Ugly Bones Ryan
108 posts
Aug 10, 2014
9:31 AM
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How do you guys play in minor? Do you use a harmonica tuned to minor, third position, second position with 3 draw bend, Parrott tuning (7 draw flatted), etc? Personally I like third position. The five draw can be bent a quarter-tone and the 6 overblow is easy enough to get that minor 6th.
How do you guys play in minor?
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STME58
1026 posts
Aug 10, 2014
10:45 AM
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3rd position seems to me to be the most expressive way to play in minor because of where the bends are available.
I really like minor keys harps because they give you chord opportunities you don't have on a major harp.
I have SP20's,Lee Oscars, and a Marine Band in natural minor. I have not yet tried a harmonic minor. Labeling on these is a little strange. in the key of the two hole draw(Second Position), all of the notes of the natural minor scale are therewith normal playing and the harp is labeled in this key. In the key of the one blow(First Position), the sixth degree of the scale is raised a half step. This makes selecting the right minor harp a bit tricky(for me anyway), but they are fun to play.
Last Edited by STME58 on Aug 10, 2014 10:46 AM
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jnorem
513 posts
Aug 10, 2014
11:32 AM
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Have a go with 5th position, Ryan. With a C harmonica, this would put you in E minor. 5th position starts on blow 2.
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Call me J
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Dragonbreath
14 posts
Aug 10, 2014
11:41 AM
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I also like to play in 5th sometimes. Easy, fun and sounds great.
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Rgsccr
271 posts
Aug 10, 2014
12:42 PM
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Hey, thanks for the suggestion about fifth position. The band I am in does Otis Rush's "Double Trouble" in G minor. I can play it in second position and sound okay as long as I really hit the bends, but it does seem easier in fifth position on an Eb. Does anyone know what harp and position Paul Butterfield is using on his version of that song?
Last Edited by Rgsccr on Aug 10, 2014 12:43 PM
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jnorem
518 posts
Aug 10, 2014
12:51 PM
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He did it in E minor, speak of the devil, but Is he playing harp on that tune?
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Call me J
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Rgsccr
272 posts
Aug 10, 2014
1:21 PM
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The Butterfield version I have is off the "Paul Butterfield Blues Band - An Anthology, The Elektra Years" album, and there is some harp on it. Could be someone other than Butterfield, of course. My ear isn't great, but it sounds like it might be a C harp played in fifth position.
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oldwailer
2004 posts
Aug 10, 2014
2:12 PM
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I like the natural minor harps--I only have one, in A minor--if you drive 35 miles and hour and hold it out the window, it will play a great jazzy version of Summertime with some nice chords. I want to get one in E minor too, for St James Infirmary.
I use third position fairly often too--but that's pretty much a single note thing--I like to be able to TB in the little chords on the minor keys. . .
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"Too Pretty for the Blues."
Last Edited by oldwailer on Aug 10, 2014 2:13 PM
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jnorem
519 posts
Aug 10, 2014
2:19 PM
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Strange. I sounds like it could be a high A, but I don't think there was such a thing back then. He plays a 9th so it isn't a C harp in 5th position. I have no idea what harp he's using.
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Call me J
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The Iceman
1913 posts
Aug 10, 2014
2:22 PM
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I like 2nd position for minor...however, one must really "own" that 3rd hole first bend.
Also enjoy 3rd position.
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The Iceman
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SuperBee
2152 posts
Aug 10, 2014
2:45 PM
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5th position on a 'country-tuned' harp is kinda special...
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jnorem
520 posts
Aug 10, 2014
3:13 PM
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@Superbee: For one thing you've got the major 9th in the second octave.
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Call me J
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SuperBee
2153 posts
Aug 10, 2014
5:14 PM
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It seems a small thing, but it makes ripples. The 9th in 5 draw...so 5 draw is no longer a must avoid location. And now there are 2 full natural minor octaves in 5th...so that's really quite an improvement over 4th on a standard-tuned diatonic I think
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jnorem
521 posts
Aug 10, 2014
5:18 PM
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You're almost convincing me to pick up come country-tuned harps, Bee.
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Call me J
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SuperBee
2154 posts
Aug 10, 2014
7:48 PM
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I've been really enjoying study on the country tuned harp. There are some other cool wriggles to it as well.
the 6th pos chord is also quite a bargain with the raised 5 draw.
You do lose that easy 4/5 draw warble of course
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jnorem
524 posts
Aug 10, 2014
8:06 PM
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Give and take. That's the instrument we play, Bee. The best players are the most intimately and artistically aware of the limitations of the harmonica, no?
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Call me J
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SuperBee
2155 posts
Aug 11, 2014
12:25 AM
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I dare say there is a lot of truth in that. I think that is what I am training myself in...one might say 'becoming familiar with the possibilities', but equally it's about the limitations.
I'm drilling scales and chords in common positions, 1 through 6 + 11 & 12, learning where the crucial differences are for the various chords...slow-going at my time of life but I'm glad to be doing it...
Anyway, the country tuning seems to be well suited to those one six two five changes approached from second position for the tonic, giving the major 7 on the tonic, that big range for a minor vi, and the six chord also plays well as mixo or Dorian, the ii is pretty handy as well, especially as Dorian but major, minor and mixo are readily available, and the five is versatile as well, esp in lower octave
6th position offers a natural minor chord....
Some manufacturer calls it 'jazz' tuning I think. Like I said, I'm glad I was introduced to it
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groyster1
2647 posts
Aug 11, 2014
2:59 PM
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I bought a marine band on consignment at SPAH....in Bflat minor....when I play summertime it works fine but other melodys....its way off....BTW its my first minor key harp....I am very mystified
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Frank
5101 posts
Aug 11, 2014
3:17 PM
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The Chromatic is set up to play minor fairly easily :)
Here is a recent go sounding much more major though...
3rd for minor for me :)
Last Edited by Frank on Aug 11, 2014 3:28 PM
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JInx
841 posts
Aug 12, 2014
9:27 AM
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Frank, when your ol blues brothers come to beg you back into the band, go!!!! or at least invite them in for a video session.
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Frank
5109 posts
Aug 12, 2014
10:12 AM
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This should do it for you Jinx :)
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nacoran
7921 posts
Aug 12, 2014
4:38 PM
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I do 3rd or 5th, most of the time because I don't have a full set of minor tuned, but I prefer a minor tuned if I've got it. I just like the chords better.
Like Oldwailer said, Summertime and St. James Infirmary practically beg to be let out of a minor tuned harp. (Actually, I play St. James on a harmonic minor.)
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Nate
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