[Harp-L] Third position

["Mick Zaklan" <mzaklan@xxxxxxxxx>]

Steve,
   Third position doesn't have to limit you to minor key tunes any more than
fourth position should.  If you can bend notes, you ought to be able to
start on the 1st hole draw and play a major scale in third
position.  Obviously, there are a ton of simple major melodies that are
possible then.  At the very least; try transferring as much of your cross
harp stuff over to third position as you can.  We've talked about this on
the list before.  Pick a key and draw a couple of harps out on a sheet of
paper; the one you would use in 2nd position for that key and the one you
would use in 3rd.  Draw out the actual blow and draw notes of each hole.
It's your roadmap, your overview, your shortcut.  Take a good look at where
the notes match up.  Grab two harps and start moving your riffs, patterns,
and song heads from cross over to third.  It'll force you to get your bends
in tune, if nothing else.  Try to get your third position stuff to sound as
nasty and convincing as your cross harp playing.  Eventually, you'll
discover riffs and songs in third position that you'll wind up moving over
to cross and other positions.  It's a good exercise; that's how I learned
the positions on diatonic and chromatic harmonicas.  And it'll teach you the
strengths and weaknesses of each position, too.  Sometimes it's easier to
see something on paper than to rely exclusively on your ears.  And after a
while, you won't need to see it on paper.  It'll be in your head.

Mick Zaklan