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From: Mike Curtis
Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996 14:07:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Advantages of different positions

On Fri, 30 Aug 1996, Peter Morrissey wrote:

> Mike Curtis wrote:
>
> > I'll admit that good control and the extra notes afforded by valving or
> > overblowing make some positions a lot more useful. But I'll STILL take an
> > unvalved harp (with no overblows) and 6th position for "The thrill Is
> > Gone" any day over second position. As far as I'm concerned, that song
> > could not have been purposely written for 6th position any better.
> >
> > > And, if you want to play minor blues, Georgia, or Summertime--there's
> > > always the natural minor harps...
> >
> > Or the "proper" positions for them :-)
>
> Would mind giving us the first couple notes in tab/lyrics for some of the above
> some time? i.e. "The Thrill is Gone."

I don't play the melody, and use my own solo on it. I use licks such as:

3D 4D 5B 5D 5B (4D 4Db) 3D

7D 6D 5D 5B (4D 4Db) 3D 3Dbb 2Db

and there of course plenty of nice 2 note trills such as 3d/4d, 4d/5d, and
6d/7d, etc.

My base lick for this tune is:

7D 6D 5D 5B 4D 3D 4D 4B 4B 4D 3D 5D 5Bb (a valved bend, but the note could
be omitted, or 6D substituted)

> Also, are you saying there is a good
> position to play Georgia and summertime on a standard diatonic? Again,
> if you don't mind, could you tell us what the positions would be and give
> us the first few notes to get started?

Georgia is better with the valved bends or overblows, but you can do it
thusly on a straight harp with no "heroics".

Georgia, first position:

6D 6B, 5B 4D, 5B 6D 6B 5B 4D 4B, 4B 4D 5B 6B 6D, 3Dbb 4D 4B 4D 4B 5B

There's a flat fifth (Gb) on the bridge that can be a problem, but you can
use an E in its place:

3Dbb 4B 4D 5B 4B 3Dbb 3Dbb, 3Dbb 4B 4D 5B 6B 5B 6Bb (or 5B)

and in 2nd position:

verse:
5B 4D, 3D 3Dbb, 3D 5B 4D 3Db 3Dbb 2D, 2D 3Dbb 3D 4D 5B, 2B 3Db 3Dbb 3D 4D
3D

bridge:
2B 2D 3Dbb 3D 2D 2B 2D, 2B 2D 3Dbb 3D 4D 3D 4Db, etc.

Summertime, 4th position:

8B 7B 8B, 8D 7B 8D 8B 7B 6D 5B, 8B 7B 8D 8D, 7B 6D 7B 6D 7B 7D

(This can be played in the lower octave if you use 3Dbb).

In the upper octave, there are lots of really great "Jimmy Reed" type
bends. This is a fairly easy tune. If you want to impress a lady in the
audience, this is a good bet. Put some nice vibrato, use some fast
vibrato like bending, and she'll melt like warm butter.

-o-

My point is that there are many ways to play songs on diatonic. And
believe it or not, some are better than second position for
certain songs :-)

One other big advantage to knowing your positions is when the reed sucks
out of your only harp on a gig. Knowing positions well will
enable you to continue the gig without that harp.


-- IronMan Mike Curtis
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