Confused by position charts
Hello, hope you're all keeping safe.
I'm a beginner on the harp and I'm confused by some position charts I've seen.
On one video on blues harp the instructor used a C harp played at 2nd position to get the key of G.
But the position chart on this site shows a C harp played at 2nd position as F.
Have I misunderstood something?
Steve
Hi lockdown. You are mixing keys of songs positions with keys of harmonica you need. Look at this chart to help you (I just took the first chart I found and don't know what the text below say).
If the key of the song is C the second position is an F harmonica.
So its telling with which harmonica you gonna play.
For example the song key of G the second position say C. So you pick your C harmonica for that song on second position and that you would be playing in G. But you did pick the C harp. Its just telling you which harmonica to pick instead of you thinking about it. So song key of G you look at the chart second position says C and you pick the C harmonica and done. Dont need to think about anything else but yes you will be playing a C harmonica in G. Hope this make sense to you. I can't explain better. You will get there by reading this and looking at the chart even if takes 10 min.
Its like a quick guide for you to quickly pick your harmonica without thinking on position itself.
You are on stage and they say (this song is in the key of E)
You look at your chart key of E and you want to play second position it's says A. So you take your A harmonica and you are good to go even if you don't know that in fact your are playing E. That chart just made the work for you by telling you the harmonica you are gonna play instead of telling you the key it should be and then you thinking of which harmonica it is etc.. Just look at it and pick the harp that it says and good to go in 2 seconds. Hope this make sense to you. My English is not that good and I'm out of option of how to explain better for you. But did my best :) good luck
Thanks John S
Thanks Eric.
Just remember the phrase Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle. The notes on the circle of fifths (the part without sharps or flats) go in the following order: FCGDAEB. So for example with a C harp you play C in 1st position, G in 2nd and D in 3rd. With A harp its A, E, and B, etc.
Steve hi. Not sure where you are finding the info re positions on this site. C harp second position is G as you said. Go to lessons menus then scroll down to Music Theory 2 Modes and positions In the blue tagged lessons. Hope this helps.