3rd Position

["Mark Wilson" <markwilson53@xxxxxxx>]

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Does anyone have any idea what percentage of George Smiths diatonic =
recording were done in 3rd position?  I'm wondering if he was pretty =
much just a 3rd position guy on the short harp.  I'm also curious if =
there were any other artists who played diatonic primarily in 3rd =
position?

I find it interesting that 3rd isn't used more often as it has a more =
complete blues scale than either 1st or 2nd position.=20
If you can master the 2 and 3 draw bends you have a usable blues scale =
up and down the harp. The only note I find myself missing is the D note =
(on a C harp) of resolution at the high end of the harmonica.  Having =
that note would be ideal, but it's pretty easy just to slide down to the =
8 draw and resolve there. =20

For me, 3rd position comes more naturally than 2nd.  I'm think I'm wired =
differently than most, as an example, I write with my right hand, and =
draw with my left, eat left handed, throw a ball with my right, etc... I =
think I may be hard wired as a third position player??  At times 2nd =
position feels like I'm writing a book report while 3rd feels like I'm =
drawing a picture.  Could be a left brain right brain thing??

I know this for sure, I can play a tune in 2nd for a week and still not =
have it right, but if I try it out in 3rd the music flows out faster, =
and much more naturally. Has anyone else experienced this?  I'm thinking =
about putting my focus on 3rd, ala George Smith, and am looking for a =
little validation from my compadres. =20

Cheers
Mark