[Harp-L] the process of switching keys using Bach as an example

[Michael Rubin <rubinmichael@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Marc Molina writes:
  Are the pros out there so fluid with positions that they can
easily jump from one position to the next? 
   
  I can and know many who can, at least thru 1st,2nd,3rd, 4th , 5th and 12th
   
  Are you thinking/hearing in
intervals? 
   
  Sometimes I hear intervals, mostly I think scalar degress.  I know what the 5th (or any) note of a scale will sound like in relation to the tonic.
   
  Do you have every note on every key of harmonica memorized?
  
I definitely do not have every harp layout memorized.  I have every position layout memorized and I have memorized all 12 of the major scales.  If someone asks me to play a note by name I can use the knowledge of those two things and quickly find the note they are talking about.
   
   Am I just ignoring the beauty of having harmonicas in different keys (e!
.g., wanna play it in A, pick up an A harmonica and play the first
position version above)? I realize this process is probably different for
every player, so I thought it might be instructive to hear how this
process works.

  I love the different harps.  Octavio Castro (who I recently became reaware of, I realized after seeing his website that I had studied about him previously) plays everything on one C harp all the time.  I would not like that.  Every harp has its own personality.  Plus, every position has its own personality.  I would not play anything other than the basic positions if I was doing a gig that suggested the more traditional harp sounds.
  Michael Rubin
  Michaelrubinharmonica.com