Position playing in practical
Im making good progress, but still have a few questions on positions
1- I understand the idea of playing second position as it adds bluesy tones and still affords good harmonization with a band. I heard you say one time that (for example) 3rd pos would a solution if the Band was playing X... Can you amplify on the choice of 1, 2 or 3rd position relative to the key the band plays in aside from tonal objectives?
Following on the above, the key the band is in is based on the key the chart they are playing is in? Correct. So say the band picks a chart in F (one Flat). My choice would be to pick up a F harp, play an Eb harp in second position or an Ab harp in third position. How would I decide?
2 It appears to me that the main issue of the position is the chord structure for I, IV and V chords for the various positions. So I have learned that I chord in 2nd position GBD all draws. So is the I chord in 1st pos CEG (blows) and 3rd pos DGB (draws)? So it sounds like I have to memorize the scale degree patterns for each position?
I see also you ask us to fill in scale degree charts (exercies 1.7) for scale degrees based on position but allso for A harp. Would they not be the same for all harp keys and only vary by position?
Sorry for the confusion but I see this is rock bottom fundemental and I have to get it right. Imagine the bone head questions I would ask if we have a real classroom.
Gary
(making good progress on Level 4)
Hellow Gary. Here we go...
"1- I understand the idea of playing second position as it adds bluesy tones and still affords good harmonization with a band. I heard you say one time that (for example) 3rd pos would a solution if the Band was playing X... Can you amplify on the choice of 1, 2 or 3rd position relative to the key the band plays in aside from tonal objectives?"
In this case, I was speaking of choosing a key of harmonica that we like to play on. If the band is in C, then we need to use an F harmonica if we were to play in 2nd Position. The Low-F is cool, but it's slow to speak and bend (difficult to play fast) and because of its low nature, it can be hard to hear if you're playing with a loud band. You can use the standard F (high), which is faster to respond and bend, but is very high in pitch, and thus bright and in your face. If the songs is more mellow, then the high-F is hard to tame, and not a good choice. This is when we move to other positions...
1st Position in C, with the C Harmonica, the lower octave is easy to play, but the upper octave, which is a large part of 1st Position playing, his very difficult to bend for most players, and super-high and screechy in pitch. Again, not the best choice.
3rd Position in C, on the Bb Harmonica, is a great choice. The entire range of the Bb harmonica is great, so 3rd Position is the common choice by harmonica players to play in C.
"Following on the above, the key the band is in is based on the key the chart they are playing is in? Correct."
Yes
"So say the band picks a chart in F (one Flat). My choice would be to pick up a F harp, play an Eb harp in second position or an Ab harp in third position. How would I decide? "
If the band is in F, then you would use an F in 1st (wither low or high F), Bb in 2nd, or Eb in 3rd.
Which harp to use starts with which position you can play well in. Most players within their first five years only study 2nd Position, so that's an easy answer for most... 2nd Position.
If you play in 3rd Position and 1st Position well, then it gets down to the key of harmonica you like playing on. Another factor is that each position has things it does well and doesn't... this will be revealed to you as you study the positions, it means nothing to you now.
"2 It appears to me that the main issue of the position is the chord structure for I, IV and V chords for the various positions. So I have learned that I chord in 2nd position GBD all draws. So is the I chord in 1st pos CEG (blows) and 3rd pos DGB (draws)? So it sounds like I have to memorize the scale degree patterns for each position? "
The I7 Chord in 3rd Position is D F# A C on the C Harmonica. So the I7 is 1+ 1 2' 3" 4+ 4 6 7+ 8 9'+ 10 10+.
Yes, it will be helpful to memorize those when the time comes to learn those positions. Until then, focus on 2nd Position right now.
"I see also you ask us to fill in scale degree charts (exercies 1.7) for scale degrees based on position but allso for A harp. Would they not be the same for all harp keys and only vary by position?"
You are correct, "the same for all harp keys and only vary by position," this is why I put that question in there, to help students realize this.