Today’s harmonica lesson is all about positions! I will explain to you what different positions mean and what a key is in
music.
What is a key?
Before we look at positions on harmonica, we need to understand what a key is.
In music, the key is a root note and chord around which everything resolves. This is quite a technical way of thinking. But, basically if we are playing in the key of C, the music will feel like it resolves when you play a C note.
The key also implies a selection of notes which are likely to appear in the melody and chords. For example in the key of C we have; C, D, E, F, G, A, B whereas in the key of A we have: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#.
The relationship between the root note (1st note) and the rest of the notes in the key is the same for every key. So, the musical distance between C and G is the same as musical distance between A and E. This is known as a fifth.
The best way to understand this is that you can play the same song in 2 different keys. The melody of the song is still recognisable but will be higher or lower depending on what key you’re playing in.
What does this mean for you? Well, you need to make sure that everyone in the band is playing in the same key.
Now let’s look a positions.
1st position (Straight Harp)
1st position just means playing in the key that the harmonica comes in. So, if you have an A harmonica you will be playing in the key of A. The root note will be the 1 blow, 4 blow, 7 blow and 10 blow.
2nd position (Cross Harp)
Traditionally, a lot of blues is played in 2nd position. 2nd position starts from the 2 hole draw. The main reason that a lot of blues is played in 2nd position is that the notes are laid out in such a way that you get access to the nice bent notes quite easily.
So, if you have an A harmonica you will be playing in the key of E in 2nd position.
The quick way to work out what key you are playing in 2nd position is to count up 5 from the root note of the harmonica.
For example, on a C harmonica you count up C, D, E, F, G to find that you are playing in the key of G in 2nd position.
It’s worth noting that a position is not a scale. You can play the blues scale in multiple positions. The position is just what hole you are starting on which then gives you access to a different key.
3rd position (Slant Harp)
3rd position is traditionally used for a lot of minor playing. This isn’t all it can do but it does do it well. The reason for this is that you have an easy-to-hit minor 3rd in the middle octave with the clean 5 draw.
3rd position starts on the 1 draw or the 4 draw.
It’s very easy to work out what key you are playing in 3rd position. All you need to do is go up one letter from the key of the harmonica. So, if you have A harmonica you will be playing in the key of B in 3rd position.
In conclusion
Although you can play major or minor keys in any position, you will start noticing that each position confers a mechanical advantage to certain styles of playing.
1st position starts on the 1 blow, 4 blow and is the same key as the harmonica
2nd position starts on 2 draw, 6 blow and is a fifth up from the key of the harmonica
3rd position starts on 1 draw, 4 draw and is one tone up from the key of the harmonica
Thank you!
Thank you so much for taking this lesson. I hope you understand positions a little bit better now. Please don’t hesitate to post a comment with any questions you have.
Now you can do something for me. Please ‘share’ this lesson on Facebook or Twitter by clicking the share buttons.
See you next Wednesday.
Tomlin
Hi Tomlin
Why would one play 1st position on say an A key harmonica rather than 2nd position on a D key harmonica?
Huw
Great lesson very useful. Thanks for giving so much of your time,
Mike.
I was wondering this same thing. My guess is playing an A harp in second position you have access to all the bent notes that give the song that bluesy feeling but we’ll see what Tomlin says.
Is it me or did the sound quality get better on your videos?
Hi Randal, I hope so – I’ve been investing in new sound equipment 🙂
Thanks Mike! It’s my pleasure.
Hi Huw, it really depends on what type of music you are playing. Traditionally 2nd position will sound very bluesy because of the bends, while 1st position will be more melodic. It is also down to individual player choice. I almost always try to play in 3rd because I like it so much 🙂 Tomlin
So if you create a riff in the key of D, there will be a series of notes that follow. Will that riff sound different played in 3rd position on a C harp compared to the same notes of a riff played in 2nd position on a G harp, even though the notes are the same? Or are you saying the note selection would be different in each position so you woudn’t play the same riff in the 2 positions?
Huw
Positions aren’t as obvious as they could be so do not worry about that.
If you play the blues scale in 1st position on an A harmonica, 2nd position on a D harmonica, 3rd position on a G harmonica it will all sound the same.
That said, to play blues scale in first position you require over blows. To play the blues scale in third position you require some advanced bending. So more often than not we make the choice to play it in 2nd position because it is easier.
You can’t just play the same shape starting on a different hole.
About my slow blues lesson. I am playing in 2nd position the whole way through. However, a more advanced player may choose to play 2nd position over the I chord, 1st position over the IV chord and 3rd position over the V chord.
Hi Tomlin,
First up, thanks for the Tabs, Backing tracks and lessons so far.
I have my C, D, E and G harps and have ordered my A and B.
Which F is played most if ever F or F# and do I really need one?
Regards
Dave
Hi Dave, F is far more common and is useful for playing in C or G. It’s not essential. I would wait until you are learning a song that needs it. Cheers, Tomlin
Same note..different pitch
Hi Tomlin, I’m a beginner, and in this lesson, a couple of things are not clear to me. What are the tones that you used to play the first blues position? I’ve noticed that it sounds different than the classic first position? It would be nice to explain to me in the C tonality.
Thanks a lot.
Hi Ivan, To play the blues scale in 1st position I use 4 blow, 4 overblow, 5 draw, 5 overblow, 6 blow, 6 overblow, 7 blow. Cheers, T
Great lesson. Easy to understand. But is the link to the chart dead? I’ve tried it a few times without success. Thanks for the down-to-earth teaching style.
Hi Nanker, I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll email it to you manually later today. Cheers, Tomlin