Re: [Harp-L] Learning, Grammar and Theory

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

Theory is a way of seeing things that at first appear to be 
independent facts as part of an understandable pattern.

When playing guitar and chromatic, I am learning that when 
I'm playing an A chord on the guitar, then any Cs on the 
harp are most likely C#s.  Same with E chords on guitar and 
G#s on the harp....etc.

Theory gives one a good feeling of what comes next...very 
useful for any musician.  When I hear or see a chord 
sequence C,  C7.... then I anticipate an F chord and the 
notes F, A, or C on the harp.  The idea of secondary 
dominants may seem arcane but they occur very frequently in 
real music.

I'll bet that Howard Levy, the ultimate diatonic player, 
knows his theory quite well.

Vern