scales modes positions harmonica blues harp

Now experiment with playing on the same harmonica, the C Harmonica in this case, in the four modes/positions that we've already experimented with.

Grab your C Harmonica and play to the following...

1) Jam Track in the Key of C - Play the scale from 4+ to 7+ and then improvise a bit, focusing on 4+ as being your home base. Note the very Major sound. This is the Major Mode, 1st Position. continue reading...

Now line up your harmonicas and play the scales one after another. In this way you'll really hear what each position sounds like relative to each other in their natural state (before we add bending and such to make the licks associated with each position).

1st = C Harmonica, 4+ to 10+
2nd = Low-F Harmonica, 6+ to 9+
3rd = B-flat Harmonica, 4 to 8
4th = E-flat Harmonica, 3" to 6

Grab your C Harmonica again and play the C Major Scale from 4+ (C) to 7+ (C). This is the home scale for 1st Position. Now grab your E-flat harmonica and play the same scale, but starting from 3" and ending on 6. You're now playing in 4th Position, specifically the C Minor Scale. Note that all of the pitches are the same, except for the 3rd, 6th and 7th notes of the scale... they're lower, or minor sounding. This is the natural sound of 4th Position.

Grab your C Harmonica again and play the C Major Scale from 4+ (C) to 7+ (C). This is the home scale for 1st Position. Now grab your B-flat harmonica and play the same scale, but starting from 4 and ending on 8. You're now playing in 3rd Position, specifically the C Dorian Scale. Note that all of the pitches are the same, except for the 3rd and 7th notes of the scale... they're lower, or bluesy sounding. This is the natural sound of 3rd Position.

Grab your C Harmonica again and play the C Major Scale from 4+ (C) to 7+ (C). This is the home scale for 1st Position. Now grab your Low-F harmonica and play the same scale, but starting from 6+ and ending on 9+. If you don't have a Low-F, but do have a standard F, you can play the same pitches from 2 to 6+. You're now playing in 2nd Position, specifically the C Mixolydian Scale. Note that all of the pitches are the same as the 1st Position scale on the C Harmonica, except for the 7th note of the scale... it's lower, or bluesy sounding. This is the natural sound of 2nd Position.

Go to the lesson "Movement Exercises Study 2 - Essential Scales" and use the C Harmonica to play the C Major Scale from 4+ (C) to 10+ (C), with the 10'+ (B) omitted. Play this enough times that you can hear the quality of the scale. Tomorrow we'll experiment with this scale to help you understand modes and positions better.