Hello and welcome to this week’s harmonica lesson where I will be showing you how you can use your knowledge of 2nd position to play in 3rd position.
For this lesson you will need a harmonica in the key of C.
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How to play the blues scale in 3rd position (middle octave)
First of all, lets have a look at how to play the blues scale in 3rd position middle octave starting on the 4 draw.
Shape of the scale
You might have noticed that the ‘shape’ of the scale is quite similar to 2nd position – draw, draw blow, draw bend, draw, until the last two notes which are the other way around – blow then draw
How can you use this idea?
Well, you can take any of your favourite blues licks in 2nd position between 2 draw and 6 blow (for now) and move them up two holes to make them 3rd position.
The only thing to watch out for is the 5 draw and 6 blow which in 3rd position become the 7 blow and 8 draw.
Experiment – You will find some of your moves don’t work. But, you will also find that some of them do and that will help you get a little more comfortable in 3rd position.
This will get much easier the more you practice playing the blues scale in 3rd position.
Click here to download lesson resources
