Writing Out Music - Notation (?)
If this is covered somewhere, please just point me to it.
Working on the improvisation lessons has made me realize how little I understand about writing out music. I have the basics of time, names of the staff and notes etc. as well as the Notation notes you have provided - for reading music. I'm trying to notate the music I want to play and then tab it out underneath. If I'm using an A harp in 2nd position then obviously I'm playing in the key of E.
If I'm understanding right, I still write out the notation s if I"m in the key of C (first question)??
So a 2 draw on my A harp is the note of E but is written (notated?) on the second line up which is called G (second question)??
In your book, "Scales, Patterns and Bending Exercises #1" on page 12 - would I just use the notation from the C scale to write out my improv songs regardless of the key?
Geez, I'm getting a head ache just trying to figure out how to ask the questions!!! I hope this makes sense in terms of what I'm trying to do.
Great - thanks David. Now its a matter of getting used to doing it so it doesn't take forever. But like everything else, practice, practice, practice............................
Yes, it is a long process, but worth the effort... advanced players need to do it (that's you ;-). All of the good players of my era and before did all this on their own... you're missing out if you don't develop this skill.
P.S., I recommend you transcribe a simple song that's on the site (like "Walk With Me" from TB Study #1), not looking at the transcription I did until you're done. This way you have something you can use to check your work.
Hello Hank. The answer is Yes, Yes and Yes! This is called C Score. Since the harmonica does the transposing for you, you just choose to write everything with a C Harmonica in mind and the harmonica does the work of changing the keys. This works fantastic for both notation and for "thinking" while improvising.