"MAJOR SCALES" for 12 hole 'C' Chromatic.

[R70Mach1]

  Wow thank you for such a great post. I am a brand new member and brand new to the Chromatic harmonica. Well brand new to any harmonica. I had signed up almost two weeks ago but didn't get an approved note, so I figured I had been rejected. I appreciate the note today talking about pruning, made me realize I am actually a member.

Having said that I am starting out and learning scales is the way I have started learning other instruments. So a big thank you for this from me!! I was given my Chromatic as a gift and wondered where I was going to learn how to play.

[wolfman]

    Welcome ,Mach1

[drfrancov]

R70Mach1,

What other instruments do you play? I guess my question to you and all other folks would be: what is the benefit of learning scales? I know classical guitar books are full of scale exercises, similar for serious recorder books, even ukuleles! I have learned them but never really understood why? Is it good for soloing or improvising or both? I know some might think it is kind of lame to learn and not understand why you learn, but I admit to be guilty. I have had it explained so many times (teachers, books, etc) but just don't get it. I know the Meisters have answered a bunch of my musical mysteries, so I hope you can solve this one too!

[henrymouni]

R70Mach1,

What other instruments do you play? I guess my question to you and all other folks would be: what is the benefit of learning scales? I know classical guitar books are full of scale exercises, similar for serious recorder books, even ukuleles! I have learned them but never really understood why? Is it good for soloing or improvising or both? I know some might think it is kind of lame to learn and not understand why you learn, but I admit to be guilty. I have had it explained so many times (teachers, books, etc) but just don't get it. I know the Meisters have answered a bunch of my musical mysteries, so I hope you can solve this one too!

The different rhythms in each musical scale help you to familiarise yourself with each key.
Playing scales also takes you up and down your Chromatic, playing most/all of the holes, helping you to
get a feel for where you are.
They also encourage you to use the slide.
It does not take very long to play all the Major and Natural Minor scales each day.
I also feel it will help with your ear playing.
As soon as you can play them by visualising each scale the better it is.
This is better than just playing from the tabs all the time 'parrot fashion'.
Just my opinion.



Henry.

[charlespaul]

For those of you who read notes instead of tab numbers, I have created the following diagrams to help me memorize the major scales on the chromatic. I've posted these before, so in case anyone missed this, here they are again. I have also done diagrams like this for the pentatonic and blues scales. They're also on a previously posted thread. I find this kind of diagram helps me to visualize the scales as I move up and down them on the mouthpiece.

Hope this helps someone . . .

Charles

[charlespaul]

Here are the blues and pentatonic scale diagrams as well.

Cheers!

Charles

[jakhammer]

this is the sort of thing as a new player i need to learn ...thanks

[henrymouni]

this is the sort of thing as a new player i need to learn ...thanks

I think it will be very helpful to you.
You will get a feel for the different key layouts.
Also the scales take you up and down your Chromatic, so can get used to the holes and hole sounds.
I would play all Major and Minor scales each day before practise. It only takes a few minutes.
It should help with developing your 'ear' too.


Henry.

[henrymouni]

A very useful page!
Thank you so much Henry!
 
Mac

Thank you Mac!




Henry.

[calexzander]

I'm using these scales to learn my way around the chromatic. Thanks! 

[Lrussell5]

I am a new chromatic player and this really helped me. Thanks

[ccdockery]

I am a new member and hope I am not asking questions that have already been answered. I have myself written out the Major scales and practiced them many times, but unlike your scales, I almost always use 4 for "c" rather than 5. Nowhere in your scales do I see 4. You use -4 for "b" but never 4 for "c". Have I been doing it wrong? I really want to correct my technique if I have.

[Mottiti]

Hi

You are not wrong. On a solotuned c chromo you have thr 'liberty' to chose which C fits the best in the series of notes you are playing. Breathwise and buttonwise (4, -4* or 5)
Don't restrict yourself to one (unless you want to ).

It's all to your liking


Tim

[Keith]

I agree, you have not been doing it wrong, just differently, however, by using 5 you are keeping the exact same pattern for all the octaves, (i.e. C is above D).

[Edward Brock]

Whe I first started to do this Button thing I used to do 4 & then slide quickly to 5.
Now I "Try" to skip over the 4 & go directly to 5. It seems to help "Me" to keep the
flow going. Either way works, you just have to develope your own style or technique.
Play on..

[Keith]

Methinks AJ has replied to the wrong thread......

[SlideMeister]

Mussbe the druggz!
(and trying to multi-task)

[Edward Brock]

Methinks AJ has replied to the wrong thread......

That's OK.. He wanders around from time to time. Just let him go.
He will come home when he gets hungry. Shhhh don't tell anyone.

[SlideMeister]

Drool!