Modulation

[Gene Oh]

https://youtu.be/F2Fpii1IP1I?si=4G-kucmX1f33W6a5

Can you please have a listen to the above song? I would appreciate your comments about the modulation I have used. Do you like it better than repeating the same four times? Normally a hymn has 3 or 4 verses and I didn't like to repeat the same monotonous melody. That's why I have employed the modulation for a change.
1. Song title: An old hymn called "I Cannot Tell Thee Whence It Came"
2. Backing track: Created by me using MuseScore 4.2
3. Harmonica used: Easttop Forerunner 2.0
4. Modulation: I used the Keys of G, Ab, A, Bb
5. Note: the bit of noise in the song is from the clicking sound of the slide.
6. Software used in recording: Audacity 4, Power Director 16.
7. Photos: Don OH, a son of the harmonica player, took all these photos while he and his family traveled the South Island of NZ over the year-end holiday.

Gene


 
 

[wolfman]

  Very nice playing Gene.Love the pictures .
  I like the idea of  modulation.

   Roman

[Gene Oh]

  Very nice playing Gene.Love the pictures .
  I like the idea of  modulation.

   Roman

As always, I love your encouraging comments.
Gene

[RichChrome]

Hi Gene, nicely played, although I found the backing track overpowered you playing somewhat but otherwise, very nice. Also I like the key changes I think they add some musical variety to the song. It's something I like to do to generate a little more texture to an arrangement. So well done.

[Gene Oh]

Hi Gene, nicely played, although I found the backing track overpowered you playing somewhat but otherwise, very nice. Also I like the key changes I think they add some musical variety to the song. It's something I like to do to generate a little more texture to an arrangement. So well done.

Many thanks again for your positive comments. I need such words of support and encouragement for keeping on harping. I am now only 75 years old, and hopefully I may be able to play so beautifully before I reach 80.

Cheers,
Gene

[Gene Oh]

I have tried a tune in 5 different keys this time as below.
The keys are in the order of C, Db, D, Eb, and E.

https://youtu.be/WUFMDdzs1gs?si=7qPrCXkwhl9CtSfs
Gene

[servus]

Tricky business. Very skillfully done!

PJ

[Age]

You're doing fine, bro! 

Your articulation is constantly improving as evident with all those key changes, which is great. However, it still sounds (to me anyway) like maybe you're working a little too hard.  I have a feeling that ~I~ enjoyed listening to it more than you enjoyed playing it. Remember, when it comes to music, YOU are the first one who should enjoy what you hear. When you're having fun, (smiling on the inside) the rest will follow.

Okay, try this: Worry less about mistakes, like, pretend you're singing instead of playing an instrument, close your eyes, and just try to enjoy the music more. Take some chances. I think you'll find that the "enjoyment/fun" factor will have a way of smoothing everything else out.

Again, Nice job, brother! I'm proud of you.

Age

P.S. Join us some Thursday!

Check out Reply#7
https://forums.SlideMeister.com/index.php?topic=20343.msg262274#msg262274

[Gene Oh]

Hi Age,
Thank you again for your kind words of loving concern for my harp practising. You are such a wonderful teacher. I agree 100% with what you said, "Remember, when it comes to music, YOU are the first one who should enjoy what you hear. When you're having fun, (smiling on the inside) the rest will follow.

Okay, try this: Worry less about mistakes, like, pretend you're singing instead of playing an instrument, close your eyes, and just try to enjoy the music more. Take some chances. I think you'll find that the "enjoyment/fun" factor will have a way of smoothing everything else out."

It has been a "work" to me rather than "amusement" despite my effort to enjoy. I have no intention to boast or show off my skill. I have a lot of frustration because of so many hours of futile practicing. I may have to have a long rest before I pick up my harp again!

Gene

[Gnarly He Man]

There is a word, “inspiration“, that comes from the root word meaning “to breathe”.
Sometimes the work gets in the way of the play.
I feel blessed that music inspires me. Folks who don’t play might not know what they are missing.
Keep playing.

[servus]

I still can't play a B scale properly!

PJ

[Gene Oh]

Hi PJ,
Please don't be fooled by my skill in changing the keys as if I could do any scales properly.
No, I have been using 12 keyed  harps (Easttop Forerunner v2.0). For instance, in my playing above, I used 3 keyed harps (C,D,E keys) for playing in C, Db, D, Eb and E.

I had practised 12 scales using one C key harp for about 4 years but a year ago, I bought 12 valuveless keyed harps for easy switching keys. So, now  I don't need to practise scales. I simply  change the harp when I need to  change the key. It is because I thought that it would take forever to master all scales "properly".
Gene

[Age]

Don't you dare get discouraged!  Discouragement is just a weapon of the enemy, bro.
I've been playing for 72 years (Man! am I old or whatt? ) and I didn't learn to do what Gene did there for 62 of those years. That in itself is a "yuge" accomplishment. 

[servus]

Thanks guys. I never give up easily.

PJ

[Gnarly He Man]

I have been using 12 keyed  harps (Easttop Forerunner v2.0). For instance, in my playing above, I used 3 keyed harps (C,D,E keys) for playing in C, Db, D, Eb and E.

https://forums.SlideMeister.com/index.php?topic=21217.msg275124#msg275124

Just to be clear, I have started using a second chromatic harmonica tuned a whole step higher for sharp keys, but I still believe there is virtue in the approach promoted by our old buddy Triggerfinger.

[servus]

Personally, I like the challenge of trying to figure out all these things. The mouthpiece is organized in a remarkably simple but complicated way. The must be some way to grow more familiar with it.

PJ

[Gnarly He Man]

Certain keys just aren’t much fun to use—E for example, sharp keys in general (except G).
D should be good but I personally tank up—prolly just me.

[Age]

Yeah, it hasta be intuitive, cuz, as like I like to remind folks, the harmonica is probably the only instrument that the player can't see when he plays it, so you more or less, hafta let it become part of you. After you realize that, it's a lot like riding your horse everyday; the two of you become one, and that's when the magic starts to happen.

[Grizzly]

"…the harmonica is probably the only instrument that the player can't see when he plays it…"

First thought: piccolo. Even flute.

But that's not the real issue. Every other wind instrument is tactile; keys, slides, lips on mouthpiece. Even then, many players play without looking at their instrument, especially if they're reading music.

The real issue is that slide harmonicas have as many as 16 holes for the lips to find. No other wind instrument has more than one hole to blow into. (Well…pan pipes.)

The other issue is breath direction. Scales on other winds are all blow. On harmonica, most scales are unique patterns of blow and draw notes. Add to that slide direction.

All wind instruments have challenges. Slide harmonicas have some unique ones, but not playing "blind."

Tom

[Age]

"Slide harmonicas have some unique ones, but not playing "blind."

Gunna hafta agree to disagree on that one Tom.
(unless the player has fully functional "eye teeth.")

[servus]

Harmonica is much trickier than the flute. Playing the flute, I always know where I am. Each note requires either another finger position or a change in embouchure position - sometimes both. Playing the harmonica resembles - at least for me - closing your eyes and plunking at a piano. Somehow pianists manage to find their way and somehow harmonicists manage as well. Maybe that's what Age means with becoming one with the instrument.

PJ

[Gnarly He Man]

I think it would be an interesting experiment to record yourself playing without being able to hear what it sounds like.
Probably also not much fun to listen to.

[brorat]

I think it would be an interesting experiment to record yourself playing without being able to hear what it sounds like.
Probably also not much fun to listen to.

That would be a really interesting experiment, Gary!  When I play ... especially for myself ... I close my eyes and listen closely to my "output", and I change it depending on how I want to "sing" the tune.  If I couldn't hear the output, I'd have to rely on ... something!  Would you call it muscle memory?  Brain memory?  I don't know.  It would be hard to conduct the experiment cuz even with earplugs there would be some "inner hearing" on a hearing person ... which I still am!

[servus]

Unless your name is Beethoven, sounds like a thankless task. Even Beethoven would have preferred hearing what he played and wrote.

[Age]

"Unless your name is Beethoven, sounds like a thankless task. Even Beethoven would have preferred hearing what he played and wrote."

That's just what I was thinking. P.J.

If I only heard generic, "midi'esque" notes coming out of my axe, regardless of what I put into playing the thing, that would totally kill the whole thing for me. The fact that we can hear tonal changes and nuances (as we play) is what makes the connection, and in turn; the whole experience.

This is weird, but lately, I found that just "thinking," can change the sound that comes out the back of my axe, which is waaaaay kewl! It's taken me forever to get there, but I like it. The phrasing and tonal control is usually the last thing we develop, but THAT, in the end, is what defines us as musicians. In other words: Don't quit, cuz It's really worth the wait.

[Danny G]

I I were a young guy reading how a bunch of old farts say that it takes such a looooong time to get good I don't know if I'd be inspired to start.

[brorat]

I I were a young guy reading how a bunch of old farts say that it takes such a looooong time to get good I don't know if I'd be inspired to start.

 

[Age]

Okay, I'll add "YMMV" since I was just speaking for myself.   

Though I've never actually "practiced," (I just played) I was actually quite satisfied with my playing since 1970. I had no complaints. In the last decade, however, after finally applying some changes that purposely overlooked for all those years, for the first time, I've noticed some notable improvement. Yeah, I know, kinda late in life to learn that particular lesson (Duh!) but it is what it is, and I still think, at my age, hearing myself "improving" is a hoot.

Who knows? 'Nother 10 or 15 years, I might actually be able to call myself a pro.

Wish me luck!

[servus]

It's nice to know there's always room up there for learning something new.

             PJ   

[John Broecker]

MUSIC MODULATION DEFINED

In music, a modulation is a key change.

It's often signaled by one or more melody
or harmony notes not in the current key
("accidentals"), found in the measure
before the new key.

There are several modulation formulas:
change of a half step, whole step, etc.

The purpose of a modulation is usually
to add variation to a song or tune, or
to change a mood, or to create tension,
or as a lead-in to a third key.

Multiple consecutive key changes can
be used to set a new harmonic chord
progression, (new chords, diads, triads,
etc.), or other functions.

GENE: Your modulation in half steps
(G-Ab-A-Bb) would serve as an
example of increasing tension.
At least, to my ears.

Try other key modulations, such as:

MAJOR KEY CHANGES:

(all major keys)
G(G scale)-D(D scale)-G-A-D-G;
or others, experiment.

There are many other modulation
formulae not listed here. Try the
listed chord progressions of a tune,
as a modulation formula. The chord
symbols are normally found above
the melody in a tune.

Best Regards, Modulations to You

JB