[Harp-L] 6th Position/was 12 position, Overblows, and why I like harp

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

George;
             I read your name on Harp-l but I'm not familiar with your
playing, so forgive me for having to write in ignorance. 
             I have played around with sixth a little, or should I say
6th Minor (having the major 3rd and the 5th as overblows is a little
more trouble than I need)
            However, I have put more work into 3rd position Major,
which of course is the relative major of minor 6th, and as the 3rd of
the major is always the 5th of the minor, the 'catch' as you call it,
falls on the same note (ie F# on a C harp) but on the 
3rd, which of course is a minor in the middle octave and which needs to
be 'blown up' (OK, overblown; I like 'blown up') to F#.
            In this position, the naturally occuring IV chord is G7th,
unless you want to flatten the 3rd, and the V chord (A in this example)
needs to be arpeggiated.
           It is actually easier to arpeggiate an A7#5, I find, playing
the open F on draw 5 instead of changing breath direction from the draw
bend on 4 - C# - to the blow on 5 - E. Just one of those happy little
accidents that can sound good at the right time & place.
           In 6th, the naturally occuring IV chord is E minor, unless
you want to bend draw 3 & 6 and overdraw 8.
           The V chord is a lotta bending, nothing else to say, except
that the b7 is a 'free kick'.
           I'm curious to know if you use 3rd major, how you find it
and what sort of situations you'd use it in.
           I'm also curious to know whether you play 6th minor with a
minor  IV chord; of course I know that depends on the tune, but since
the choice is there, would you use 6th if a major IV was needed, or use
3rd instead where it falls naturally?

Thanks,
Rick Dempster
Melbourne,
Australia