Enharmonic Notes
The "in between" notes in the chromatic scale can be described as either sharps or flats. These are called enharmonic notes, which means they are the same pitch (e.g C# = D# and F# = G#). Here is an example demonstrating the use of enharmonic notes.
You now know all the different notes used in western music (twelve in all). This includes all the natural notes (A B C D E F G), plus F#, C#, G#, D#, and A#. Because each sharp notes has another name as a flat, you also know Gb, Db, Ab, Eb, and Bb. If you play all twelve notes in succession, you get the chromatic scale. As you know, all of the notes in a chromatic scale are one semitone apart. To get to know all possible ways of describing any note in a given key, it is a good idea to call notes all notes which are not natural to the key sharps when ascending and flats when descending.
Like all scales, you will need to be able to play the chromatic scale across the whole range of the harmonica. The following example demonstrates two octaves of the C chromatic scale. Take it slowly at first until you can play it smoothly and easily without hesitation. It is a good idea to make the chromatic scale part of your daily practice, as a good knowledge of this scale makes it easy to quickly transpose any melody, as well as making it easier to learn any new scale or key.
Once you can play the C chromatic scale, you already know all other chromatic scales, e.g. to play the E chromatic scale, you simply start on the note E and play all possible notes until you arrive at the next E note one octave higher or lower, as demonstrated in the following example which contains two octaves of the E chromatic scale.
The Natural Sign
This is a natural sign.
A natural sign cancels the effect of a sharp or flat for the rest of that bar, or until another sharp or flat sign occurs within that bar. Notice the alternation between F natural (F@)and F# in example 51.
Now try this 12 bar Blues solo which makes use of sharp, flat and natural signs. It is played in third position in the key of D minor and is derived from the D Blues scale. The only note requiring the use of the slide is G# or Ab, which is an exhale note on the 3rd hole with the slide depressed.
