jonlaing
261 posts
May 15, 2011
9:30 AM
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So I was reading through the rack player's thread, and watched the Jimi Lee videos. I was really blown away by his playing. From what I could tell, he was playing 2nd pos. too. When I play 2nd, I can't seem to get out of the classic bluesy sound, which is a little bothersome, since I really don't connect with classic blues.
So, we all know that there are notes that make something sound bluesy. So, I guess my question is, are there certain intervals (pretty sure that's the word) that make something sound Jazzy, particularly, in 2nd pos?
I don't really have a problem making it sound 'jazzy' in 11th and 12th, but 2nd evades me.
Thanks.
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dougharps
73 posts
May 15, 2011
9:46 AM
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Jimi sometimes uses harps with alternate tunings. I can't confirm that he did in that video, but I think he did. He is the best blues rack player I ever saw (SPAH 2008, 2011). I am looking forward to seeing him again at HCH II.
I was impressed by the classical chromatic guitar and harp performance, too. Using a foot control to make those fast chromatic passages was pretty amazing.
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Doug S.
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arzajac
515 posts
May 15, 2011
11:32 AM
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I was looking up the chord changes to Mister Magic.
They are not too far off the regular notes played in a I-IV-V progression in second. The song in is F. All the notes in an Ab, Eb Major, Cminor and G6 chord can easily be played in 2nd position without any overblows. I say they are not far off because the riffs and licks from a regular I-IV-V progression work, although does sound too blues-like and not jazz-like.
I often mess around and add "funny" chords to a regular 12 bar and see what happens.
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Last Edited by on May 15, 2011 11:32 AM
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ridge
262 posts
May 15, 2011
12:29 PM
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Going from 2 draw to 5 blow to 3 draw half step bend is a lil jazzy. (-2 +5 3')
You could try (-2 -2 +5 +6 +5 -4 3' -2 -2)
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REM
69 posts
May 15, 2011
4:03 PM
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In the Mr. Magic video, Jimi was definately playing a natural minor tuned harp (in 2nd position). But there's no reason you couldn't play it on a major tuned harp in 2nd, as long as you can bend, and overblow (holes 4&6). I've played it in 2nd(on a major tuned harp), but (imho) it sounds better in 3rd, and it's easier.
My suggestion would be to take some of the "jazzy sounding" things you play in 11th and 12th position and transpose them into 2nd. Some of the stuff may be a little more difficult, or won't sound quite as smooth in 2nd, but this will help figure out how to get away from always sounding like you're playing straight blues in 2nd position. You'll definately want to use some different intervals/notes, but also part of the trick is that the blues licks and jazzy licks have differents rythms/phrasing. So it's not only just a case of needing to use different notes when you want to sound jazzy in 2nd position.
Last Edited by on May 15, 2011 9:12 PM
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hvyj
1399 posts
May 15, 2011
8:46 PM
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Try working the upper register WITHOUT any blow bends. You've got a complete mixolydian scale between B6 and B9. D10 is a 9th and B 10 is an 11th. Bridge to the upper register by going from B5 (a 6th) to D6 (a 9th) avoiding D5 (flat 7th) as you transition which will sound smoother and more melodic. Phrase in a jazzy style as you work the upper end. This works for a jazzy feel. Btw, it can also work for blues if you do it right, but it's not "bluesy" in the same way the lower octave is.
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Jehosaphat
55 posts
May 15, 2011
10:10 PM
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I'm with Hvyj here.I am no way a Jazz player as such but the few times i have jammed with a 'Jazz' combo i have done what he has explained above(the first few times without really knowing why it 'worked')
My other thing is to play all the notes that i usually try to avoid eg 2nds and sixths if your ear is Ok it can all work in 2nd
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HarpNinja
1434 posts
May 16, 2011
5:49 AM
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I think using the upper octave in a major way is a bit "jazzy". I remember some time ago reading about the new blues scale...specifically how Robben Ford approaches it.
Really, it was the blues scale usually associated with harmonica but with the equivalent of 3" and 5 blow added in. In otherwords, the mixolydian scale with the flat 3 and 5.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
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