position

Your tip today comes from fellow student Thomas Toussaint. After seeing the latest video interview with Lee Sankey he was inspired to share his approach to understanding chord change relative to position playing.

Video: https://youtu.be/XsuXx1YXYIA

In this video I'm playing examples of how to approach the chord changes in a 12 bar blues progression (either with a 5/4/1 or a 2/5/1 turnaround) thinking in terms of positions. continue reading...

This song brings two challenges to harmonica players... it's in minor and it has a chord substitution for Bars 9 and 10.

If you decide to play this in 2nd Position you'll need an E Harmonica to play in Bm (B minor). You'll want to stick to the blues scale...

Lower Octave = 1+ 1' 1 2" 2
Mid Octave = 2 3' 4+ 4' 4 5 6+
High Octave = 6+ (6' 6) 7+ 8 9 9+

If you choose to play in 3rd Position you'll use an A Harmonica. Again, the blues scale is a good scale to focus on...

Lower Octave = (1+) 1 2" 2 3''' 3" 4+ 4
Mid Octave = 4 5 6+ 6' 6 7+ 8
High Octave = 8 9 9+ 10 10+ continue reading...

Moving this hook to 1st Position you probably noticed an issue with the IV7 Chord.

The I7 is C Bb C, which is played on 4+ 3' 4+, no problem, it sounds good.

The V7 is G F G, which is 2 2" 2 and 6+ 5 6+, again, sounds great.

The IV7 is F Eb F. F is not a problem (2" and 5), but Eb is only found on 8'+, 1OB (1 overblow) and 4OB (4 overblow). For this reason, many players will not choose to play this common hook in 1st Position.

There is an option though! continue reading...

IV7 = 4+ 3' 4+ - The 4+ can be played as an octave and the 3' can be played as a two-note combo (3' with 4'). You can also do a shake (3' with 4'), but is less common.

V7 = 4 4+ 4 - A perfect opportunity to use octaves, and is the most common way players will present the V7.

And your Bb Harmonica in 3rd Position...

I7 = 4 4+ 4 - Octaves are the way to go here (take a listen to "I'm Ready" from the Father & Son's album featuring Paul Butterfield. Different song, but same note combination in octaves).

IV7 = 6+ 5 6+ - Same as the I7 in 2nd Position we spoke of yesterday continue reading...

The first step in experimenting is to move your hook up or down an octave...

I7 = 2 2" 2 turns into 6+ 5 6+ (or 9+ 9 9+ in rare cases)

IV7 = 4+ 3' 4+

V7 = 4 4+ 4 turns into 8 7+ 8, but due to the IV7 not being able to be moved up an octave negates this option

And your Bb Harmonica in 3rd Position...

I7 = 4 4+ 4 turns into 1 1+ 1 or 8 7+ 8

IV7 = 6+ 5 6+ turns into 2 2" 2 or 9+ 9 9+

V7 = 6 6+ 6 turns into 3" 2 3" or 10 9+ 10 continue reading...

Here's the hook the piano and guitar play. Play this on your F (or Low-F) harmonica in 2nd Position,

I7 = 2 2" 2

IV7 = 4+ 3' 4+

V7 = 4 4+ 4

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

I7 = 4 4+ 4

IV7 = 6+ 5 6+

V7 = 6 6+ 6

I hope you enjoyed the challenge of the first part of our transcription process. Here are the answers to Friday's questions...

1) Harmonica Key: A

2) Key you and the band are playing in: E

3) Where he starts in time: The 2" is on the "and" of 4, with the 2 draw on the downbeat of the next bar. So, he's playing a 1/2 beat pickup to Bar 1. continue reading...

It's now time to get to work. Take a listen to the first four bars of Little Walter's "Rocker." I would like you to figure out: the key of harmonica; the key Walter and the band are playing in; where he starts in time; and how you would count this song in.

I'll get you started...

1) He's playing in 2nd Position

2) He starts with a 2" (2 draw whole step bend) that quickly goes to 2 (2 draw)

Here are your challenges in regards to timing... continue reading...

Before we leave this subject of figuring out the key...

If you're trying to figure out the key of a song, and there's no harp playing on the recording you're copying/referencing, upon guessing what the key is, make sure to grab the corresponding harp and play a song you're familiar with to the music. This will confirm that you have chosen the correct key and position of harp. continue reading...

This is my process...

1) Transcribe everything at full tempo, without picking up the harmonica.

2) Slow the music down moderately (around 15-20%) and proofread my transcription carefully as I listen. This is very handy, I'll inevitably find little fixes (such as dips, slurs, pulls that were very soft, etc.).

3) If it's a very fast song, I'll do this again at around 40% slow. continue reading...