About the Major Scale
The Major Scale provides the notes used in many of the world’s best-known songs. You are probably already familiar with it, in the vocal form:
The Major Scale is quite easy to play on the harmonica. In fact, the harmonica was originally constructed so that Major Scales and Major Chords would be very accessible.
Since you have a key of C harmonica, you will be playing a C Major Scale, that is, a Major Scale beginning and ending on the C note. This may also be called a Major Scale in the key of C. Major Scales in keys other than C can be played on the C harmonica, once the technique of bending is mastered, but they are far more difficult than the C Major Scale.
If you had a key of D harmonica, playing the notes written below in harmonica tablature would produce a D Major Scale. Likewise, if you had a Bb (B flat) harmonica, playing the notes written on page 30 would produce a Bb Major Scale.
Finding the First Note And Moving To The Next
You will probably not be able to play the C Major Scale using single notes yet. However, try to center your mouth on the correct hole, even if you have to let the neighboring holes on each side in as well.
You will then be playing a chord version of a Major Scale, which will still be quite recognizable. Use the tip of your tongue to locate the number 1 hole, then count up, hole by hole, to the number 4 hole. Once you have located the 4 hole with your tongue-tip, pucker your mouth around your tongue, then retract your tongue, and your lips will be centered on the 4 hole.
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. A few moments of tongue-tip location practice before attempting the Major Scale may really help you to learn the distance between holes.
Playing the Major Scale
This is the easiest Major Scale to play on the harmonica, although not the only one. Remember: i means inhale, e means exhale. Note that the e i – e i – e i pattern of the holes of the Major Scale changes as you go from the 6 hole (e i) to the 7 hole (i e).
Since no timing slashes are indicated, you may play the notes along with foot taps or not, as you prefer.
Playing the Reverse Major Scale
Your ability to play songs will be increased if you also practice playing the Major Scale from high end to low.
Using the Supplementary Songbook
- You are now ready to begin to play the songs in Part One of the Progressive Harmonica Supplementary Songbook, as described on page 78.
Practice the Major Scales for a few moments, and then try the following song in its entirety. Once again, if the single notes as written seem too hard to strive for, just try to center your mouth on the note that is written, and don’t worry if the notes on either side of it "creep in" a little. All of the Section One material can be played perfectly well, even if you cannot yet get single notes.
In this song, you can play the long notes in either of two ways. For instance, you can play the 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, or alternate.
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 exhaled notes.
