Re: [Harp-L] First position

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

A few years ago in response to a query on another forum I did a survey of country harmonica since the 1920s and found that second position is just as prevalent as first. Somehow the myth of "country=first and blues=second" got started and took root, but it doesn't have much basis in the evidence.

Not to say that first isn't used in country. Of course it is. And as Bart points out, the scale required for the song often (but not always) guides the choice of position.
 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance


________________________________
 From: Tony Stephens <tnysteph@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2014 7:05 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] First position
 

Just wondering, is country harmonica played more in 1st position?
Does Mickey Raphael use 1st often? 
What about 3rd position?
Just asking.
Thanks 

Sent from my iPhone