RE: [Harp-L] positions you can use on diatonic

[JersiMuse <jersimuse@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ok, I understand the way you use it.
In fact, I do the same but without using any position concept.
I don't have to know all the harps of course, but I know the C harp, and I
just think about the note transcription, like a sax or a trumpet would do.
For example, if I know a lick in D maj on a C harp, then I know the exact
same lick in B maj on a A harp.
In fact, I think all the notes of the A harp as being the ones of a C harp.
In a certain way, I consider my A harp as a C instrument, like a sax would
do (BTW, saxes also play on instruments with different keys).
As you can see, I think it the same way as you do, without thinking about
positions but about scales (it would work the same way for the D min
harmonic scale for example).
The difference is slight.

Another example is for reading music. Let's say I have a music sheet for
trumpet, in Bb. 
Either I use a C harp, and I transcribe a whole tone above the music sheet,
or I use a Bb harp and I don't transcribe, or I use a A harp and I
transcribe half a tone down, etc ...
In any case, I'll consider the harp I play with as a C instrument.

Regards,

Jerome
www.youtube.com/JersiMuse


-----Message d'origine-----
De : harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] De la part
de michael rubin
Envoyé : dimanche 1 avril 2012 15:53
À : Brendan Power
Cc : harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Objet : Re: [Harp-L] positions you can use on diatonic

Jerimuse,
The utility of positions is high even when they are not only modal.

Let's say you wanted to play a third position major scale in the key of D on
a C harp.  You would have to know your C harp layout and that the notes in D
major are D E F# G A B C# D.

If you wanted to play in B major on an A harp but did not think with
positions, you would have to know your A harp layout and that the notes in B
major are B C# D# E F# G# A# B.

If you did not have positions, you would have to know the layout of all 12
harps and know the names of the notes in every scale you want to play in all
12 keys.  Then you can also play in any key on any harp!  Considering that
even without jazz I play around 10 different scales on a regular basis, that
is a lot of memorization!

But if you can think in positions, learn it on a C harp and then use the
same blow draw, bend, overblow pattern on any harp!  You do not need to know
the layout or the names of the notes in the scale!  You do need to know the
name of the key but that's about it.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com

On Sun, Apr 1, 2012 at 5:21 AM, Brendan Power <bren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> I also think in positions. Since we play so many different key 
> harmonicas, that way of thinking makes sense to keep ones bearings 
> when switching between harps.
>
> However within each position there are MANY possible scales: the basic 
> 7 note major and minor scales we use a lot in the West, pentatonic 
> scales, and a myriad of others: eg. diminished, augmented, the 
> hundreds of maqams or ragas used by Arabic, Indian and other musicians,
including microtonal ones.
> It's a huge and complex field once you start studying it!
>
> To answer the question posed in the thread title, I find a good way to 
> get myself familiar with what positions/scales are USABLE on the harp (ie.
> musically flowing and technically comfortable) is to concentrate on 
> pentatonic scales in different positions first. In some positions both 
> major and minor pentatonics are easy, in others I'd only pick one or the
other.
>
> Here are improvising examples of 11 usable major and minor scales on 
> the PowerBender (most will work well on standard Richter too, though 
> overblows will sometimes be required). If you ignore the sales angle 
> and just listen to the music, it will give a good idea of the wide 
> range of relatively easy scales possible with just one A harp:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNoxhd0EdLU
>
> The scales/positions featured are (not in order):
>
> 1st Position Major - 2nd Position Major & Minor - 3rd Position Major & 
> Minor
> - 4th Position Major and Minor - 5th Position Minor - 6th position 
> Minor - 11th Position Major - 12th Position Major
>
> Some surprised me! Before doing the video I'd never used 6th Position 
> before, but it turns out to be a really expressive minor mode on the 
> PowerBender. Another good minor pentatonic not featured on the video 
> is 7th position Minor (D#m on an A harp).
>
> Brendan Power
> WEBSITE: www.brendan-power.com
> YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/BrendanPowerMusic
>
>