Q re Timing
David,
First, big congrats on this site. I've been looking at different sites since I picked up the harmonica in April of this year and this is, IMHO, the best and most complete. I'm now 1/2 through the free trial offered through Hohner and definitely plan to subscribe.
I have a question about timing but first a bit about me. I'm 56 and have never had any music training nor have I ever really demonstrated any native ability. Still, I've always loved music and The Blues and thought that at my age it was really now or never to learn an instrument. I chose the harmonica because of the relatively low price-point for entry and also because it's completely portable alowing me to take one wherever I go. My long-term goal, FYI, is to get to the "good enough plateau" you mentioned in one of your videos so that I can jam with some friends.
I've been working on Walk With Me and in the process purchased a metronome app for my iPhone. I see that there is a separate timining module on the website. The question I have is this: Should I learn timing through the timing module and Walk With Me seperately and then, once I've learned the song then adjust for timing OR should I learn both the notes and the timing of Walk With Me SIMOLTANEAOUSLY? Obviously, I'll need to learn both but it seems to me that I would need to learn the notes first and then apply the timing but I might be wrong.
Also, What pointers can you provide re learing timing aside from using a metronome?
Thank you in advance and again congrats on this great site.
Ralph
I’m so glad I asked. I’ve heard you say this before about listening but I guess your answer clarifies it for me. Thanks.
My pleasure
David,
Taking your advice, I purchased the ASD this weekend. What. A. Difference. It. Makes! I can't speak highly enough about it and now truly see what you meant in your comment. While before it might have taken me two weeks to learn the mechanics of one chorus I can now hit the notes, if not the exact timing, very quickly. It makes the process much, much easier.
Again, thanks.
RV
Great!
Hello Ralph, thank you for your kind words, I'm glad you like the site.
For blues harmonica, we foster listening more than reading. The TAB (harmonica tablature) is provided to tell you where to play on the harmonica. The rhythm notation is more there for those (the small percentage) that already know how to read music, as well as a way to problem-solve when you're stuck on the rhythm of a passage, even after multiple reps (looping on a program like the Amazing Slow Downer) is not working for you. With this in mind, work with your study songs, focusing on copying what you hear for each passage. Your study songs are the most important part of your study.
If you have extra time in your daily study, then go through the rhythm training lesson as well. It's not so much to train you how to read music (that's part of it of course... to familiarize yourself with music notation), but to learn how to work with the common rhythms in music (more about feeling the rhythms relative to the beat). The rhythm training lesson is more there for those who are having a lot of challenges with playing in time. If you feel like your timing is fairly good, then it doesn't need to be a big focus.
No other suggestions... just dig in and simply work on the challenging bits as they come up by looping them and really listening (listen once, play three times, listen once, play three times, etc.).