[Harp-L] All this Positions and Modes stuff

[Jerome P.]

You may be surprised, but I agree :D
I don't think positions can be used to describe music, which also means
they are very limited when it comes to learning.
The only interest I see is the one you've described : make a link between
the key of the harp & the key of the tune.
But in that case, I think it would be more efficient to say "position of
D", or even better : "position of D major" / "position of D minor".

Le dim. 28 oct. 2018 à 23:19, Arthur Jennings <arturojennings at xxxxx> a
écrit :

> Again, I think you're trying to pack too much into the position concept.
>
> Positions define the relationship between the key of the harmonica and the
> key of the music. They are only useful if we play instruments of a number
> of different keys. If you only play one key of harmonica, positions aren't
> useful.
>
> On Oct 28, 2018, at 3:03 PM, Jerome P. <jersimuse at xxxxx> wrote:
>
> " if you're playing a G scale on a C harp, you're in second position,
> regardless of which G scale you're playing."
>
> I see two main problems with this.
> The first one is that the information "2nd position" is then totally
> empty. The only information given is that the tonatlity is G, which you
> already knew before speaking about position.
> The second one is that if I play a Db major lick on a G7 chord, there is
> not even a G in this mode, but you'll call it 2nd pos (?). If I play the
> same lick on a DbMaj chord, it will be another position, etc. At the end,
> here again the information is empty, and contradictory to my opinion.
>
> "Trying to stretch the definition of position to account for tonality,
> altered tunings or chromatic button status winds up complicating the issue
> past the point of usefulness, in my opinion."
>
> I totally agree with this point.
>
> Le dim. 28 oct. 2018 à 22:48, Arthur Jennings <arturojennings at xxxxx>
> a écrit :
>
>> Yes, if you're playing a G scale on a C harp, you're in second position,
>> regardless of which G scale you're playing.
>>
>> Trying to stretch the definition of position to account for tonality,
>> altered tunings or chromatic button status winds up complicating the issue
>> past the point of usefulness, in my opinion.
>>
>> > On Oct 28, 2018, at 2:25 PM, Jerome P. <jersimuse at xxxxx> wrote:
>> >
>> > ok, others would have a different definition, but why not.
>> > So, considering this definition, what is the answer to my question ?
>> > BTW, which root note are we talking about ? The one of the harmony, G ?
>> the
>> > root of the mode I'm playing with ? The root of the scale from which the
>> > mode comes from ?
>> > Would you consider here that I play in 2nd position all the way long ?
>> >
>> >> Le dim. 28 oct. 2018 à 22:04, Gary Lehmann <gnarlyheman at xxxxx> a
>> écrit :
>> >>
>> >> Winslow Yerxa says positions are named by the root note, not the
>> flavor of
>> >> scale.
>> >>
>> >> Sent from my iPhone
>> >>
>> >> On Oct 28, 2018, at 1:32 PM, Jerome P. <jersimuse at xxxxx> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> In which position or positions have I just played ?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>>>>
>>
>