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One of the keys to improvisation is playing notes that sound right with the background chords being played and the key of the song. Different kinds and feels of music rely on different scales to give the appropriate color to the music. To help you out I'm putting together some diagrams of where these scales can be found on your C harmonica with some notes on how they are used. The basic patterns will work on any key harmonica as well.
Notes on Notation
In the charts below you will see the Roman numeral notation used instead of the actual notes. These are the scale degrees or intervals based on the key being played. When it comes to the harmonica, they are more useful because the scales maintain their patterns regardless of the key harmonica being played. Here are some notes on the different roman numerals.
I - the root note of the key (Doh)
ii - the Second in the major scale (Rey)
III - the Third. This note helps define the major key feel (Mi)
IV - the Fourth. (Fah)
IV - the Fifth. (So)
VI - the Sixth (La)
VII - the Seventh (Ti)
iib - Flat Second. Very uncommon.
iiib - Flat Third. Helps define minor chord feel.
Vb -Flat Fifth. Uncommon.
VIIb - Flat Seventh. Common to give a jazzy feel
All the notes available on the C harp
All the notes available on the C harp
This diagram shows the main available single notes available on the C harmonica. Over time you should be able to get many of the draw bend notes. This chart can be helpful as a basis for working out pieces of music, and help us map out scales in different keys.
Key of C (First Position)
Key of C (First Position)
First position means you are playing in the key of the harmonica, sometimes called 'Straight Harp' . This works well for many folk songs and playing the melody notes. It does not work well generally for blues or songs in a minor key.
C Major Scale (First Position)
C Major Scale (First Position)
Major scales have a familiar and solid feel to them. You C harp was originally designed to play notes in this scale to play along with very common songs without the need to bend notes. 'First Position' means we are playing in the key of the harmonica. It is a good practice exercise to start on the 4 blow and work your way through the scale to the 7 blow and work your way back down.
Key of G (Second Position)
Key of G (Second Position)
This is often referred to as 'Cross Harp'. This is the most common position for playing blues because we get the G chord when drawing on the lower end and also the C chord blowing any 3 holes. This gives us more versatility when playing solo or backing other instruments. Second position can be used to play songs in a minor key, but it requires bending the 3 draw hole. The 3 draw unbent (III) will sound awful over a minor key.
G Blues Scale (Second Position)
G Blues Scale (Second Position)
This chart shows the notes available in the G blues scale on the C harp. I have colored the 'blue notes' with a blue shade. This means playing these notes will give a bluesy feel. the 3 draw bend and the 4 draw bend are used a lot in blues harmonica and give it a distinctive sound.
The blues scale shares a lot with the minor scale and can be used over minor key songs - BUT you must avoid the 3 draw unbent playing against a minor key song. The III determines whether the key of the song is major or minor. You can play the straight III pretty safely except in minor key songs where you need to avoid it!
Key of D (Third Position)
Key of D (Third Position)
Sometimes referred to as 'Double Cross Harp'. This position is mostly used for playing over minor key songs. You won't be able to play full chords here, but you do get some very easy to reach blues notes. This is a jazzy way to play the harp and works well for single notes over both major and minor key songs. Note that the straight III that defines the major key sound is pretty safely tucked away.
D Blues Scale (Third Position)
D Blues Scale (Third Position)
This chart shows the notes available in the D blues scale on the C harp. I have colored the 'blue notes' with a blue shade. This means playing these notes will give a bluesy feel. You can very safely play the notes in the middle of the harp - holes 4 to 8 and sound very musical over blues, major and minor key songs. You can also get away with short passes over the ii and VI holes pretty safely, as long as you don't emphasize them, so this makes third position a very attractive alternative when the song is in the key of D or D minor.
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