Re: [Harp-L] Fourth Position--Coletrane

[Mojo Red <harplicks@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for the suggestion, JP. I don't play enough in 4th and should give it a shot with this tune. I recently learned to cover Afro Blue with a new jazz combo I've been working with, but I'm doing it in 3rd position where it lays out fine, though you do need to bend frequently in the lower register. 

I'm way more comfy soloing in 3rd than 4th and and I can still make quote for "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things" with no problem whatsoever. I believe Jason plays it in 3rd as well. Great, great Mongo Santamaria tune and a total blast to play with competent musicians.
 
Harpin' in Colorado,
--Ken M. 
TeraBlu Band on My Space
http://www.myspace.com/terablu 

________________________________
From: John F. Potts <hvyj@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tue, March 23, 2010 8:59:58 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Fourth Position--Coletrane

Lately, i've been fooling around with playing 4th position for natural minor tunes. A couple of John Coltrane soprano sax numbers:  "Equinox" and "Afro Blue" lay out perfectly in 4th position.  Playing 4th is particularly easy in the upper register and these tunes sound pretty good up there.  Also, it's pretty easy to transpose down to the lower register so long as you can hit the 3 draw whole step bend consistently, but that's the only bend you really need.  So it's an easy position to get around in for soloing.  If you can get that 3 draw bend accurately, you can use the whole harp with no problem.

Flat third, flat seventh and flat sixth are all available without having to bend and the 8 blow bend gives you the flat fifth if you want it. Entirely different feel from playing minor in 5th or 3rd and there are no avoid notes.

Pretty cool for playing this Coltrane stuff, and not very difficult to do at all.  Since playing 4th puts you in the relative minor key of the key the harp is in, you are using the same identical scale tones as the key of the harp, (just starting on a different note for root). So, 4th is actually a straight harp position.

FWIW,

JP