2 DRAW | Home Base for 2nd Position Players
Hello Harp Techs
Most of us joining in on BluesHarmonica.com's Forum and Lessons adopted 2nd Position (aka Cross Harp) as our "happy place". This means DRAW 2 is where our licks start and end. It is the ROOT (Tonic) note of the song we are playing.
[10 second Music Theory]
The KEY signature identified on the 10-hole Diatonic harmonica can be heard on Holes 1+, 4+, 7+ and 10+ (1st Position)
The note layout is built around the RICHTER layout. Originally designed to provide the Player with wonderful rhythmic BLOW/DRAW chords (two or more notes played at the same time) from Holes 1 through Holes 6. For playing Melodies, the Major Scale is available from 6 BLOW up to 9 BLOW [6+G, 6A, 7B, 7+C, 8D, 8+E, 9+'F#, 9+G]
With the "accidental" discovery of DRAW BENDING, the pallet of notes available on Holes 1 through 6 laid perfectly within the Blues and Mixolydian Scales! The Home Base (Tonic) for these scales is the DRAW 2.
Going Deeper
On a C Diatonic harmonica, the DRAW 2G is exactly 5 semi-tones (1/2 steps) away from BLOW 4C [Ab, A, Bb, B, C]. This pattern is the same for all Richter tuned Diatonic harmonicas.
As long as we know the Song Key, we can count UP 5 semi-tones to grab the correct harmonica!
For Example, if the Song Key is:
- G = C harmonica
- A = D harmonica [Bb, B, C, Db, D]
- B = E harmonica [C, Db, D, Eb, E]
- C = F harmonica [Db, D, Eb, E, F]
- D = G harmonica [Eb, E, F, F#, G]
- E = A harmonica [F, F#, G, Ab, A]
- F = Bb harmonica [F#, G, Ab, A, Bb]
Why it Matters
Circling back ... the DRAW 2 is uber important for the 2nd Position Player.
For my Beginner Students--next to learning how to DRAW Bend--being able to play the DRAW 2 in perfect pitch, was probably the most challenging. Instinctively the tongue would hump up and confuse the reeds into a bending posture. After training their muscle memory to relax the jaw, flatten their tongue and even recite their best Santa Clause impersonation, "Ho Ho Ho"! all my students were ready to learn to DRAW bend.
How it Works
There are two DRAW bend notes that are available on Hole 2. This is possible because of the symbiotic relationship with the BLOW 2 reed. On ALL Richter tuned diatonic harmonicas, the BLOW 2 reed will be 3 semi-tones (1/2 steps) lower than the DRAW 2 reed, so (on a C harmonica);
- BLOW 2 = E
- DRAW 2 = G
Counting UP from the E reed, the first note to uncover will be a F, followed by the F#. This means with proper bending technique, the Player can conjur up 2 important notes that are mandatory for the Bluz Harmonica Player.
Having Trouble with Your DRAW Bend 2?
Remember, it is your BLOW 2 reed doing most of the work to produce the two "hidden" notes, so try this:
For the BLOW 2, many stock harmonicas have a wide offset (GAP) of .007" ~ .008". Lower this to .006", similarly the DRAW 2 reeds also have an offset (GAP) set to .007" ~ .008". Lower this to .006"
Bonus
The BLOW reed notes on Holes 1 ~ 6 are lower than the DRAW reed notes. This means you can safely experiment and lower the DRAW 2 reed GAP to .005" (don't forget to test and make certain the reeds do not choke under excessive breath pressure!)
Refresher | How to Gap your Harmonica Reeds for Optimum Bendability
https://youtu.be/eI3aS_5HD34?si=sc9SsqeHdsFpgD-7
Your HARPSMITH, Kinya
