Re: positions

[brte31k1@xxxxxxxxxx (Giovanni Bertini)]

>Hi Giovanni;
>
>I wrote:
>
>>I play it in A minor (original key) and use a C harp in fourth position (my
>>favorite!)
>
>Therefore A minor is 4th position on a C harp.
>
>"Positions" are according to the cycle of fifths, with "first position"
>being the key of the harp.  Following is a complete chart of positions:
>
>HARP POSITIONS - KEY OF HARP IS SAME AS FIRST POSITION
>
>1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12
>C   G   D   A   E   B   F#  Db  Ab  Eb  Bb  F
>Db  Ab  Eb  Bb  F   C   G   D   A   E   B   F#
>D   A   E   B   F#  Db  Ab  Eb  Bb  F   C   G
>Eb  Bb  F   C   G   D   A   E   B   F#  Db  Ab
>E   B   F#  Db  Ab  Eb  Bb  F   C   G   D   A
>F   C   G   D   A   E   B   F#  Db  Ab  Eb  Bb
>F#  Db  Ab  Eb  Bb  F   C   G   D   A   E   B
>G   D   A   E   B   F#  Db  Ab  Eb  Bb  F   C
>Ab  Eb  Bb  F   C   G   D   A   E   B   F#  Db
>A   E   B   F#  Db  Ab  Eb  Bb  F   C   G   D
>Bb  F   C   G   D   A   E   B   F#  Db  Ab  Eb
>B   F#  Db  Ab  Eb  Bb  F   C   G   D   A   E
>
>Example, to find third position on a G harp, locate G in the "1" column. 
>Now look in the "3" column directly to the right, and you find "A" is third
>position on the G harp.
>
>While it is possible to play a diatonic harmonica in all 12 keys, positions
>7 through 11 have tonics that are not natural notes for that harmonica and
>must be bent and/or overblown.  If you use a valved diatonic, all notes can
>be bent and overblows are not needed (nor are they possible.)
>
>Most harmonica players use first and second.  Quite a few venture into third
>position.  A very few use other positions.  Hardly anyone plays in all 12
>positions - but those who do are able to get an incredible variety of
>different "sounds".  Each position has its own unique sound.  Even if you
>play chromatically on the diatonic, playing in more positions gives you more
>"tools" to work with.  This applies to all styles - jazz, blues, rock,
>country, classical, or anything else.
>
>I don't play a lot of chromatic, and own them only in the key of C, but I
>could easily see where it might very well be advantageous to have different key
>chromatics to take advantage of note layout and different position voicings. 
>
>
> -- mike
>
Mike,
Thank very much for your useful help. Now I'm nearer to understand the problem.
Improving my harp performance, surely my questions will be less dumb.

Giovanni