[Harp-L] 2nd and Third position backing rhythm

[Rick Dempster]

I don't think third position is any more limited, in terms of chords, than
second.
In second, you have the root chord, with the 7th and 9th, and the simple IV
triad.
The V is missing the major 3rd, but you can blow the 7th and 9th (ie the C
and E
on a C harp being the 7th and 9th of the D)
In third, you have a minor root chord, and a major IV chord (with 7th & 9th
available too of course)
As with 2nd, the V chord is missing (A7 on a C harp) but you can get the
5th and 7th - E and G -
as a blow. Bit weak without the 3rd, however.
Third position is sometimes played with the naturally occurring flat 3rd as
a blue note, against an accompanying
major chord, rather than the whole band playing a minor on the I chord.
Can't give you a recorded example of this, but I know it happens.
RD


On Tue, 8 Jan 2019 at 05:24, Richard Hunter <rhunter377 at xxxxx> wrote:

> Bob Piscura wrote:
> > I need ideas on how to play "backing rhythm" for some songs. Examples of
> > 3rd position songs are.. All along the watchtower, can't find my way
> home,
> > do it again,  2nd position songs .. Don't do me like that,Petty.....
> That's
> > life, Sinatra.
> >
> > Any tried and true patterns that fit 3rd position?  I've scoured YouTube
> > with no real hits.
>
> As Robert Hale pointed out, the issue with 3rd position rhythm work is that
> there aren't a lot of usable chords, and rhythm work generally is about
> chords.  You can use your tongue/hands/etc. to play any rhythmic pattern on
> any instrument, but if you don't have some kind of chords in the picture it
> comes across as a lead line, not a rhythmic accompaniment.
>
> A simple solution is to get a Natural Minor harp and use all the tricks you
> learned in 2nd position to play rhythms on the natural minor.  That'll work
> straight out of the box.  Keep in mind that LO natural Minor harps are
> named for the key in 2nd position, so if you want to play second position
> in A minor you need an A Natural Minor harp.
>
> A more complex solution is to use various effects to adds harmonies and
> bulk up the tone on the harp you're playing in third position, but that's
> far from ideal.
>
> Regards, Richard Hunter
> --
> Check out Richard Hunter's 21st Century rock harmonica masterpiece "The
> Lucky One" at https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/richardhunter
>
> Author, "Jazz Harp" (Oak Publications, NYC)
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