Re: [Harp-L] Some observations on 12th position on the diatonic

[Tom Albanese <reedwrecker@xxxxxxxxx>]

I love 12th position! Here's a recorded example ... Key of F on a C harp. I
recorded this with the Willie Hayes Band last summer. The tune is Clean Up
Woman with Vivian Vance Kelly on vocals.
 http://alonetone.com/ibblue2/tracks/clean-up-woman
tom albanese



On Sun, Jan 22, 2012 at 6:56 PM, Jim Rumbaugh <jrumbaug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

>
> Some observations on 12th position on the diatonic
>
> If you have not tried 12th position, here's the sales pitch of why and
> where. Keep in mind, all my opinions are based on a "lazy man's approach"
> to 12th position
>
> 1) It's good for playing the major pentatonic scale.
>
> 2) I use it as an octave scale, starting on 5 draw, with a half octave
> below (down to 4 blow) and a half octave above (up to 10 blow). You can
> play all these notes with no bending
>
> 3) The root note is a draw note that allows you to be expressive. Compare
> that to 1st position, where the root note is a blow note.
>
> 4) If you play the major pentatonic in 2nd position, your first note after
> that expressive 2 hole draw is a 3 draw bent a full step. If you don't want
> to bend in 2nd position, you gotta start on 6 blow, but then you've lost
> you're expressive root note.
>
> 5) When you play the major pentatonic in 1st position, the fifth scale
> tone below 4 blow is that same pesky 3 draw bent a full step.
>
> 6) So from #3, #4 and #5, we can say, 12th is the position where you can
> be expressive on the root, play below the root, and above the octave with
> no bents notes
>
> 7) On tunes that modulate to the relative minor, like Georgia On My Mind,
>  you're set and ready to play in 3rd position.
>
> That's it. There are some places, where 12th has an advantage over 1st,
> and 2nd when playing the major pentatonic scale. I still play most of my
> major pentatonic scales in 2nd position, but I'm enjoying using 12th more
> and more.
>