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From: flowe~sf.org (Ken Flowers)
Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 16:27:02 -0400
Subject: Re: 3rd Pos. Dorian/Re: Theory and Modes

>From: mstring~earst.com
>Date: Wed, 15 May 96 13:12:51 EST
>Subject: 3rd Position Dorian Mode
>
>Would someone please explain how to play the third position, dorian mode
>on a C diatonic harp. Or am I completely comfused?
>
>Thanks
>
>Mark

You (and I think most of this group) are confused. [Ken dons his flame proof
suit and awaits the vicious attact, which this message may be a sample of.]

POSITION AND MODE ARE NOT THE SAME THING!!!!!!

Mode refer to a TYPE OF SCALE. The Major Scale is Ionian mode
(CMaj = C D E F G A B C). There is a scale that corresponds to Mixolydian
Mode (GMix = G A B C D E F G, but GMaj = G A B C D E F# G). The
Minor Scale is also the Aoelian Mode. Etc.

Position refers to TRANSPOSITION OF KEYS. First position is the natural
key of the Harmonica. Second position is the key one cycle of fifths up
from the natural key of the harmonica (for a C harp thats G). When you
play in Second position you are trying to create GMaj on a CMaj harp, not
GMix.

Any fool (including me) can play Locrian Mode on a Diatonic harmonica:

Lets see; on a C diatonic you could play the B Loc Scale as:

3- 4+ 4- 5+ 5- 6+ 6- 7-

very simple, no bends, blow bends, overblows, nothing.

But to play BMaj on a C diatonic, you need to play 6th position:

3- 4' 4o 5+ 5o 6' 6o 7-

(' = bend, o = overblow) This on the other hand takes tremendous
skill (which neither I, nor most people on the list have, so we practice
or skip the notes we can't hit. In the case of 6th position, there is an
interesting trick point if you can do blowbends (which fortunately I can).

Starting at 7 draw you can get all the notes except the II and VI. Ahhh, so
what, we never use those anyway. the I chord notes are 7-, 8', and 9';
and the I, IV, V progression are at 7-, 8+, and 9'. That should give you
just barely enough to play along with a BMaj song on a C Diatonic. Of
course you may or may not be able to get the bluesy bends on the right
notes, like you can get in second position, depending on where you are in
the progression.

Of course if the band is really playing in B Loc, you got it made, but come on.

Ken "Asbestos" Flowers
See http://www.osf.org/~flowers/
for position and mode tables in PostScript printable format.