[Harp-L] Re: positions??

[Bill Rossoll <billrossoll@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Tommy
If I recall correctly, What Jr. is showing you is that, if a song is 
being played in D, you can use several different harps to play along. 
If, for example, you use a D harp, the style you are playing is called 
1st position or straight harp. Most of the notes that are possible in 
that position are blow notes.If you are playing blues, they aren't 
necessarily the most soulful notes. So, if you switch to a G harp 
(remember, the band is still playing in D), you will be in what is 
called 2rd position or cross harp and most of the notes that are 
possible on that harp are now the draw notes. You can shape and bend 
draw notes more readily than blow notes. Jr. also demonstrates a High G 
harp, which is in the same key but a higher octave. Likewise, if you 
switch to a C harp(band is still in D), you will be in 3rd position. 
That gives you more of a dark or minor feel. The song never changed 
keys. You simply changed harps to utilize different blow and draw 
possibilities.Below is a link to the circle of fifths that may offer 
some insight on harp selection as it relates to positions.
Concern yourself only with  D,G, and C on the circle to gain a better 
understanding.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_fifths
.