third position?
Fri, 04/26/2013 - 07:58
David is there a place in your series where you play a song first in second position and then in third? I have discussed the third positon with a long time player (since 60's) and he just recently played his first third position solo. We both questioned whether a song needs be be tailored for third position or will it work fine for any song. I have tried at times to incorporate just a few licks of third into second position playing and have not been thrilled with it (except for occasional horn type hits on the 1-4 octave).
Hey Bob.
Let me start by saying that to play "in" 2nd is to play in a key... C Harp in G... to play "in" 3rd Position is to play in a key... C Harp in D.
That said... are we playing in a "key," or are we playing within a "chord" when we're over that chord in the 12 bar blues?
The answer is yes to both. The tonal center of a song IS the key... C Harp in 2nd Position in the Key of G... G is the tonal center... ALL phrases/notes will have to resolve to G at some point.
When moving to the IV Chord, you're now playing over a structure of C... C E G Bb in most cases... so your movement is based on those notes. Though you are still IN the key of G, your focus in on C and the notes associated with the C Chord. This allows us to play a 1st Position lick over the IV Chord, as long as it gracefully weaves itself back to G when the I Chord comes back.
The same idea applies to the V Chord... you can use 3rd Position licks on the V Chord due to it being a D7 Chord... the same chord as the I Chord in 3rd Position (D7).
With this said, using licks from other positions should be reserved for chord change... not within the I Chord. There are some soloing concepts in the Jazz world that are interesting to explore in this matter, but do not have much traction for blues harmonica players.
Check out my lesson called Understanding Position Playing for more info.