Hello fellow Harpsters, Does anyone have links to inspiring videos of third position on the Chromatic harmonica? I exchanged emails recently on another list about "noodling" and am willing to be shown the error of my ways. So what I'm looking for is something that employs the octaves and sixths but doesn't Drone on without any changes.
Here's a video I really like of Nic Clark doing some 3rd position playing/vamping on the chromatic:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=49Vz1VaHcbM
Sorry, I can't imbed it, I'm on my iPad and I can't find the option to imbed YouTube videos (maybe it's not possible on the iPad). It might not be the type of thing you're looking for, but it's still good playing IMHO.
Last Edited by on Jan 10, 2013 9:52 PM
"Does anyone have links to inspiring videos of third position on the Chromatic harmonica?"
Surely listening to CD's, Mp3's, etc would serve you better than watching music videos?
I'd suggest listening to George Smith, Rod Piazza, Dennis Greunling, William Clarke, Paul Delay, Rick Estrin and Mark Hummel amongst others to get a grip on playing 3rd position blues chromatic. If you want to move beyond blues then Larry Adler, Harry Pitch, The Harmonicats and Toots Thielemans would be good to listen too. I'm sure Dave Payne and BBQ Bob can name many. many more uber cool non blues chromatic cats to listen too.
Hi-- I was just wondering about this, I am not planning to study or "get a grip", with all due respect. Oh, and videos like the first one posted are basically audio. I think I have figured out my big beef with the normal 3rd position chrom stuff--it's that there's (many times?) no attempt to play the major third of the dominant chord. Does that sound like all y'all's experience?
Gnarly - Firstly sorry for my somewhat sarcastic reply earlier. A very late night and a very early morning combined to make me a little grumpy this morning. Still that's no excuse, so please accept my apologies.
It might help if you posted some examples of someone playing chromatic in the manner you describe. All of the blues players I mentioned above are great examples of blues chromatic players at their best. I'd recommend having a listen to some of them.
It is reminiscent of 3rd, and it may be in 3rd, but I am not absolutely certain. He uses Bebop tuned chromatics, and this allows some lines to be played that would be more difficult on regularly tuned chromatics. Bebop tuning retunes some reeds, making Bb more easily available. It also makes 3rd less clearly recognizable to my ear.
He is a great player, and his jazz album Backbone is pretty amazing. I haven't really followed his more recent work. I heard he was playing with Hazmat Modine, an amazing band I have not kept up with since the Bahamut CD. ----------
I know Bill! I do his harmonica repairs for free--in exchange for lessons . . . He is leaving for Europe next week to do a duo tour for five weeks with a guitarist named Ryan something-- He is no longer with hazmat Modine by his choice. He has this great album that's duets with top harmonica players. Randy Weinstein, Damien Masterson, Chris Michalek and more. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/amfgs
Last Edited by on Jan 11, 2013 2:09 PM
