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

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

It is possible to bend two draw down to 2 draw double bend while not
bending five draw, allowing for an octave on the root of twelfth
position.

I agree with you in general, but I have chosen 12th on whims during
some swing jazz tunes and it was an incredible intuitive rush.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com

On Sat, Mar 17, 2012 at 10:03 AM, Arthur Jennings <timeistight@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 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
>> Myspace http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
>> Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
>> more mp3s at http://taxi.com/rhunter
>> Twitter: lightninrick
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Arthur Jennings
> http://www.timeistight.com