Understanding Position Playing
Hi David,
What is the difference between " Harmonica to use when played in " where the key of the band and the key of the harmonica relate to position in cycles of 4ths, and position playing within the range of a given harmonica where we are moving in cycles of 5ths? How does the movement in 5ths relate to the key the band is playing in?
Thanks
Thanks David that is clear and the lesson does a great job of explaining. For me the "PS" explanation does it. The use of different key harmonicas to access the notes that keep the harp and the band in the same key. However on the chart that lays out the " harmonicas to use when played in" and has a column for the BAND keys and 3 columns for harmonicas and the position, the keys move up in 4ths. i.e. Band in G - 1st position G, 2nd position C, 3rd position F
Does that make sense?
Not trying to be difficult just want to be clear. Thanks
Great, glad I could clarify.
On the other questions... if you go in one direction it's 5ths and if you go the other it's 4ths... but the result is the same.
I'm not totally sure what you're asking here. I'll take a stab.
The circle of fifths is a common chart used by musicians to memorize how many sharps or flats a key contains.
For example. When you play the key of C there are no sharps or flats. You play the white keys on the piano, from C to C, for example. You then start on the 5th in the key of C (G) and then play the same notes as the C scale, but raise the 7th scale degree when you come to it, from F to F#, in this case. You just played the G major scale. You then go up a 5th in the key of G, which is D, and play a D major scale, using the F# from the G major scale, raising the 7th when you come to it, which is C# in this case. You just played the D major scale.
So, in a nut shell, this is what the Circle of 5th is... a helpful tool to memorize keys (key signatures to be exact).
Harmonica players stumbled across the idea that the circle of fifths can also be used to help us figure out positions. When we play a C Harmonica in 1st Position, you and the band are in the key of C. If you play that same C Harmonica in the key of G, the next key to the right in the circle of 5ths, which is a 5th above C, you and the band are now playing in the key of G. Go one more to the right in the circle of 5ths and you see that you can play your C Harmonica in the key of D, and we call it 3rd Position, and so on.
You don't have to use the circle of 5ths to figure out positions, it's just one tool. Another way to look at it is that for each position you play in a key that is based on the 5th scale degree of the previous key.
Is this what you were looking for?
P.S., you and the band are always playing IN the same key... you just have the option of using different harmonicas (positions) to access those pitches. The lesson titled "Understanding Position Playing" lays this out very well. Maybe you already knew about this lesson, but I though I would bring it up.