What are the positions in harmonica?

Now let’s look a positions.

  • 1st position (Straight Harp)
  • 2nd position (Cross Harp)
  • 3rd position (Slant Harp)
  • 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.

How are notes arranged on a harmonica?

Starting from hole 1, the notes are C, D, E, G, G, B, D, C. Very confusing. Unlike holes 4 to 7, these lower notes do not make up a major scale. However look at blow notes 1 to 4, which are C, E, G and C.

What is 3rd position on harmonica?

What is 3rd position? 3rd position allows you to play in a minor key on harmonica. The root note in 3rd position is the 1 draw or the 4 draw. It is not exactly the same shape as 2nd position but is quite similar if you start on the 4 draw.

What is the second position on harmonica?

This is the main position used for playing folk music on the harmonica. 2nd position (or “cross harp”): Mixolydian mode. Playing the harmonica in a key a fourth below its intended key. Playing just the unbended notes, this position gives the mixolydian scale between 2 draw and 6 blow.

What is 4th position harmonica?

4th position means that a C harmonica plays in A minor. So, one of the root (or home) notes is the 6 draw, or 6D. On a C harmonica, the 6D and 10D, the root notes at either end of the scale are A’s. So, the scale is A minor (more or less).

Where is middle C on A harmonica?

The first hole blow note will be C4. To put this into a more easily visualised context, C4 is also known as middle C, and is found very close to the middle of most piano keyboards. The 10th hole blow note will also be a C, but it will be 3 octaves higher, making it a C7.

What do the numbers on harmonica tabs mean?

Harmonica tabs look something like this: 5 -4 3 -2 1. The numbers tell you what hole you are supposed to play, and a minus sign before a number means a draw note. So, a “5” would mean a 5 blow, and a “-4” would mean a 4 draw. It’s that simple!

What is 2nd position harmonica?

2nd position (or “cross harp”): Mixolydian mode. Playing the harmonica in a key a fourth below its intended key. Playing just the unbended notes, this position gives the mixolydian scale between 2 draw and 6 blow.

What are positions on harmonica?

“Position” on the harmonica refers to what key you’re playing in. Turns out, you can actually play in more than one key on the same diatonic harmonica! Positions are numbered according to the Circle of 5ths . Cross Harp and Straight Harp are Positions.

What is second position harmonica?

Second Position (cross harp) On a C tuned harp, second position would be in G. This is the most commonly used position for playing blues, rock and country. This position consists of mostly draw notes on the low end of the harmonica (holes 1 through 5) and it is important to master bending to play in this position.

What are the notes on a harmonica?

Harmonicas come in a variety of keys (click here for more about harmonica keys and note names). The most common harmonica key is C, the notes on a C harmonica are shown below. In the diagram blow means the note when blowing into a hole, draw means the note when breathing in.

What is the best harmonica key for Blues?

Lee Oskar Blues Harp or the Hohner Pro Harp are the two popular models that are recommended. Beginners start with standard “diatonic” harmonica in the key of C . This is the most popular type of harmonica and generally the easy one to play. All books of harmonic tutor are written in the key of C. Easy to understand.