Ray Pool

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Tuning Your Lever Harp
in E flat Major

Tuning Your Lever Harp
in E flat Major

by Ray Pool

Calibrate your electronic tuning machine

Use an external microphone

Tune the E flat Major scale

Tune the entire harp using the circle of fifths

Play the Major scale and seven Diatonic Triads in each of eight keys

Play a comparison of Major, minor and diminished chords on each step of the scale in the keys of E flat, B flat, F, C, G, D, A and E Major


 

1,2,3, Play!
1, 2, 3 - Play!

1, 2, 3 - PLAY!
Ear training through melodic development.
by Ray Pool

Using small melodic fragments from familiar nursery rhymes, folk, patriotic and hymn tunes, the needs of music students of many levels are met. Instead of using “Do, Re, Mi...” to identify the notes in the scale, the numbers 1 through 7 are employed. Melodies are categorized by range. Beginning with a range of only three notes, the groups progress through a total of nine categories.

For beginning students, it is possible to locate strings on the harp (or the notes on any other instrument, as well) by number in order to play melodies before actual skills in note reading are addressed.

For intermediate students, melodies can be learned in the key of C and then transposed to other keys simply by identifying the pitches of the new scale by number and then proceeding in the same fashion.

For advanced students, harmony can be added to accompany the tunes in multiple keys. A “Harmonic Resource” is given at the end of the book to provide chord information in six different major keys. Those who can already play from a fake book will be able to use this information easily to play the same melody in more than one key.

This ear training concept has been presented in the following locations:

Beginning In the Middle
The Oklahoma Chapter of AHS
The Longhorn Music Camp in Austin, TX
The Somerset Folk Harp Conference
The Lyon & Healy Jazz and Pop Harpfest
The Bedside Harp® Program

 

The Treble Harpist
The Treble Harpist

The Treble Harpist
An Introduction to Music on the Harp
by Ray Pool

A guided study in note reading, rhythm and finger patterns written on one staff in the treble clef using a repertoire of 50 arrangements taken from:

Folk tunes
Christian and Jewish religious and holiday tunes
Melodies from the Gay 90's
Stephen Foster favorites

Suitable for study on Lever or Pedal harp without exception

 

 

3's A Chordd
3's a Chord

3's a Chord
Harmony for every harpist
by Ray Pool

Special sections for lever and pedal harp

The structure of the scale-including the chromatic scale-for both lever and pedal harp. Thirds and fifths in diatonic triads built on each step of the scale. Inversions of triads. The I - IV - V chord progression in scale-wise movement. 5 appendixes including chromatic scales and the circle of fifths for both lever and pedal harp. All examples are fully notated in eight keys.

Table of Contents

  • The Fundamentals in C Major
  • What's Next?
  • The Keys
    • E flat
    • B flat
    • F
    • C
    • G
    • D
    • A
    • E
  • Appendix I: Lever Harp Chromatic Scales
  • Appendix II: Pedal Harp Chromatic Scales
  • Appendix III: The Circle of Fifths (diagram)
  • Appendix IV: The Circle of Fifths (Scales for Pedal Harp)
  • Appendix V: The Circle of Fifths (Scales for Lever Harp)

You can see a video demonstration of how to use this book on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmBvia892jI

 

 Blazing Pedals Vol. 1
Blazing Pedals, Vol. 1
Blazing Pedals Vol. 1
A Guide to harmonic structure and lead sheet playing on the pedal harp
by Ray Pool

The structure of diatonic seventh chords over each step in the scale. Inversions of seventh chords. Identification of ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth over a root note. The walking bass line. Lead sheet notation. Diminished chords. Harmonizing a chromatic scale with diminished chords. Fully notated in six keys.

Table of Contents

  • Scales, Triads, and Lead Sheet Basics
  • More About I-IV-V-I
  • Harmonizing a Scale with a Single Triad
  • Diatonic Seventh Chords
    • Say Touch Play
    • Isolating Pedals in Chords
  • Harmonizing a Scale with Seventh Chords
    • Londonderry Air (full)
    • Londonderry Air (lead sheet C)
    • Londonderry Air (lead sheet G)
    • Londonderry Air (lead sheet F)
  • The Progression of I-VI-II-V
  • Drop "2" Voicings
  • I-VI-II-V With Scales and Glisses
  • R-3-5-7-9-11-13
  • I-VI-II-V with 13ths
  • Diminished Chords for Enharmonic Tuning Check
  • Diminished Cousins
  • The Chromatic Scale
  • The Whole Tone Scale
  • Chain of Dominants
  • Chords of the Sub-dominant Minor
  • Tritone Substitution
  • Chord Comparisonv
  • Key Study:
    • Introduction
    • The Key of C
    • The Key of E flat
    • The Key of B flat
    • The Key of F
    • The Key of G
    • The Key of D

 

Blazing PedalsS - Vol. 2
Blazing Pedals Vol. 2
Blazing Pedals Vol. 2
How to play from a "Fake Book" on the pedal harp
by Ray Pool

Includes a chord study review in lead sheet notation, the use of "melodic" seventh chords, full chord voicings in six keys, passing tones and neighboring notes, the stride bass accompaniment, other accompaniment patterns, an original tune and seven possible treatments fully notated.

Table of Contents

  • The Test
  • Simple Lead Sheet Notation
  • The First Silent Night
  • Full Chord Voicings
  • Melodic Seventh Chords (Away In A Manger)
  • Passing Tones and Neighboring Notes
  • The Stride Bass Accompaniment (I-VI-II-V
  • More Accompaniment Patterns
  • Using Accompaniment Patterns
  • "The Very First Tune" text
    • Lead Sheet with lyrics
    • Version 1, melody and root bass note
    • Version 2, melodic seventh chords
    • Version 3, melodic seventh chords and root bass note
    • Version 4, solo melody and interlocking intervals
    • Version 5, melodic seventh chords and arpeggio accompaniment
    • Version 6, solo melody and stride accompaniment
    • Version 7, full chord voicings with tenths and fifths
  • "The Very First Tune" in 3 keys with modulations
  • The Last Word

 

 

Clever Levers
Clever Levers
Clever Levers
Harmonic exercises for advanced lever harpists
by Ray Pool

A lever harp study similar to Blazing Pedals, volume 1: structure of diatonic seventh chords over each step in the scale. Inversions of seventh chords. Identification of ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth over a root note. The I - VI - II - V progression. The chromatic scale. The whole tone scale. Lead sheet notation. Chain of dominants. Fully notated in six keys.

Table of Contents

  • Harmonic Elements:
    • Scales, Triads, and Lead Sheet Basics
    • More About I-IV-V-I
    • Harmonizing a Scale with a Single Triad
    • Diatonic Seventh Chords
    • Harmonizing a Scale with Seventh Chords
    • The Progression of I-VI-II-V
    • R-3-5-7-9-11-13
    • I-VI-II-V with 13ths
    • The Chromatic Scale
    • The Whole Tone Scale
    • Chain of Dominants
  • Key Study:
    • Introduction
    • The Key of C
    • The Key of E flat
    • The Key of B flat
    • The Key of F
    • The Key of G
    • The Key of D