Re: Re: [Harp-L] First position blues

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael Fugazzi wrote:
> What I meant in my post was I would be playing a 12
> bar in G. I would start the song from cross (playing a
> C harp in the key of G), play in first over the C
> chord, and then I would play in third over the V.
> 
> Any riffs or ideas for playing over the IV chord
> (first position)?  

My mistake, I misunderstood the question.  

You are right that playing over the IV chord is essentially playing 
first position, since the IV chord is the root note of the second 
position harp (e.g., C on a C harp).  There are many times 
variations in the IV chord that might suggest a mode change, but the 
scale notes are readily available as blow notes (1, 3, 5 and 
repeated through three octaves from 1 blow up through 10 blow).  The 
flat 7th which is often used in blues is an overblow on 6, or a half 
step bend on 3 draw.  So if you stick with the blow notes over the 
IV you should be safe anywhere!

-tim