60 minutes each day in learning and practicing with a harmonica.
Purchasing good quality harmonicas in different Keys, books, CDs, MP3s, online resources, online video instruction (Luke), and paying for a personal harmonica instructor can be costly for serious intermediate harmonica students and lifetime enthusiasts.
Good education and ongoing learning are essential for steady improvement and more fun.
From January to May 2024, I used a Hohner Crossover Marine Band Key of C and a Seydel Sohne 1847 Key of Low C for daily practice. I was learning the chords on the C Key harmonica, learning the hole notes and playing single notes more clearly. Most basic instruction books for the harmonic focus on using a diatonic harmonic in the Key of C. I have gained some fluency in properly playing single notes and chords, in blowing techniques, and I can entertain myself with some improvising.
