Musicians, what songs are you learning?

[T.C.]

When I get paid next month I'm investing in a chromatic harmonica, so I can play along with my favourite old blues-rock tunes from the 60s/70s. I have a real love for those old blues tunes, and often marvel at how they've mutated over the years. It's an old but vital stream, because the blues, when played well, will never go out of style. It's vital, a pure food for the soul on a primal level. I'm looking forward to payday!

I'm guessing since you're looking at getting a chromatic that you're already experienced with harmonica?

I'm just checking because if you're wanting to play along with blues songs, then rather than buying a chromatic, what you really want is to get a set of multiple diatonic harmonicas in different keys and then choosing the one for the song that gives you Mixolydian mode.

I guess if you're good enough on a chromatic, then it's fine and you should be able to play anything because you literally have all the notes. But there's a lot to be said about restriction of options in creating certain kinds of phrases and styles of playing and you'll discover them more easily and naturally with diatonic harmonicas.

 

[SlipNet]

I've dipped into harmonica playing often since first getting one back in 2006, so I know my way around for an amateur player. I've worked out how to do a few Bob Dylan pieces as my entry point into playing, but fancy getting those "blue tones", and a mate of mine said go for a chromatic one. My old Fine Art tutor from school is a mean old harp player on the local pub circuit round my way, and he's got a stash of about 5 or six different models, and he's a real blues enthusiast but not the most approachable of people for advice unfortunately. I've just looked up mixolydian mode, so I've learned something new today. I gather you're quite an experienced musician from earlier posts of yours I've read? I dated a musician back in my younger days (she could play keys, French horn and a little rock guitar and could program drums very effectively), but the theory side of music was a bit dense for me at that age. She tried to lay out basic music theory for me but I was just winging it intuitively to be honest. That's how I do most things in fact.

Thanks for the advice though, that gives me some more research and options to consider. I don't entertain any delusions of grandeur, but I just fancy enjoying having a cathartic wheeze through some of my old Blues faves. There also seems to be quite a difference in price for them too. The well reviewed ones I've scoped out start at around the £60 mark but they can rise up to prices of £300+ for others. I'm not gonna be splashing that much cash though, it's just a simple hobby that's served me well over the years.

 

[SlipNet]

There also seems to be quite a difference in price for them too. The well reviewed ones I've scoped out start at around the £60 mark but they can rise up to prices of £300+ for others.

Some of the diatonic models are well priced too so maybe I can consider that option too. I'll have a good scour online this week and do some digging into which models are best suited to what I'm trying to get from the sound. The kind of tunes I like are Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and some early Stones, Cream and Zep too.

 

[SlipNet]

I'm just checking because if you're wanting to play along with blues songs, then rather than buying a chromatic, what you really want is to get a set of multiple diatonic harmonicas in different keys and then choosing the one for the song that gives you Mixolydian mode.

I guess if you're good enough on a chromatic, then it's fine and you should be able to play anything because you literally have all the notes. But there's a lot to be said about restriction of options in creating certain kinds of phrases and styles of playing and you'll discover them more easily and naturally with diatonic harmonicas.

I've just done a bit of looking around on YT and found this useful little vid from a good player, he seems to know what he's talking about and echoes your advice above. I'll slow down my search and make an informed selection I think.

 

[T.C.]

I've just done a bit of looking around on YT and found this useful little vid from a good player, he seems to know what he's talking about and echoes your advice above. I'll slow down my search and make an informed selection I think.

I just had a look through a few videos using search terms based on the concepts I was talking about and I came across this one:

I think you'll have to do some more research in order to figure out how to produce the techniques he's talking about, but the video shows what I was trying to say: that in order to play blues in certain keys (i.e., to play along to certain songs), you'll use a harmonica that is tuned to a certain diatonic key, but by starting your scale on a different note, you'll create the bluesy sounding scale instead of the happy, 'major' sounding scale. I just hadn't figured out that you can actually get more than one different scale from the same harmonica, as the guy in the video demonstrates.

 

[SlipNet]

I just had a look through a few videos using search terms based on the concepts I was talking about and I came across this one:

I think you'll have to do some more research in order to figure out how to produce the techniques he's talking about, but the video shows what I was trying to say: that in order to play blues in certain keys (i.e., to play along to certain songs), you'll use a harmonica that is tuned to a certain diatonic key, but by starting your scale on a different note, you'll create the bluesy sounding scale instead of the happy, 'major' sounding scale. I just hadn't figured out that you can actually get more than one different scale from the same harmonica, as the guy in the video demonstrates.

Thank you for sharing this vid, just what I need to listen to as part of my research. Even for an instrument as simple and immediate as a harp, there seems to be a vast sea of possibilities based on subtle differences. From what I've read so far it looks to me like I need to get 3 diatonic harps in different keys. Thanks again bud, very useful!

 

[SlipNet]

From what I've read so far it looks to me like I need to get 3 diatonic harps in different keys. Thanks again bud, very useful!

One other thing is that I'm planning on spending about £200 all in. I can't stretch to spending the dough on the high end models unfortunately. My cash flow is ok at the moment, but I've got to still be cautious in my purchasing. I have a couple of keyboards which I can play a little, and adding harmonica again and in a more committed way is the direction I'll be taking. I have a Yamaha CS synth and a Fender Rhodes electric piano, which enables me to jam shambling imitations of old 60s jazz grooves. I'd really like to learn how to accompany this with some bluesy harp notes added over the top. In my mind I can hear what I want to create, but now I need to know how to go about actually doing it. I'm strictly playing very punkish, DIY kind of tunes, rather than emulating existing songs. I really enjoy both listening to and playing music and this is a meaningful hobby in my book. It challenges different parts of my brain, in contrast to the usual SoTT/Forum writing/networking, and I feel I need a creative outlet, one cannot live on work alone. Music to me feels more like play, but that is because I'm intuitive, like the impetuous vibe of mildly-informed ignorance. Plus I enjoy the challenge of learning a new skill.

 

[Evan]

It depends some @RAFL on how long a loop your Strymon can record, but what comes immediately to mind is "Breathe" and "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd. You should hopefully have enough recording time to loop the chorus or solo sections. Chris Issac's "Wicked Game" could be fun, or for something more upbeat there's "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon and "Stand By Me" by Bill Withers.

I’d add Shine On You Crazy Diamond to that list. I’ve seen Gilmour do it alone with a looper and a volume pedal to ease into the chords, and play the lead lines over it, and it’s just amazing. It’s one that I do myself in my living room often. I just set the delay (I just use my trusty old MXR Carbon Copy; I had a Strymon Timeline, but it was too much to wrap my analog brain around) for about 5 repeats at 300 ms, hit the Gm, and I’m out for a good 8 minutes!

Another one to work your volume knob timing skills against a delay is Van Halen’s Cathedral. Edward really out does himself on that one.

 

[Haldeman]

At the moment, I'm learning a piano cover adapted from a theme song of the TV show "Love Game in Eastern Fantasy".
The Youtube video can be found by Googling this: 永夜星河插曲「凝眸」-MappleZS钢琴演奏

This is beautiful

The next one I want to learn is "Somewhere in Time" theme by John Barry. It took me a bit of work to find the exact piano score played in this video, the original song, not an adaptation for beginners:

And this one too! Sounds like a handful...

I just recently moved into a new house and it has a piano in it (an upright grand). It has been lovely having it around as opposed to a keyboard. There's just no substitute for being able to feel the music resonating through a physical instrument.

When I get paid next month I'm investing in a chromatic harmonica, so I can play along with my favourite old blues-rock tunes from the 60s/70s. I have a real love for those old blues tunes, and often marvel at how they've mutated over the years. It's an old but vital stream, because the blues, when played well, will never go out of style. It's vital, a pure food for the soul on a primal level. I'm looking forward to payday!

Hooray for payday and new instruments!

I'm a drummer, Ive always liked rock music, specially metal, symphonic metal, thrash metal, I'm a metal head and I'm currently learning Lost In Space by Avantasia. It is a really cool song I like the lyrics and it is not that complicated to learn.

Rock and metal were the first genres I was drawn to as a young guitarist. Satriani, Vai, Eric Johnson, et all were constantly on the stereo. This song by Avantasia reminds me of a fairly new artist (to me) that I've been enjoying-- Devon Townsend, particularly the music he puts out under the Devon Townsend Project. Love the giant, operatic sound...

I notice when I play bass in particular, I have a tendency of noticing disturbing thoughts or memories back from my 20s when I was in rock bands and living that lifestyle. So when I pick it up, need an aim and don't meander with it anymore. Right now, I'm learning Flight of Icarus by Iron Maiden and Jeremy by Pearl Jam, particularly the outros. When I play my acoustic it's different. Sometimes when I'm inspired and write my own material, can almost 'see' the lyrics. That brings me the most joy because it taps into my emotional state and gives that part of me expression. Right now, Classical Gas is the song of choice when I'm practicing. It's one of those songs I started learning a long time ago but never got around to playing it start to finish.

Yeah, writing music is a special experience, especially when it just flows out. It took me a while to be able to write lyrics; most things I was writing just ended up being instrumental.

Classical Gas! I haven't thought about that song in a while. An early guitar teacher of mine brought that into our lessons for a stretch. Tommy Emmanuel has a ripping version of it.

 

[Glenn]

I think you'll have to do some more research in order to figure out how to produce the techniques he's talking about, but the video shows what I was trying to say: that in order to play blues in certain keys (i.e., to play along to certain songs), you'll use a harmonica that is tuned to a certain diatonic key, but by starting your scale on a different note, you'll create the bluesy sounding scale instead of the happy, 'major' sounding scale. I just hadn't figured out that you can actually get more than one different scale from the same harmonica, as the guy in the video demonstrates.

Thanks TC. After seeing that, I think I might grab a harp, and play around with some blues lessons. Blues on the harp always sounds cool to me.
The moving from first position to second position, (C to D), sounds like the move to the dorian scale.

 

[c0rv3n]

Devon Townsend,

You're right, they do have a similar sound. I was listening to his most recent album, PowerNerd, the other day, and the song 'Gratitude' really reminded me of Avantasia. Speaking of guitar virtuosos like Satriani, Vai, and Eric Johnson, last year I went to an Yngwie Malmsteen concert. He's incredibly talented, though admittedly a bit arrogant. Still, there's no denying he's a phenomenal guitarist.
This is great! I thought I was the only one in these forums with a taste for metal rock!!

 

[Don Cesar]

I started playing the acoustic guitar 34 years ago (58 now, hi @Evan !). A friend lent me his guitar, an ovation and showed me some chords. At that time no internet and I bought a lot of album books, Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Lenny Kravitz etc, for tablatures. My desire was to become like a juke box, to be able to play and sing, alone, a song entirely. I have always been attracted by the drums (John Bonham and Keith Moon) but difficult with a battery alone, to make a song, so guitar. Essentially Strummer, I have continued since the start of adding pieces on my playlist and replaying them almost daily so as not to forget them and to improve my song. I play mostly for myself and my friends, I have never played and sang on stage, nor in a bar ... Like a juke box . I play a little of everything according to my rather rock tastes from the 60s' to 00 ". I'm only playing 2 pieces of Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here and Confortly Numb for the Wink of C's. It's always a pleasure to practice and have the guitar against me.

 

[Don Cesar]

Thanks TC. After seeing that, I think I might grab a harp, and play around with some blues lessons. Blues on the harp always sounds cool to me.
The moving from first position to second position, (C to D), sounds like the move to the dorian scale.

Hi Glenn, I practiced the diatonic harmonica for a few years to play blues, a magnificent and powerful little instrument! I have often lost my breath on "Help Me" by Sonny Boy Williamson, but with great pleasure!

 

[T.C.]

The moving from first position to second position, (C to D), sounds like the move to the dorian scale.

What we’re really looking for is how many minor pentatonic scales + a flat 5th we can get out of a diatonic scale on a harmonica.

So with the example of D dorian, we drop the 2nd and 6th to get D minor pentatonic, and then I’m guessing that there’s something about the way a harmonica works/is built that allows you to produce a G# from a C major scale. It’ll be some modified blowing or sucking technique.

Same principles will apply when using the G blues scale.

 

[meadow_wind]

I just recently moved into a new house and it has a piano in it (an upright grand). It has been lovely having it around as opposed to a keyboard. There's just no substitute for being able to feel the music resonating through a physical instrument.

I'm sorry if this is slightly off the original topic, but I wanted to share that I totally get it. You are very lucky that you got a real piano. Have you checked the brand and the year made by its serial number? Do you know a bit of its history maybe?

I recently had to part with my piano and it was so heart wrenching; I kept crying every time I thought it was not worth repairing it and that no one would take it. It would have to end its life in the garbage. I found it 20 years ago, for free in a piano mover's basement, waiting to be destroyed like garbage. That day, I tried all the pianos there, but that one... its sound was so rich and its keyboard was not damaged. I never sought to find out what it was, I knew nothing of pianos. I just liked it.

Recently, I called a professional to tune it and repair 4 clicking keys. The unfortunate news was that it was at its end of life, and not worth repairing. What I also learned was that piano, a Knabe built in 1908 used to be the Mercedes of pianos at the time!!! A 120 years old, handcrafted with hardwood from trees grown right here, ivory keys.