harmonica blues music theory

The first of the seven positions is what we call 1st Position or Straight Harp... this is playing in the key C on the C Harmonica. The Mode created is called the Major Mode, or Ionian.

The notes are as follows:
C D E F G A B C

Intervals:
Whole | Whole | Half | Whole | Whole | Whole | Half

Scale Degrees:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Full Scale:
1+ 1 2+ 2" 2 3" 3 4+
4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7 7+
7+ 8 8+ 9 9+ 10 10'+ 10+ continue reading...

Jimmy, a student on the site, needed some clarification on the V-IV-I. Here it is for you as well. Let's start from the top so that there's no confusion.

When we speak of theory on the site we use a C Major Diatonic Harmonica. This harmonica produces the notes: C D E F G A B C. For blues we commonly play in 2nd Position, so we play in the Key of G. The key of G uses the following notes for its construction: G A B C D E F# (F-sharp) G.

If playing by ourselves, we can play those G A B C D E F# G notes in any order, in any rhythm, we wish, to create what we feel sounds good. continue reading...