Playing Songs and Rhythms from Notation
This harmonica notation system enables musicians to describe songs or rhythms clearly, so that other musicians can play them quickly and easily. Here is the notation that describes one possible variation of the Random Inhale and Exhale Exercise from Lesson Two without using words.
Try it, without worrying too much about landing on precisely the recommended chords. Attempt to do the exhales and inhales in the correct timing, with one beat per chord, and just use the low (123), middle (456), and high (789) chords.
Notation For Holding Notes For More Than One Beat, and Other Complications
Following are the first few notes of some simple songs that illustrate certain notation issues. Make sure that you understand the notation system, and if you like, play these examples.
Using your tongue-tip to investigate the distance between holes will help you to move accurately from one hole to the next. Try not to move too far, or you’ll skip over the hole you want. But do make sure that you move far enough, so that you don’t accidentally play the same hole twice, instead of moving on to the next.
The first part of Jingle Bells can be notated so that the first two notes are held for one beat, and the third note for two beats, as indicated by the number of slashes above each note. This is then repeated.
Since you may not have mastered single noting, instead of using the note 5e, you can instead use the chord 456e that is centered around the desired 5e note. However, from now on, the notation will be written as though you were able to use single notes. So, if necessary, look at the notation to determine the desired single note, then use the chord centered around that single note.
In the first line of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, the initial jump from the 4 hole to the 6 may be a challenge. Practice the 4e to 6e jump separately for a moment, before playing. Use the 345e and 567e chords if you cannot obtain the single notes 4e and 6e. Notice the inhaled notes under the word "lit-tie".
When playing the traditional Afro-American song, Oh When The Saints Go Marching In, or any other song, you can play each note with a separate breath or puff of air, as described in the Staccato Effects section of Lesson Two. Or you can move smoothly from note to note, without the sharpness that comes from using a puffing or tonguing effect.
In this song certain notes last for many beats. If you run out of air on the long notes, the version of Saints following this one may be more to your liking.
Often songs have rests, which are beats or partial beats of silence. In this notation system, a rest is indicated by a timing slash which has no note written under it. This version of Oh When The Saints Go Marching In with rests may be easier on your lungs than the former version. Use the rest after the long 6e to expel some breath while you locate the following note 4e.
Although not a blues, try this delightful song in its entirety, playing the long notes in either of two ways. For instance, you can play the 6e note under "saints" as one long, four beat note, or as four separate one beat notes, each created by a separate tonguing or puffing effect. Do whichever you prefer.
Before beginning the song, notice portions which may be difficult, such as the part in the third line which requires nine beats of exhale in a row. Make sure to inhale enthusiastically on the single inhaled note preceding the nine exhales!
If you have enjoyed playing this song, and the song fragments preceding it, you may wish to consider working on the Progressive Harmonica Method simultaneously with this blues method, as it contains a large number of songs no more difficult than these. Practicing folk or classical songs while learning blues will improve your control and single note playing, since most of the songs will be more familiar to most of you than are the blues exercises and improvisations throughout this book.
Don’t Worry
If that last song seemed difficult: don’t worry. The simple blues in the next lesson does not require single notes, or much moving from note to note. However, the ability to playa song like the one above will be very helpful as you continue to explore the blues.
