GamblersHand
403 posts
Dec 12, 2012
1:48 AM
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Hey all
Has anyone tried using a country-tuned harp for third position? It would seem to be a good choice for third position used over major blues tunes - or any tune that you'd naturally choose cross harp.
The raised 5 draw would give the major third, and more importantly gives a full semi-tone bend to the minor third. This should then give the options with blues tonality, and how you can "shape" playing the blue third with swoops etc.
I've heard some incredible 3rd position playing with major key blues, but it still can be a little too minor sounding.
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barbequebob
2141 posts
Dec 12, 2012
7:58 AM
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I've used it more than a few times, but when you're playing certain blues styles, the rule of major and minor tends to get fudged a bit, which makes using a minor 3rd where you'd used a major 3rd work, like in the classic sounds of Chicago blues, but if you were to do something with a jazzier flavor to it, then you would need to have both notes available to you, and a jazzier feel not only uses major 3rds, but also 6ths, 9ths, as well as major 7ths, so one thing one HAS to lose in their thinking is that one size fits all, which has NEVER been true.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Gnarly
427 posts
Dec 12, 2012
9:37 AM
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I don't use country tuning but do use Melody Maker and use Major Cross even more--and both of these use the sharpened draw 5 that is at the heart of CT.
And yeah, when I need that sound, that's the position I use.
Seems to me you really need to have OB 5 down to play 3rd position blues without it sounding minor.
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HarpNinja
2975 posts
Dec 12, 2012
10:01 AM
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I don't play much 3rd major, but you're right. The blue third isn't really a blue third all the time. Generally, we talk about play that note as an almost half-step bend in cross.
If you play the 5 draw in third over a bluesy tune, it can sound too minor relative to 2nd position as the note is generally tuned to pitch or even slightly flat.
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Custom Harmonicas
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Todd Parrott
1062 posts
Dec 12, 2012
10:54 AM
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I have a friend, Bill Newton, who uses country tuned harps for 3rd position blues all the time, and makes really good use of it - the best I've heard, but he doesn't have any stuff out there on YouTube at this time. He plays a lot in the Durham, NC area, and has played and recorded with some pretty prominent artists through the years.
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GamblersHand
404 posts
Dec 23, 2012
10:02 AM
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Sorry to resurrect this, but have been offline for a while.
Thanks all for your responses, I'm seriously thinking in investing in a few country-tuned harmonicas. I think they make a lot more sense for fifth position as well - as I think 99% of the time I wouldn't want to be playing the Phrygian mode, and 5th position is more similar to playing my regular 2nd position
In terms of positions, thing this through, raising the 5 draw makes second position more like 1st, 3rd more like 2nd, 4th like 3rd etc etc
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Jim Rumbaugh
807 posts
Dec 23, 2012
11:36 AM
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3rd position with a country tuned harp is Marvin Martin's preferred way to perform. Marvin is one of the main powers behind the Buckeye Harmonica Club in Columbus, OH. His prefered harp is the XB-40, and most of their tunes are non-blues. His playing is top notch.
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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smwoerner
157 posts
Dec 23, 2012
3:40 PM
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And Guitar center has them for cheap...$22 for and Eb anf $24 for an A...For that price if you don't like it just tune the 5 draw down and you're back to normal.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Hohner-560-Special-20-Harmonica-with-Country-Tuning-584353-i1502655.gc
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DukeBerryman
36 posts
Dec 23, 2012
4:29 PM
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@GamblersHead
I ended-up getting three Lee Oskar Natural Minor harps, and I try to play along to blues songs in 2nd position. Not sure if this works musically all the time, but it does allow me to play in 2nd. One example is playing my LO NM in Am to the Animal's House of the Rising Sun
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GamblersHand
406 posts
Dec 26, 2012
3:34 AM
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@smwoemer - thanks for the tip, though unfortunately they don't ship to the UK. I'm thinking to get a Crossover customised as they're by far my preferred harp
@Duke
You'll find that Natural Minor harps often don't sound quite right against a major key blues. The third being fully flat (rather than a "blue third") is too minor-sounding, and the 2 blow/ 5 blow/ 8 blow notes won't sound right. They're not bad for a minor blues song, although I'm more partial for 3rd or 5th position
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