Level 2
MELODY

Watch Bobby McFerrin demonstrating how the notes of the pentatonic scale are intuitively familiar to everyone.

Task

You have to start learning a musical instrument by playing with restrictions. When performing this task, you will see for yourself that you can create lovely tunes using just a few notes. Start playing to the backing track with the following restrictions:
1. Use three notes only: C, D, E (for blues D, E, G). Please see the images below to find those notes on your instrument. Before you proceed to the next task, dedicate at least several rehearsals (2–3 hours in total) to this 3-note playing.

2. Use four notes only: C, D, E, G (for blues D, E, G, A). Spend a total of about 3 or 4 hours of your practice time playing with four notes only.

3. Start using the five most frequently used notes in music: C, D, E, G, A (for blues D, E, G, A, B). These five magic notes are called a pentatonic scale. Our ancestors found the pentatonic scale intuitively and began using it thousands of years ago. This combination of notes is the most pleasing to the human ear. The pentatonic scale permeates all modern music. Spend a total of at least five hours playing with the five notes, and you will be surprised by the results.

Practicing the above exercises will allow you to grasp the essence of creating your own solos and will prove to you that by continuing this challenge course you will learn to play your musical instrument freely and with confidence.

If you are a beginner harmonica player, first of all, you need to learn how to play single notes. On the web, you can find plenty of free lessons that will help you start hitting each hole of your harmonica separately and will open the big wide world of the harmonica for you.

Blues music

Rock music

Pop music

Reggae music

Smooth jazz

Example and Backing Tracks

EXAMPLE (VIDEO)

Minor Blues Backing Track

Minor Blues Backing Track

Example and Backing Tracks

EXAMPLE (VIDEO)

Major Rock Backing Track

Major Rock Backing Track

Example and Backing Tracks

EXAMPLE (VIDEO)

Major Pop Backing Track

Major Pop Backing Track

Example and Backing Tracks

EXAMPLE (VIDEO)

Major Reggae Backing Track

Major Reggae Backing Track

Example and Backing Tracks

EXAMPLE (VIDEO)

Major Smooth Jazz Backing Track

Major Smooth Jazz Backing Track