I use first position to play the riff from "Who's Been Talking," but it's only three notes (fifth, dominant seventh, tonic). I switch to third to solo.
I mentioned minorblues as opposed to major blues ( not minor key) as I know the major third is acceptable with a major blues.
Jimmy reed plays first postion and for the most part stays on the high end for obvious reasons. So to clarify, Do the guys that play 1st postion riff who go to the low end just leave out the 3rd or should I say, are you very limited without the flat third in the first octave? Just trying to get some ideas what to do on the 1st octave...
I understand probably 90 percent of blues is played in 2nd and then 3rd position.
As I recall, a while ago someone (maybe TMF?) posted a vid of Rod Piazza playing minor in first position. Rod sounded great and simply avoided playing the third at all in the lower register. In a natural minor blues tune you don't want to be playing the major 3 or major 6.
@timeistight: try playing WBT in fifth position. The head is D3 D4 D3 D4 B5 and you can solo using the whole harp if you just avoid D5 and D9 (which are b2 and b9 respectively).
Last Edited by hvyj on Oct 23, 2015 5:51 PM
@hvyj: I've played it in fifth but I don't think it sounds quite right. The flat seven is a bent note in first (the way Wolf plays it); in fifth it's not bent. The bent seventh has more expression, IMHO.
I try playing minor blues in first position. I guess I do okay on the high end. I do get the 1,4,5,6 overblows, but I'll be the first to admit that my technique and musicality needs work... in the first two octaves especially. I do keep practicing.
