Re: [Harp-L] Positions a misnomer and harp Jargon

[Michael Snowden <mike.snowden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

IMHO, "Positions" are more akin to classical "modes" than anything else.

What is key to a mode is what the "characteristic notes" for that mode are (eg 2 
and 3 bends in 2nd position), and what the dissonant notes are.  Learning to 
play a new position is mostly about getting these straight in your head (or 
muscle memory) at a first level, then doing the same for the related chords (eg 
for a blues, the I IV V sequence)


Where "characteristic notes" fit will on a harp, the position works well and is 
more straightforward to play.

Howard Levy's DVD of playing in all 12 keys demonstrates this really well.

The other thing about modes is it is often difficult to hear and understand them 
outside a core riff unless the key note is played - otherwise it is just another 
scale.

Mike



________________________________
From: John F. Potts <hvyj@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, 30 March, 2011 14:00:31
Subject: [Harp-L] Positions a misnomer and harp Jargon

You know, playing a harmonica in a different "position" is just playing the 
instrument in a different key.  Musicians who play other instruments do this all 
the time as a matter of course.  Harp players in general tend to make a big deal 
about it.

I was at a jam the other night and this player was really struggling with minor 
key tunes.  Nice guy, so we got to talking and i tactfully suggested that he 
might want to try playing minor material in either third or fifth position 
(neither of which is difficult to do) instead of staying in second position all 
the time.  This suggestion confounded him and he was resistant to any further 
explanation.  The problem seemed to be that he had no understanding of where any 
of the scale tones were in second position, so the concept of playing in another 
position was beyond his grasp.  As a practical matter, it's harder to play 
completely by ear in other positions because one cannot bend randomly and still 
stay in key like many players are able to do when they play in second position.

FWIW.

JP