[Harp-L] Basic overblowing question

[George Brooks <gbrooks1@xxxxxxxxx>]

Michael Peloquin wrote:

>6 OB gives you the minor 3rd note of the scale-
>BLUE NOTE #1! this is the same note as
>(1 octave below) 3 draw bent down 1/2 step
>(1stbend)

MP can really play, and he knows a lot more theory than I do (he's a 
great tenor sax player as well; almost all of the harmonica players 
that know a lot of music theory play another instrument, but that's a 
discussion for a different time).  I would simply add, for those with 
little or no theory, that the 6OB gives you the minor 3rd *in 
crossharp*, also called second position.  This is the most commonly 
used position for the blues.  In other positions, the 6OB fulfills 
different roles.

Let's take a C harp as an example.  The root notes *in crossharp* are 
the 2 draw/3 blow, 6 blow, and 9 blow (all "G").  The G major scale is 
G A B C D E F# G.  The third note (or third degree of the scale) is B.  
The *minor* third is the third degree flatted by one semitone (a half 
step):  Bb.  On a C harp, this is hole 3 draw bent down a semitone, 
hole 6 OB, and hole 10 blow bent down a whole tone (two half steps).

There are two blow bends available in hole 10, a half step bend (B on a 
C harp) and a whole step bend (Bb on a C harp).  The technique for 
overblowing is similar to that used to play the high blow bends.  One 
piece of advice I have heard is that you should be able to hit and 
control both of the hole 10 blow bends before tackling overblowing.  I 
do not want to discourage anyone from exploring overblows, heaven 
knows, but I think it is good advice.

George