2nd position

The first eight bars follow the standard 12 Bar Blues progression. In bars 9 and 10 where we expect a V7 to iv chord (it's common for a minor blues to have a major V chord), in this song it's a bVI (flat six chord) to V7. In 2nd Position (E Harmonica) this chromatically descending chord progression (by half step) works out well as 2 to 2', 3' to 3" or 3' to 4+. In 3rd Position (A Harmonica) 3' to 3", 4 to 4', 5 to 5+ (and its octave equivalent 2" to 2+) or 2" 2 (and 5 6+) works well. Experiment with these to see which sounds best to you.

What you found yesterday was that the notes were the same between the two positions. This is another way of looking at how positions work... simply find the same notes on any other harmonica and you are playing in a "position." Look at the C harmonica now and figure out how to play this hook in 1st Position.

I7 = 2 2" 2 = C Bb C

IV7 = 4+ 3' 4+ = F Eb F

V7 = 4 4+ 4 = G F G

Or on your Bb Harmonica in 3rd Position...

I7 = 4 4+ 4 = C Bb C

IV7 = 6+ 5 6+ = F Eb F

V7 = 6 6+ 6 = G F G

Ryan Walker (Intermediate student on the site) and I play the examples for you in today's video post at https://www.facebook.com/bluesharmonica/ or at top left of the site in David's Corner for this month (November).

Jot down some notes this weekend on what you think are the challenges of learning to play above hole 6 in 2nd Position and why you may think it's not used as much as it could be. I'll share my observations starting Monday. Have a great weekend everyone!

Check out William Clarke's "Pawnshop Bound" on the Serious Intentions release at 1:44, it's a killer solo that not only includes high end work, but high end work with 5-hole octaves. He's on a C Harmonica in 2nd Position.