1st, 2nd and 3rd Positions
Hey, David, hope all is well. Question for you. Years ago (!) when I first picked up a Marine Band in C I also got an instruction book with it. This book teaches what I now know as 1st position. In taking your courses I've learned that Blues players prefer 2nd position but may also use 3rd position as well. It seems that 1st position is disfavored, at least somewhat.
1. Is 1st position disfavored? If so, why so? Is it favored by any other style of harp playing, like Irish or Country?
2. Is the reason 2nd position is favored that it alows for bends and therefore the bluesy sound? Is there another reason?
3. Are there any advantages/disadvantages to 3rd position?
BTW, will you be attending/performing at the Chicago Blues Festival in June?
Thanks in advance.
Ace
Informative as always. Thank you. I hope to attend the blues festival so I'm effectively quarantining until my flight next week. Fingers crossed.
btw, I'll def check out the position lessons you suggested.
Hello Ace. Answers below...
1. 1st position is not disfavored, it's just the most challenging for blues playing due to all of the bending required (unlike the other positions, there are no "free" blue notes--you have to bend for all of them). For this reason, it's the last of the three positions taught.
2. 2nd Position has a free blue note, being F (5 and 9) and it places the I7 Chord on the draw side, of which can be bent. We spend most of our time on the I7 chord (close to 8 bars out of 12), so it's a big advantage for expression to have the notes of our most important chord be bendable. If you play in the key of C on your C harmonica (1st position), the I Chord is all your blows, which are not bendable until you get to the upper three. The chords (playing multiple holes on the harmonica) lay out well in 2nd Position as well, making it a great position to do chording (rhythmic playing with chords).
3. 3rd Position has two free blue notes (out of a total of three), the F (5 and 9 draws) and C (4+, 7+ and 10+). This makes 3rd Position a very bluesy position, and intuitive position, to solo in (specifically for holes 4 and above... the lower holes require more skill). 3rd Position is great for bluesy playing and minor playing (it plays light blues very well too, emphasizing holes 3 and 7 draws for their light nature).
I have two lessons that you'll find very helpful in understanding positions...
1) https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/understanding_position_playing
2) https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/music_theory_study_2_modes_positions
I've heard of great things about the Chicago Blues Festival. We're still restricting our travel due to Covid, so no festival for us. Enjoy if you're going!