[Harp-L] positions and tunings from the beginning

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

The Duke of Wail postulates:

   1. When should a student of harmonica be introduced to position  
playing? (1-5, 12) Why? 2. When should a student be introduced to  
alternate tunings? Why?

I have a definite and strongly held opinion as to question #1.   
Answer: IMMEDIATELY.   None of these positions is any more advanced  
than another (except that a player can get away with undisciplined  
random bending in second position more easily than in the others).

IMHO, All 6 positions should be taught simultaneously, but most  
published instructional materials stop at third position.  If fourth,  
fifth and twelfth position are discussed at all it is usually in a  
very cursory manner, often combined with a false claim that they are  
"advanced" and "rarely used"  which which is BS. Playing diatonic  
harp in different positions is nothing other than playing the  
instrument in different keys, which musicians who play most other  
instruments do all the time.

The breath pattern for the major pentatonic scale in second position  
is identical to the breath pattern for the minor pentatonic scale in  
fifth position, just starting on a different note.  The major  
pentatonic scale in first position is the same breath pattern as the  
minor pentatonic scale in fourth position.  And the breath pattern  
for the minor pentatonic scale in third position is the same as the  
major pentatonic scale in twelfth position.  Learn/teach them  
simultaneously and the student quickly learns to understand the  
concept of relative minor keys and how to get around the instrument  
in a knowledgeable manner (what notes are found where).  The player  
will also quickly learn to understand modes since each of the most  
commonly used positions relates to a particular mode.

All of this means that the student will quickly be able to handle all  
sorts of material that is not ordinarily played on diatonic  
harmonica.  It also means that the player will be able to make better  
and more intelligent note choices from different scales on the same  
harp in order to play in a generally more musical manner or can  
intelligently use two harps on the same tune to be able to get all  
necessary notes to play a particular piece (for example. 'So What").   
AND IT'S EASY TO DO.  Except for the discipline needed to avoid  
random bending, it's certainly no harder to play in fifth than in  
second--same skill set.  And it's actually easier for a beginner to  
play the blues scale in third than it is in second.  Why all 6  
positions are not commonly taught simultaneously is a mystery to me.

As far as alternate tunings are concerned, I've never used or even  
owned a diatonic harp with a tuning other than standard Richter  
tuning.  Need to play harmonic minor?  Use fourth position and and  
bend to 6D* or 3D*** for major 7 (you've got minor 3 and minor 6  
without having to bend).  Need to modulate between dorian minor and  
natural minor?  use fifth position and play 4D* for major 6.  NBD.  I  
suppose if I had a regular gig with a band that played a tune that a  
specially tuned harp might wok particularly well on, I'd consider  
getting one.   Also, spiral tuning looks very interesting and would  
probably be very versatile.  I play first through fifth positions  
with reasonable proficiency and twelfth passably (well enough to use  
it if I need it).  But i don't OB or use alternate tunings--although  
I do find spiral tuning intriguing.

Sugar Blue once said in an interview that using alternate tunings is  
cheating.  I'm not sure i agree with that, but I've operated under  
the philosophy that I should master the six most commonly used  
positions first, and twelfth position is still something of a work in  
progress for me.

FWIW.

JP