phogi
409 posts
May 04, 2010
8:44 AM
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So, I had to take a long car ride. Forgot my ipod transmitter, so I only had the radio. Time to play along with some songs. Country music. Box of harps. I start jamming to the music in 12th position. Man, it is the best! It's no harder than 3rd position, and everything is just right there when you want it.
My only complaint is landing on the tonic down low, has to be bent. And its kinda high for some keys. I'll be expanding into lower key harps soon to remedy this.
The other cool thing: if the song modulates up a whole step (in that dramatic and cheesy way), then you just switch to 2nd position!
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Buddha
1715 posts
May 04, 2010
8:51 AM
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don't play the tonic. That's the bassist's job.
The 3rds and 7th are all right there and they are solid notes.
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"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." - Joseph Campbell
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HarpNinja
430 posts
May 04, 2010
10:22 AM
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I always visualize 12th as starting on C on a C harmonica in the key of F. I do the same thing with 3rd. That way I don't just use the tonic all the time, and I don't always resolve to the tonic in the lower octave. However, ending on the 2 bend with vibrato sounds pretty sweet.
I like 11th too, but have a hard time not feeling "limited" with the tonic being a bend and really, most of the extensions being bends in the lower octave.
Here is 11th...http://www.davisbluesproject.com/music/mikeclip.mp3
It works, but it isn't my "go to" for major work.
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nacoran
1811 posts
May 04, 2010
11:21 AM
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Buddha, that's fine and good as long as you have a bassist. My bassist left his electric at my house and his acoustic is broken, so by my calculations he hasn't practiced in 6 months. We don't even call him anymore.
:)
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Nate
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tookatooka
1380 posts
May 04, 2010
11:29 AM
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@HarpNinja "I always visualize 12th as starting on C on a C harmonica in the key of F." Is it me? I can't understand that.
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XHarp
370 posts
May 04, 2010
1:30 PM
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Tooka, Playing the F scale starting on the C note which is the 5th of the F scale
F major scale;
F - G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F
So the scale you are playing would actually be the Lydian mode.
C - D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C
So now you are playing a C major scale except with a flat 7th.
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"Keep it in your mouth" - XHarp
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Kyzer Sosa
473 posts
May 04, 2010
1:33 PM
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what the hell is 12th position?
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XHarp
371 posts
May 04, 2010
1:35 PM
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Depend on if you are talking about 'massage' parlours or music.
Both are pleasing but one might not be legal where you are.
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"Keep it in your mouth" - XHarp
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tookatooka
1381 posts
May 04, 2010
1:52 PM
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Thanks for the explanation XHarp. You've given me some homework to do now. I'm going to explore 12th some more.
Don't know if this will come across Kyzer but there is some info about 12th.
Twelfth Position
Major Scale
1+ 1 2+ 2''
1st octave 2'' 3+ / 2 3'' 3' 4+ 4 5+ 5
2nd octave 5 6+ 6 6ob 7+ 8 8+ 9
9 9+ 10 10''+ 10+
Blues Scale
1+ 1ob 2''
1st octave 2'' 3''' 3' 3 4+ 4ob 5
2nd octave 5 6' 6ob 7 7+ 8'+ 9
9 9od 10''+ 10'+ 10+
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Ryan
272 posts
May 04, 2010
6:11 PM
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"So the scale you are playing would actually be the Lydian mode.
C - D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C
So now you are playing a C major scale except with a flat 7th."
That's actually the Mixolydian mode, not the Lydian (it's pretty easy to get the modes mixed up). The Lydian mode has a sharp fourth. The Mixolydian has the flat seventh.
Last Edited by on May 04, 2010 6:12 PM
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XHarp
373 posts
May 05, 2010
7:02 AM
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You are absolutely correct Ryan, that's my typo, that would be Mixolydian not lydian.
The Lydian mode is indeed the sharp 4th.
Sorry tooka, hope I didn't mislead you too badly.
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"Keep it in your mouth" - XHarp
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isaacullah
940 posts
May 05, 2010
10:11 AM
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I love love love love 12th for playing melodies. You can just improvise so nicely with it. And yes, phogi, get yourself some low key harps. I love using 12th on low harps (I only have a G and a Low E). It makes it a bit harder to use the low end (I still find it really difficult to hit the 2bb with good intonation on my Low E), but IMO it's the top two octaves where 12th really shines (actually, I'm including the 4 hole from the bottom octave in this too). I have a reggae song I'm working on in my spare time that uses 12th. I'm going to post it soon as my 3-year "harp" anniversary is coming up soon, and I want it to be my "keynote" song!
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