Greetings everyone and Happy Hollidays, Do any of you play in these positions (6-11)? My next question is, when would you use them, and how do you play them.
6th is great for natural and harmonic minor and blues. 7th is great for harmonic minor 8th is tough. I can do it in any style, but I don't think I would do it in performance except to show it can be done. 9th is good for minor and blues 10th is good for blues in the highest octave 11th is good for major
In an email, Peter Madcat Ruth said 12 through 5 was all he played. That's where I hang my hat. No 6 through 11 for me. 12 through 5 is enough for me. With my gang of friends, 4th , 5th and 12th is like The Twiglight Zone, yet I find them easy and valuable with the right song. ---------- theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
Konstantin Reinfeld, who is a member here, did a great slow blues in F# seventh position. I can't re-embed as I'm on my phone but here's (one of the two) original thread(s). http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/2317823.htm ---------- Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
I'm in total agreement with Jim Rumbaugh. Positions 12,1,2,3,4,5 should cover it. You won't find much out there beyond that with a few exceptions. 7-11..you better be a fantastic overbender.
In my current band repertoire, I probably have more songs in 8th position than 2nd. I love to play in that position so much, it has become my "cross harp" in a way: when I pick up the harp, I usually find myself fiddling in 8th. Also 7th allows a certain feel not obtainable in other positions, especially when I play gypsy stuff (I mean Taraf de Haidouks gypsy, not gypsy jazz).
Here's two examples of 8th position. It's my number one choice for songs someone might describe "Arabic". Both of these are in C# on a C harp.
Now if blues/jazz/funk etc. is what you play, you might not find these positions that convenient. But if you want to play "world music" – if you allow the vague term – you really should get to know these positions. They open up a whole new world.
