RE: [Harp-L] Finding the Position - "Summertime"

["Marc Molino" <mmolino54@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I found the full tab for Summertime (in the 4th position, "upper register") 
at:
http://www.volcano.net/~jackmearl/songs/ssongs/summer_time.html

Anyone looking for variations (or free tabs of 1700+ other songs from pop to 
classical), check out:
http://www.harptabs.com
(If you have the time to post tabs that would be great, too; or links from 
your own website; I post there, but am not affiliated with the site in any 
other way)

Is there a good online resource (or book) that explains the "positions" 
better? I know what 1st & 2nd position are, but I obviously don't understand 
the logic or theory behind them. I've only been playing for two months and 
have been trying to learn from a number of different directions (practicing 
scales, working through Jon Gindick's "Country & Blues Harmonica for the 
Musically Hopeless" book--which I've actually had for probably 17+ years, 
transposing sheet music to tabs to reteach myself how to read music, and 
playing songs I like). Any help/recommendations is appreciated.

-Marc

From: George Brooks <gbrooks1@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>, Tim Moyer <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Finding the Position - "Summertime"
Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2006 01:42:17 -0400

I agree with Tim Moyer that it's good to try a tune in a number of positions 
to see where it lays out best and to expand one's musical reach.  I usually 
play Summertime in 4th position (Am on a C harp).  The song lays out 
perfectly without overblows or overdraws.  You do have to bend accurately 
for the A in the lower register (3rd hole draw bent down a whole tone).  In 
the upper register, you don't even need bends to play the melody.  The first 
three notes in this position (all blow) are 5-4-5 or 8-7-8.

I disagree with Tim, though, when he states:  "There are only 2 Bs on a C 
harp...."  I guess you could customize a harp to have only two by blocking 
hole 10 with putty, but one of the glories of the short harp is its three 
octave range.  Ten hole C harmonicas in standard Marine Band tuning have Bs 
at 3 draw, 7 draw, and the intermediate (half-step) blow bend in hole 10.

This gives you another option for playing the song in 5th position.  The 
first three notes in this position in the upper register are 10 half-step 
blow bend-9 blow-back to the 10 half-step blow bend.  You no longer need an 
overblow; instead, you have to be able to hit the 9 hole blow bend.  And, of 
course, the hole 10 half-step (intermediate) blow bend.  Personally, I think 
5 OB is an easier note and 4th a more natural position, but it's good to 
stretch, and your blow bends will get stronger (they'll have to!) if you 
practice the song in 5th position in the upper register.

George

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