My Musical Objectives, Goals, Mission, Background

My Current Musical Objectives, Tasks, Weekly Efforts, Practices

July-August 2024

Practice with a diatonic harmonica in the Key of C.
Use a Hohner Crossover or Seydel Sohne Blues harmonica.
Commit to 60 minutes a day of harmonica PRACTICE as defined by David Barrett.
Use the book "Easy Piano Sheet Music for Kids" for PRACTICE lessons.
I am learning to play by reading sheet music that does NOT have harmonica tablature.
Watch 2 Lessons each week by Luke at Harmonica.com.
Learn how to use "Band in a Box" software.
Learning how to play 10 simple Folk/Kids music tunes properly all the way through.
Listen to and evaluate audio recordings of my playing a harmonica.
Set up the home audio recording hardware and software in my study.
Playing, Jamming, Learning, and Practicing with various C Major harmonicas.
PRACTICING as defined by David Barrett.


Over the past decade, I have acquired (through gifts and purchases) various high quality
diatonic harmonicas in the Keys of C and Low C, such as:
Hohner Special 20 Progressive Key of C
Hohner Crossover Marine Band Key of C
Hohner Thunderbird Key of Low C
Seydel Sohne Blues Session Key of C
Seydel Sohne 1847 Noble Blues Key of Low C
Suzuki ProMaster MR 350 Key of C
Lee Oskar Tombo Key of C
Lee Oskar Tombo Key of Low C

Intermediate Objectives (July-Dec 2024):

Find a good harmonica teacher online or in Portland, Oregon, or Vancouver, Washington.
Learn how to use the Band in a Box computer software ($160)
Learn how to properly use my audio recording equipment and software.
Purchase Novation Launchkey 37 Keyboard MIDI Keyboard Controller using seamless
Ableton Live Lite DAW software ($240).
Learn how to use DAW software.
Continue to advance my understanding of musical theory and history.

My Musical Goals

Playing the harmonica daily.
Formal PRACTICE 60 minutes per day.
Learning how read and play from standard sheet music.
Learning how to play better chords on the harmonica.
Learning how to play harmonica rhythmic patterns better.
Listening to harmonica music.
Learning some harmonica musical theory each week.
Learning to interpret standard musical score notation for a harmonica and piano.
Learning how to play easy popular tunes on the harmonica.
Learn how to use Band in a Box software.
Learn how to use FL Studio Pro software.

My Musical Mission

Listening to all kinds of music over a lifetime.
Enjoying the pleasures of music over a lifetime.
Seeking positive, uplifting, spiritual, and mystical experiences via music.
Enjoying playing the harmonica.
Sharing good sounds with others.
Encouraging and supporting musicians.

Background, Introduction

I have owned various harmonicas since my childhood days.

I have enjoyed playing various harmonicas by myself.

I have used various books, CDs, MP3s, charts, and online learning resources to learn 
how to play the harmonica.

I am 78 years of age in 2024.

I now focus for 60 minutes each day in learning and PRACTICING with a harmonica.

Purchasing good quality harmonicas in different Keys, books, CDs, MP3s, online resources, online video instruction (Luke), and paying for a personal harmonica instructor can be costly for serious intermediate harmonica students and lifetime enthusiasts.

Good education and ongoing learning are essential for steady improvement and more fun.

From January to May 2024, I used a Hohner Crossover Marine Band Key of C and a Seydel Sohne 1847 Key of Low C for daily practice. I was learning the chords on the C Key harmonica, learning the hole notes and playing single notes more clearly. Most basic instruction books for the harmonic focus on using a diatonic harmonic in the Key of C. I have gained some fluency in properly playing single notes and chords, in blowing techniques, and I can entertain myself with some improvising.

Chords for Harmonicas

By Michael P. Garofalo
June 25, 2024

Common Harmonica Keys:  C  A  D  G

I gathered the information provided is information from a series of books by James Major titled "the Complete 10 Hole Diatonic Harmonica Series." Each book in the series is about one harmonica key. Detailed information, informative charts, well organized, excellent layout, and a valuable booklet of around 50 ages. For example, C Harmonica Book. By James Major. Mel Bay Publishing, 2005, 48 pages. VSCL.

Chords on C Key Harmonica
I     C Major   CEG  (Blow Holes 123 or 456 or 789 or any 3 adjacent holes)
IV   F Dyad    FA     (Draw 56 and Draw 9 10)
V    G Major   GBD  (Draw Holes 234 or Draw Holes 1234
      G7   GBDF        (Draw Holes 2-5)
      Gm  DG            (Draw 12) 
      Dm  DFA           (Draw 456 and Draw 89 10)
      Bb    BDF          (Draw 3456 and 789) 
      Blues Second   (Play on G Key Harmonica)

Chords on G Key Harmonica
I     G Major   GBD  (Blow Holes 456 or 789 or 123 or any 3 adjacent holes)
IV   C Dyad    CE      (Draw 56 and Draw 9 10)
V    D Major   DF#A  (Draw Holes 234 or Draw Holes 1234
      Gm Minor  DG    (Blow 34 and 67 and 9 10)
      D7   DFmAC        (Draw Holes 2-5)
      Dm  AD           (Draw 12)
      Am   ACE         (Draw 456 and 89 10)
      F#     FAC          (Draw 345 and 789)
      Blues Second  (Play on ? Key Harmonica)

 Chords on D Key Harmonica
I     D Major   DFA  (Blow Holes 456 or 789 or 123 or any 3 adjacent holes)
IV   G Dyad    GB     (Draw 56 and Draw 9 10)
V    A Major   ACE  (Draw Holes 234 or Draw Holes 1234)
      A7  AC#EG    (Draw 2345)
      Am  EA        (Draw 12)
      Em   EGB     (Draw 456 and 89 10)
      D Blow AD      (Blow 34 and 67 and 9 10)
      C Triad  C#EG   (Draw 345 an 789)
      Blues Second  (Play on ? Key Harmonica)
      Use D Key Harp to Play Blues in Key of A

Chords on A Key Harmonica  ??
I     A Major   GBD  (Blow Holes 456 or 789 or 123 or any 3 adjacent holes)
IV   C Dyad    CE      (Draw 56 and Draw 9 10)
V    D Major   DF#A  (Draw Holes 234 or Draw Holes 1234
      Gm Minor  DG    (Blow 34 and 67 and 9 10)
      D7   DFmAC        (Draw Holes 2-5)
      Dm  AD           (Draw 12)
      Am   ACE         (Draw 456 and 89 10)
      F#     FAC          (Draw 345 and 789)
      Blues Second  (Play on E Key Harmonica)

Books, EBooks, PDF, Documents, Phamplets
In Title Order

VSCL = Valley Spirit Center Library, i.e., my personal home library collection in Vancouver,
Washington, in 2024. Contains many books I read from 1960 to 2024.

Ab Harmonica Book. By James Major. Mel Bay Publishing, 2005, 48 pages. VSCL.

Ableton Live 6 Power. By John Von Seggern. VSCL.

Band in a Box. By Peter Upclaire. Kindle EBook, 2022. VSCL.

Band-in-Box 101. By Joanne Cooper. Kindle EBook, 2022. VSCL.

Blues Harmonica. By Winslow Yerxa. Wiley, 2012, 366 pages. Paperback and EBook. VSCL.

Book of Audacity. By Carla Schroder. No Starch, 2011, 359 pages. VSCL.

C Harmonica Book. By James Major. Mel Bay Publishing, 2005, 48 pages. VSCL.

Chord Harmonica Chart. By Phil Duncan. Mel-Bay, 1996, 4 pages. VSCL.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Harmonica. Book and Kindle EBook. VSCL.

Daily Studies for Diatonic Harmonica. By David Barrett. Mel Bay, 2019, 40 pages. VSCL.

D Harmonica Book. By James Major. Mel Bay Publishing, 2005, 48 pages. VSCL.

Easiest Harmonica Songbook Ever. Paperback and Kindle EBook. VSCL.

Easy Piano Songs for Kids. 2024, 103 pages. VSCL.

Encyclopedia of the Harmonica. By Peter Krampert. 2002, 224 pages.

Essential Ear Training for Today's Musician. by Steve Prosser. 200, 32 pages. VSCL.

Easy Piano Sheet Music for Kids. By Avgusta Udartseva. 2021, 112 pages. VSCL.

First 50 Songs You Should Play on Harmonica. Hal Leonard, 81 pages. VSCL.

F Harmonica Book. By James Major. Mel Bay Publishing, 2005, 48 pages. VSCL.

FL Studio Beginner's Guide. Screech House. Kindle EBook.

FL Studio Cookbook. By Chris Rena. 2024, 279 pages. VSCL.

Fl Studio Cookbook. Screech House, 3 in 1, Kindle EBook, 2019. VSCL.

G Harmonica Book. By James Major. Mel Bay Publishing, 2005, 48 pages. VSCL.

Hal Leonard Harmonica Play Along Series. 9 Books.

Harmonica for Dummies. Winslow Yerxa. Wiley, 2015, 390 pages. VSCL.

Harmonica Method. By Ron Manus. Basix, 80 pages. VSCL.

Harmonica Primer Book. By Tom Wolf. Watch and Learn, 2017, 58 pages. VSCL.

How to Read Music in 30 Days. Kindle EBook. VSCL.

Little Book of Talent. By Daniel Coyle. Bantam Books.

Music Theory in 30 Days. Kindle EBook. VSCL.

Music Theory for Dummies. By Michael Pilhofer. Wiley, 2019, 321 pages. VSCL.

The Musician's Way: A Guide to Practice, Peformance, and Wellness. By Gerald Klickstein.

Pocket Musical Theory. By Keith Wyatt. Hal Leonard, 1998, 176 pages. VSCL.

The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life. By Thomas Sterner.

Rock n' Blues Harmonica. By Jon Gindick. 2009, 220 pages. VSCL.

Rhythms of the Breath. By Howard Levy. 2022, 128 pages. VSCL.

Slow Blues Harmonica. By Steve Cohen. Hal Leonard, 2020, 47 pages. VSCL.

The Unshakable Laws of Learning Music. Dan Spencer. Kindle EBook, 2023. VSCL.

VSCL = Valley Spirit Center Library, i.e., my personal home library collection in Vancouver,
Washington, in 2024. Contains many books I read from 1960 to 2024.

Online Internet Resources, Links, Information, Harmonicas
Tools, Learning Aides, Equipment, Hardware, Software
Teachers, Classes, Schools, Instructors

Discoveries, Insights, Epiphanies

Discoveries #1 (July 1, 2024)

During the past six months I have used harmonica books for practice, learning, and research. Most harmonica books feature harmonica music in the Key of C. A special harmonica musical tablature is used (showing hole to play, and whether to blow or draw on that hole.) Standard sheet music is also used in many cases with the harmonica tablature. I am now using sheet music without the harmonica tablature notation. I am learning to read and play using standard sheet music.

I use the following two books for learning to read and play harmonica music using modified musical sheet music - each note/pitch includes a small letter: CDEFGABC. This letter helps me learn the notes. These books have no standard harmonica tablature notation.
Easy Piano Sheet Music for Kids. By Avgusta Udartseva. 2021, 112 pages. VSCL.
Easy Piano Songs for Kids. 2024, 103 pages. VSCL.

Discoveries #2 (July 8, 2024)

I have been diligently working on learning to read standard music notation, sheet music, when
playing the harmonica. I had been using for many years the harmonica tablature notation showing what hole to blow or draw into. Sheet music notation tells me what note to play and the duration and sequence of the notes played. Most diatonic harmonica music books have lessons using a C Major harmonica, the sheet music for each song, and under each note the harmonica tablature. I focus now on the sheet music and ignore the harmonica tablature. I am using the book 'Easy Piano Sheet Music for Kids', by Avgusta Udartseva, while learning, which does not include harmonica tablature.

For me, what are the benefits of reading standard musical notation (sheet music):
1. A better sense of the flow and timing of a composition.
2. There is far more sheet music without harmonica tablature that is readily available.
3. Following traditional musical learning using sheet music is very valuable, and essential for real progress in music playing.
4. Learning to connect names of notes (CDEFGABC) with positions on the sheet music, and connecting these with diatonic harmonica holes for blow or draw notes (20 notes on a 10 hole diatonic harmonica).
5. Learning to read sheet music more efficiently, effectively, knowledgeably, and beneficial for playing properly.
6. I am learning more musical theory each day.
7. The visual spacing of the notes on the sheet music is more useful to precise playing and improving one's anticipation and timing.
8. Improves my learning how to play better.
9. I enjoy learning challenges, tests, new methods and techniques.
10. It is intellectually and emotionally satisfying to make progress in playing music.
11. The challenge of new ways of looking and seeing; new ways of communicating with symbols.
12. Harmonica tablature can be useful, but must be left behind for real progress to occur.

This has been a significant and transformative learning experience for me! Why did I wait so long to learn how to read and play from sheet music? Why did I not take classes from a music teacher? Why did I not take community college or private classes in musical theory and education? Nevertheless, this is all just muddy water gone past under the bridge for a 78 year old man playing the harmonica on his own. I must focus on learning NOW, and ignore my regrets and failings. PRACTICE NOW and enjoy myself.

Harmonicas

Home Recording Studio

Hardware and Software

Hardware, Electronics, Tools

Microphone lapel condenser

Microphone

Cords, Cables

Mixer

MIDI Keyboard, Launchkey 37 Keys

Speakers

Dell Inspiron Desktop Computer

HP Laptop Computer

Tablet 10" Android

Tablet 7" Samsung

Tascam Audio Stereo Recorder DR-05

Samsung Cellphone

Audio and Music Software

Fl Studio Pro DAW ($210)

FL Studio Pro software on HP Laptop ($210) and on Big Tablet ($30). VSCL.

FL Studio Beginner's Guide. Screech House. Kindle EBook.

FL Studio Cookbook. By Chris Rena. 2024, 279 pages. VSCL.

Fl Studio Cookbook. Screech House, Kindle EBook, 2019.