Speaking Theoretically – Inversions

I know, I have said the “T” word (theory).  But you’re still reading, so that’s a good sign!  And you know that when something starts with the “T” word, you might not enjoy it, but it will probably serve you (and sooner than later). So, let’s just wade in.

I received a nice compliment the other day when someone noted that I never play a tune the same way, even in the repeats.  This struck me because I had just been thinking about how I needed to really work on changing things up while playing so tunes won’t get stale to the listener!  While thinking through the juxtaposition of these comments, it became clear that the space between was based on our different perceptions of the chords that underlie the tune.  And that’s how we ended up here in the “T” zone.

There is an easy way to change up the accompaniment and harmony (typically in the left hand) so you to will never play something the same way every time.  But it does require that you not only know some theory, but that you practice it too!

You know this stuff – let’s just make it front of mind!  Let’s work in the key of C major (it works in every key, but let’s stay with a relatively simple example).

First we have the triad – in C that will be C – E – G (played with 3 – 2 – 1).  This is called the “Root” position and the “name” of the scale is in the root position.  This is a nice solid chord and gets used a great deal.  However, after a while, you might want something new.  So what to do?

Well, we could move to the “First Inversion” in which we take the Root note and pop it on the top of the chord.  So now we have E – G – c (we moved the C off the bottom and replaced on the top).  Listen to that – you can hear that it’s the same, but different.  So now you have another option.

But only one option is just not going to be enough!  So we can move the third (which is now on the bottom) up to the top – and now we have the second inversion!  You’ll note that this again sounds the same, and yet has a really different “ear – taste”.

Go sit at your harp (you don’t fool me, I know you are reading and haven’t actually heard this yet!) and play these inversions (they are in the graphic if looking at the dots will help you process this).  You can work your way up the harp – start by playing the Root, then reposition and play the first inversion, and then move again and play the second inversion.  And it might sound a little “off” so go ahead and move the 5^th to the top – and now you’re back to the root, just an octave higher. 

Now, play through again and really listen to the differences between the inversions – each of them has it’s own “flavor”.  See which ones you like or which ones evoke specific moods or feelings.  With practice, you’ll remember which is which and you’ll be able to match that to the feeling you want to invoke with a specific tune.  Of course this is more likely with an air but fast tunes also benefit with some thinking about the feeling the chord imparts to the tune. 

If you haven’t done this before, you might have to work a little bit to move between the inversions.  But with a little practice you’ll be able to make those movements easily.  And with that practice, you will get faster at remembering which notes are included and which notes go where.  The exercise can be blocked chords – Root -- > 1^st Inversion -- > 2^nd Inversion -- > root (either the octave above or where you started – it’s up to you).  Just remember to place, play, move, and place the next shape.  When you’re solid on these blocked chords you’ll be ready to move onto broken or arpeggiated versions. 

Once you’re comfortable with the inversions themselves, you can start inserting them into tunes you already know.  Replace your same ol’-same ol’ root chords with the inversion you like and listen to the difference.  Play around – you can also get out of the inverted triad and use ideas that might come up as you play.  You could use a 10^th or play just the 3^rd – you get the idea.  Find the things you like and work them into the tunes you play. 

What do you like best?  Share your ideas in the comments below.

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Travel is Broadening

You already know that all of us are back from the Harpa Scotland 2019 Retreat.  If the photos, videos, comments, and smiles are any indication – it was another brilliant success.  Harpa is so much fun because it has a simple formula:

HARPA = 

amazing musicians + fantastic tour guide + incredible roadie = 

sharing music joy + enjoying each other + adventure!

You’ve heard the maxim that travel is broadening – and not just from delicious cakes and scones!  As you travel with your harp, you develop or hone many sterling qualities including forbearance, faith and patience!  Whether you like it or not, you must let go, trust the Fates, and be patient (outside the “Oversize Luggage” belt mostly!).

Most of us are control freaks (especially about our harps).  Many of us do not know this about ourselves (or if we do, we underestimate).  Few things will test your mettle like traveling with your instrument and entrusting it to the TSA.  And while American (airline) may hate guitars, I’m pretty sure it’s the TSA that hates harps.  Or at least, hates harp cases.  I qualify this, though, to say that although I have gotten my harp back partially latched or completely unlatched, it has always weathered the journey (Forbearance?  Faith?  Probably both).

But more than that, traveling with your harp opens doors you might not even know were there otherwise.  We have been places we likely would have gone right by – simply because those places opened themselves up to the possibility of us playing there!  We have never played anywhere dull.  This openness on their parts helps us to be more open on our part – to see new things or to see familiar things differently (including toilets, refrigerators, and door locks!).  And once we are opened, adventures appear around every bend.

Our trips are always small – this time we had seven.  This allows us to go places often overlooked or bypassed.  It also ensures we don’t travel as a band of tourists – simply observing, never venturing outside our comfort.  But it also generates a community and engenders sharing with one another - we gel in ways that big groups never get.  We become a traveling family, if ever so briefly. We share our experiences – and our cookies!  And that sharing is part of the fun.  And the more fun we have together, the more fun we find.  And so it grows!

But perhaps the best bit is that we meet other people – in restaurants and cafes, at attractions, in our accommodations.  We were invited along to a stramash by someone we met at one of our concerts.  See how that works?!  At the time we weren't sure we knew what a stramash is, but we kinda thought we did, and we went along to it.  It was a blast!  We got to play tunes with local musicians, we heard some new ones, played some shared favs and heard some lovely singing.  We got to share the joy of making music – in a fun, organic, very Scottish way!  (Just to confirm, a stramash is a seisiun).  We met a delightful couple at a fish and chips restaurant…because they photo bombed one of our group selfies!  It is these brief interactions punctuating the trip that not only make great memories, but really define good travels.  While chatting with an audience member we learned of a museum that none of our research had unearthed.  And later, once there, we met and chatted with more lovely locals and learned more than just looking at some displays would ever have wrought.

All that leads to learning more about yourself.  You learn where your unknown assumptions and ignorances lie and have the opportunity to examine them.  These assumptions and ignorances are not good or bad, but examining them means you can rethink their utility.  I’m not talking about bigotry but rather biases like what we select for our concert program, how we introduce ourselves and our music to the audience, and how we meet them where they are when we perform (and appreciating when they’re not where we thought they’d be!).  A small group also learns to accept more - the morning person must be patient while the not-morning person strives to not be cranky at the start of the day (and vice versa at the end of the day).   We help one another – with luggage, and art supplies, and fingering, and leftovers, and making tea (and more tea, and yet more tea!). 

And best of all – each trip is different.  The harp attracts all kinds – players and appreciators and audiences.  We make lifelong friends and brief – but enriching acquaintances.  Even if we return to a place, it is new, and we grow in it. And being invited back is a pleasure and a privilege. 

So Harpa 2019 is in the books – an unqualified success.  We’re all home, laundry cycled (mostly), gifts given, postcards received (mostly).  And we look forward to the next time!

Once we sleep off our jetlag, we will start planning the next Harpa outing!

But we’re also finalizing plans for the 2020 Harp the Highlands and Islands trip – details coming soon.  Would you like to be broadened (by travel and cakes)?  Want to be part of the action and first to know the details? Leave me a comment to that effect below!

PS: Photo credit for this week and last go to the Harpaniks and especially Donna Bennett, Therese Honey, and Robin Pettit.

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Harpa 2019 wraps

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Harpa Retreat 2019 has begun!

Harpa 2019 has started! We have all arrived in Scotland and are already having a blast. We are seven this time – five harpers and two appreciators, as well as David our intrepid guide and Heather, our harp-playing roadie. We are significantly missing our lead Harpanik. Beth Kolle, who founded Harpa, is home recovering from a demonstration of gravity and we are missing her terribly. But we press on, carrying the Harpa flag!

This year we decided that we would benefit from a “vacation from our vacation” type trip and began developing the Harpa Retreat concept. We came to Scotland because – well, Scotland!! We have two concerts for different charities scheduled. And we’re planning on more down time so we can really savor our time here, make art, jam and really enjoy each other musically, and just breathe. Because that can be the problem of a vacation – you go somewhere interesting, that you want to see and soak up, and share with friends, and really experience, and you spend some short but manageable time there. But you’ve spent a lot of money to get there and you want to see it all! And you really do try, but you can’t succeed and you get very tired trying! And worst of all, in all that trying, it’s easy to miss the very thing you went there for. So this year, we are trying to take it a little slower, to chill a little. So far it’s been a great idea!

We have just started yesterday and we have an amazing group. Our performers are Sue Richards, Therese Honey, Martha Hill, Donna Bennett, and me. Sue, Therese and I started a little early in Glasgow so we could meet some of the members of the Glasgow Branch of the Clarsach Society and share a workshop (which was just an incredible day – thanks to Gillian Fleetwood for making that happen!), see some great museums, and ride trains with harps.

We took a Preparatory photo to help explain to taxi people what we were looking to get into the cab . It didn’t help the planning, but was fun to take. Photo by Therese Honey – who is a much better photographer than I!

Why yes, you c-a-n get two harps into a cab, onto a train, still have fun and enjoy the ride! Another Therese photo – she’s good about taking them!

We all met up in Endinburgh and yesterday we set off on another adventure.

And yet another photo from Therese – she finds the best photos – just the way she looks at the world is amazing!  We had the easy job. David and Heather had to figure out how to get the harps into the vehicle – puzzle for the day.

We have been posting photos on Facebook here and on the FB Harpa group. Wish you were here! More later, we’re busy having fun!  Wish you could see Scotland through a harp?  Leave a comment and let me know!

PS – just like if you have more than one harp, you have a favorite, I have a favorite computing device…and I chose to travel with the other one, so please forgive any errors.  I’m blaming them on the #%~*^ ipad!

Blogspotters - I am gradually moving the blog over to my website - please go over there, subscribe (on the upper left of the screen) so you don't miss anything. Unfortunately, blogspot doesn't have all the functionality available on the website, so this site will eventually go away. Until then, I'll post the same content but please begin to watch that space!