Re: [Harp-L] help with minor positions

[pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx]

thanks Rick - your 4 chord major = 3rd position and 4 chord minor = 5th position rule makes musical sense. 

Ross 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx, "List harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>, "Ken Hildebrand" <airmojoken@xxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Sunday, September 4, 2011 9:28:39 PM 
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] help with minor positions 

Sorry.....accidentally sent this to Ken only.....try again: 
As a general rule, I use 3rd if the IV chord is major and 5th if the IV is minor, which, bu the way, it is in 'Wayfaring Stranger', which is probably why Charlie chose to use 5th here. 
RD 



>>> Ken Hildebrand <airmojoken@xxxxxxxxx> 5/09/2011 11:18 >>> 
Hi Ross, 

Here's a good example of a minor song for playing in 5th position, with Charlie McCoy playing "Poor Wayfaring Stranger", using a C harp in 5th position (in E minor). 

Country-tuned harps are great for playing in 5th position because of the 1/2 step raised 5 draw (and 9 draw if its a smojo country-tuned harp), otherwise you will want to avoid the 5 draw and 9 draw on a regular richter tuned harp. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMh5QCS1FX0 

Also... here is Richard Sleigh playing in 5th position on an A harp (C# minor) on "Black Magic Woman". 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UzJn13CJio 

I like 5th position! 

Ken H in OH 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx" <pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: List harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Cc: 
Sent: Sunday, September 4, 2011 4:11 PM 
Subject: [Harp-L] help with minor positions 

so thought I'd ask the experts. My band does quite a few tunes in A minor, and I've been playing std. 3rd position on a G harp and want to branch out and learn a new position for some of these songs. Kind of bored with the same old licks and patterns. Oh Death is one of them, and tunes like Walk On Boy, Death Don't Have No Mercy etc. I love third position harmonica for minor tunes, but I either need more variety in what I play in third position of a new position that will sound good but totally different. I always worry that the band mates will get bored with my chops if all minor tunes sound about the same. 

Would 5th position be the next most logical position to learn for minor songs? or would 12th be better? or?? Any tips on where on the octave to start. I'm a play by ear kind of guy and have a pretty good ear for what sounds good and what sounds bad, but just looking for some quick tips. 

Thanks 

Ross Macdonald 
www.sassparillapdx.com