Re: [Harp-L] Playing in majors/minors

[michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

After years of teaching I believe having a basic knowledge of scales
and knowing your harp well enough to know which holes are which scale
degree IS an advanced understanding.  It is not easy for everybody.
But, everybody CAN learn it.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com

On Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 10:13 PM, John F. Potts <hvyj@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> Bill Kumpe writes:
>
> I'm kind of a simple method player. For the most part I play first, second
> and third position only. Somebody correct me if I am wrong but isn't the
> "easy" minor the third position aka "slant harp", one step up from the key
> of the harp?
>
> Bill,
>
> Using third position is the conventional wisdom for playing a Richter tuned
> harmonica in a minor key and is supposed to be good for blues.
>
> Well, in my experience, for certain minor key material third works fine.
> Fifth position also sounds great for minor key blues, and sounds BETTER for
> NATURAL minor key blues than third position. You CAN use third for natural
> minor but you've got to be careful to avoid the major 6th which is limiting.
>
> After i learned fifth position, I became able to play all sorts of material
> i could never play on a diatonic before, and i found that I could play more
> fluidly and musically on minor tunes using fifth. I didn't have to play the
> harmonica like it was a harmonica. It changed how i thought about playing
> the instrument and how i approached playing minor key material
>
> You know, learning multiple positions is just learning to play the harmonica
> in different keys, which is something most players of other instruments do
> as a matter of course.  I don't OB, so i can't play a harmonica in 12 keys.
>  But i can play in 6 positions. And i don't consider it something that's
> difficult to do or "advanced."  There are common breath patterns that work
> in different positions, and it's really just a matter of knowing what hole
> to start on and what hole is what degree of the scale in which position.
> It's not rocket science and doesn't require sophisticated musical
> knowledge--just a basic understanding of scales (or a good ear, which i am
> not blessed with).
>
> IMHO, third position is a useful way to play CERTAIN minor key material but
> is not a "one size fits all"  approach playing in minor keys.  You really
> limit what you can play if you ONLY use third to play in minor keys. And
> playing in third is not particularly "easy."  Fifth position is actually
> easier to play than second or third because there are fewer bends required.
>
> Think about it.
>
> FWIW.
>
> JP
>