Re: [Harp-L] First position



Winslow is correct. ÂIn country music, most of what you will run into will fall best on either 1st or 2nd position. ÂWhatever might be in a minor key, 3rd and 4th, though there seems to be a little less minor stuff in country. ÂIn bluegrass, which is significantly related to country and can be blended in, all of the first four positions can see use - it just depends on where and with whom you are playing. ÂIt isn't unusual to find bluegrass musicians in a country band or bluegrass songs going country, Âso I would always be prepared with all four positions. ÂHowever, Âif you are just starting out, concentrate on 1st and 2nd. ÂWhen you get around to "Seminole Wind", try 3rd.


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-------- Original message --------
From: Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx> 
Date:02/05/2014  12:11  (GMT-06:00) 
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] First position 

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.
Â
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ 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 

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