I got inspired by Filip Jers recent video on playing in multiple positions on a blues. Here is my attempt on a nice backing track form beelzeBob at www.harmonicaboogie.com
It's far from perfect but tell me what you think about it !
In order : 1st position G harp 2nd position on C harp 11th position on A harp 3rd position on F harp
Blues in 11th!? LOVE IT! I haven't noodled with that much...blues in 12th, but not 11th.
For those interested in working this sorta stuff out, remember to pay attention to the song's harmony. I am sure TonyH already has this figured out, but you can switch keys as you move through the changes.
Meaning, a 12 bar blues that goes G C D gives you three keys to start thinking in.
You can play 2nd (G) 1st (C) 3rd (D), for example. This takes some of the drill and kill from learning to solo in various positions and makes it a little more real world for some.
By practicing using just 1st to solo, you are building your vocabulary for playing in 1st over the IV chord in a song that you start in second position.
I almost never play first as my "home" position in a tune, even blues. However, yesterday, I was jamming on a blues progression only using first to practice things I would play over the IV when starting in 2nd. ---------- Mike VHT Special 6 Mods Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
As a matter of fact yes I found it hard to switch position while playing in the same song. It is not something I do often and I wanted to practice that in this video.
I do play in multiple position but most of the time I choose a harp key and I keep it through all the song , following the changes.
@HarpNinja I find 11th position works really well on those jazzy blues! Also, like you said, it is indeed a good way to make your solo more interresting to switch positions while you play the chord changes in a blues. Jason Ricci does this a lot!
It was a nice practice to expand my vocabulary on a blues ! I invite you all to try it!
Last Edited by on May 23, 2012 8:12 AM
Just to be sure: playing in 11th position on a A harp means: perform a G (D3 bent half tone?). I actually expected Tony to blow tenth hole bending whole tone..., that's why I ask.
I started woodshedding this week after taking about a year off from anything other than jamming. This is a good drill for me and was posted in a timely manner, lol.
Interestingly enough, a customer asked me to tune the 7 draw a 1/2 step flat on an order. It got me again thinking about the benefits of having a set of harps tuned to standard and a set with the 7 tuned down. All the positions you used would benefit from that in blues.
Right now, I only tune my high harps - above E, F, and F# with a flat 7 draw. When I play in rock bands, I use a normal 7 draw so much it is hard to switch without having to relearn a whole bunch of licks. ---------- Mike VHT Special 6 Mods Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
@laurent2015 yes the root notes in 11th position are 3 draw bent a half step, 6 overblow or 10 blow bent a whole step wich are all the G note. After that you just solo over the blues progression but playing in G on the A harp.
HarpNinja Yes that would be a handy note for blues in those positions instead of using the 6 OB. I think Todd Parrot is tuning the 7 draw a half step down on all his harp if I am right.
I like to play other stuff than blues and sometime I need that regular 7 draw so I just try to always keep the same tuning and get use to it in whatever style I play!
I learned by practicing the arpeggio up and down. Then I added the major scale up and down. Then I started jamming to major tunes using the arpeggio and then the scale. I then moved to the minor/blues stuff, but only for intonation practice.
I haven't used 11th blues for soloing, but I am going to start tonight!!! I've used 11th major a lot, though. ---------- Mike VHT Special 6 Mods Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
Last Edited by on May 23, 2012 8:48 AM
