Re: [Harp-L] Diatonic Positions, three Majors, three Minors

[Arthur Jennings <timeistight@xxxxxxxxx>]

Melodies that feature major sevenths. Of course, you'd probably use your
country-tuned harps for those.

On Fri, Mar 16, 2012 at 9:07 PM, Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> Jim Rumbaugh wrote:
> <Robert asked, Why not teach 1,2,12 (majors), then 3,4,5 (minors)
> <
> <You could. I think a beginning student might not appreciate the
> importance of 12th. It would depend <on what type of material they are
> trying to play. When I began, I had more need for 3rd position <than 12th,
> due to the tunes I wanted to play.   I found 12th to be easy to understand
> because I <learned 3rd first, but then again, it could be argued that
> learning 12th first would help somone <learn 3rd.
>
> I've practised various pieces in 12th position over the years, and I still
> don't understand how 12th position--F major on a C harp--is superior in any
> way to 2nd position.  What notes of the F major scale or F mixolydian
> scale, or of the chromatic tones surrounding those scales, are not easier
> to get in 2nd position on a Bb country or standard tuned harp, compared to
> 12th position on a C harp?  To me chording is one of the most important
> characteristics of any tuning, and it appears to me that the chording
> options are significantly better in 2nd position for the music harp players
> play most often.
>
> There are certain things that can be done in 2nd position that can't be
> done in 12th.  You can't play an octave on the tonic or the third starting
> in the bottom octave of the harp in 12th position, both of which are doable
> in 2nd position; in fact, in 2nd position you can do octaves on the tonic
> and from the third to the 11th.  To get the flat 7th in 12th position in
> the bottom octave, it's necessary to overblow on the first hole, and this
> is a very difficult overblow, even on a perfectly set up harp.  In 2nd
> position it's a pretty easy bend. In short, certain power moves in 2nd
> position aren't available in 12th.
>
> Can someone please tell me what 12th position is especially good for--what
> you would rather play in 12th than 2nd, and why?
>
> Thanks, Richard Hunter
>
> author, "Jazz Harp"
> latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://hunterharp.com
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>



-- 
Arthur Jennings
http://www.timeistight.com