This is related to a previous question (which has some useful answers):
I understand what the blues scale is, and that it involves using 2nd position. To set the scene, supposing the band is playing in G, so I must use a C harmonica if I am playing in 2nd position, ie using (-2(G) -3’ 4 -4 -4’ -5 6).
It looks as if I would have to restrict myself to playing only notes from the blues scale (-2 -3’ 4 -4 -4’ -5 6). Here is my question: How am I supposed to NOT play any other notes by accident? Or is this just a question of brute force memorisation, so I always know when I am playing notes from the blues scale?
BTW I realise that playing notes not the blues scale is allowed occasionally.
We can play a scale in multiple places and positions on the harp. You are playing it in the key of G on a C harp in 2nd position. It’s cool if you are sloppy with it. It will get tighter. You will eventually learn the muscle memory and tonal memory to just nail those notes. Be patient. Great question! Hope this helps.
Thanks, I’m the OP of the original thread you mentioned. Some obvious things that I learnt that might not be so obvious:
“Using” the blues scale means for improvisation (which, is indeed what you were implying above - using ‘just those notes’)
Otherwise, you can’t just get a random tab and play it “on the fly” in the blues scale unless 1)it’s already written that way OR 2) you rewrite it yourself somehow
the above may seem obvious, but you wouldn’t believe the amount of hours I spent on wild goose chases trying to understand how to play a tab in second position/blues scale/etc only to realize that, well, you can’t unless you rewrite/convert the tab first somehow
Thanks, as you have noticed, it is the application of the blues scale to improvisation that is bothering me. It sounds like the answer is (more or less) brute force memorisation (ie practice). Then again, using any scale (eg C major on a C harp), I suppose it would be easy to hit a wrong note unless you know exactly which note you want to hit next (and manage to hit it); so the general problem remains the same for any scale, and the solution is the same in all cases: practice hitting the notes you want to hit. I think.
@JamesVStone - welcome to the forum my friend. YES, you are CORRECT!! Taking time to memorize the scale will pay rich dividends in your playing.
Once you can “see” the pattern of blows and draws in your mind, you will begin to see how different blues licks and songs fit with that context going forward, and it will help you both to learn and memorize things more quickly.
There’s no shortcut here. It’s just playing that scale 1000 times. This should never become a chore or drudgery. There’s all different ways to spice it up and keep it fun and fresh.
Luke, Thanks - got it, no shortcuts. Your videos are excellent, by the way.
You recommended this online tool for checking bends etc, which is very useful, so I 'll put a link here for others to use: Bend It Better™ – The Tool That Helps You Bend Harmonica in Tune!