RE: [Harp-L] re: crosss harp major key

["Steve Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

> I use 2nd posiiton major all the time for the country western tunes we  
> play with the Cooper Hill Band. Charlie McCoy sometimes uses country  tuned 
> but you can hit a lot of the notes with a regular harp.
>
> 1D 2B 2D 3Dbb 3D 4D 5B 6B 6D 7D 8D 8B 9B 10D
>
> I think. It's hard to see the holes when I'm playing. The 6, 7, 8 hole  
> pattern is fun for pretending you're John Popper.
>
> Rainbow Jimmy

If by second position major you mean Mixolydian mode, we players of Irish 
tunes use that position a lot.  A good few jigs, dozens of polkas and even 
the odd reel such as The Red-haired Boy pan out best in second position.  
The guitar backers are oblivious to the fact that you may be playing in 
second position.  To them, A Mix may sound just like A major except that 
they have to have a new chord to accommodate the flattened 7th if it occurs. 
 Such tunes come in useful in medleys of tunes (called sets) as it means 
that "key-changes," a notable feature of Irish music, can be incorporated.  
I suppose some of the tunes are not strictly Mixolydian mode as the 
flattened 7th doesn't occur in the tune.  I suppose such tunes are 
pentatonic.  The tune to the song "Dirty Old Town" is pentatonic and can be 
played, without bending, in 1st, 2nd or 12th positions.

Steve

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/trad_irish_harmonica
HEAR my CD clips: http://www.gjk2.com/steveshaw/cd.htm

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