didjcripey
170 posts
Dec 13, 2011
1:59 PM
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So I have always played second position, with just a few songs in first. Been tooling around lately with Tito Puentes 'Oye como va' and it falls perfecly on a G harp in third position; just doesn't sound right if I play it in second.
I tend to be a bit obsessive when I learn a new song, so lately that's about all I've practiced. Now I find that in my head when I go back to second, I switch some of the holes around; expecting a note to be where it would be if I was still in third.
It impresses me to hear players talking easily about switching positions, from first to twelfth. Given that we play 'blind', and its all muscle memory, transposing the relative arrangement of the notes seems to be asking for confusion, especially under pressure.
Just practice, or any tricks and tips?
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Lucky Lester
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Reverend Jimmie Jive
39 posts
Dec 13, 2011
2:48 PM
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yep, try 4th or 5th position, especially in the mid or upper octave.. you will find them more accurate to a minor key song than 3rd
get a Hohner 364 or 365 especially a tenor range C and you will have more range (2+ octaves) in 4th (Am on a C harp) or 5th (Em on a C harp) position with little or no bending, over drawing , overblowing and all that stuff needed
Last Edited by on Dec 13, 2011 2:50 PM
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Jim Rumbaugh
617 posts
Dec 13, 2011
7:10 PM
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Practice, Practice, Practice (scales and such)
3rd is always my first choice for minor.
5th my second choice for minor
4th my last, well, maybe 2nd is my last choice for minor
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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hvyj
2012 posts
Dec 13, 2011
7:50 PM
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Yes, it's all muscle memory. Learn the breath patterns for the scales in the different positions. practice them repetitively until you can play them by rote up and down. Playing in different positions is just playing the harp in different keys. Musicians who play other instruments do it all the time. It's really NBD. It just takes repetitive practice.
Click on my user name for tab for certain common breath patterns. Learn 3 breath patterns and you can get around in 6 positions. It's musically liberating. Of course, there's more to multiple position playing, but the tab for the common breath patterns will get you started.
Last Edited by on Dec 13, 2011 7:58 PM
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jbone
703 posts
Dec 13, 2011
8:10 PM
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i am limited so far to the first 3 positions for the most part. i have found myself playing a lot more 3rd in the past couple of years esp at jams and with full 3 or 4 piece bands depending on what they are playing- or what i can get them to play. 3rd is really good for the funk and jazzy swingy side of blues. but i've used it successfully in some country as well. even in some very fundamental delta blues here and there.
having played for about 4 decades on and off i have no problem switching between 2nd and 3rd. and exploring 3rd actually has enriched my appreciation and facility in 2nd. in recent years i have delved much more deeply into 1st position as well and there are huge possibilities there as well.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
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