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Comment by Willy Senkiwsky on January 31, 2017 at 3:38pm

I was looking for this, actually the other one! I am Won Arm Willy Boogie Bastard. A song writer, lyric writer- can't sing, and Blues Harp Player! I'm online at soundcloud.com/willyblues! Good post, Just below me you say third position is a 5th above song key, that always confused me, not only one!

Comment by smilingdog1 on January 31, 2017 at 12:18pm

I appreciate all the feedback and I will continue to workout the theory while practicing my technique. Playing along with a guitarist has pulled me along faster than doing solos. It's been a struggle to learn this type of instrument because there isn't as much to go on until you dig it up or find the right mentors. I think learning to communicate with the guitar, vocals and bass during a song is just as important. I learned to to pause during anothers lead and know when it's my turn to fill in here and there, depending on the song. Starting off I thought I had to keep playing a rhythm where it wasn't needed because if felt awkward on stage just standing there.   

Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on January 31, 2017 at 10:48am

I just read what I wrote about third position. T'ain't right, in terms of saying it's a fifth above the song key. Nope, it's actaually the seventh above the song key, or drop down one key from the song key. Dunno what I was thinking, except it was o-dark early when I wrote that.

Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on January 31, 2017 at 3:34am

Dog,
My long post explaining same just got zorched. In order from left to right:

1) Song key
2) Straight harp, first position key, same key as the song
3) Crossharp, second position key, a fourth above the song key
4) Third position, a fifth above the song key

Crossharping is used by many blues players, as it allows you to get that bent Third not in there by overdrawing and / or overblowing, depending on the key.

Most harp players start with a cheap ($18-28) Hohner Blues 7-pack, available at most music stores, but they're harder to play, and wear out quickly. These usually come with c-D-E-F-G-A and sometimes Bb. Better is a set of individually-purchased Hohner Marine Band, Hohner Bluesband, Lee Oskar (quite expensive, but tunable) in the above keys. Most harp players can't lay out the $550->$1000 for all twelve keys from these and other manufacturers, and it's rare to need some of the sharps/flats, unless your band or singer needs a lower or altered tuning.

Look up J P Allen on the Internet; he has a great site with video lessons, harps, and more in-depth explanations of technique in an easy, approachable style.

Comment by smilingdog1 on January 30, 2017 at 7:15pm

Sample of Key tagged with nail polish easily seen in dark club. The G is what Key the bands playing, the harp is a C 2nd position.

Comment by smilingdog1 on January 30, 2017 at 2:55pm

Thank you Erasmo, it's getting easier all the time. What I'm doing now seem to be working.

Comment by smilingdog1 on January 29, 2017 at 8:10pm

So Oily, help me because I'm still learning this stuff and thought I had it right. So how exactly does this scale you've shown here function, how do they correlate.

Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on January 29, 2017 at 12:05pm

Damned Ning spacing!

Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on January 29, 2017 at 12:05pm

Know the key of the song, then count up 4 from that, with the starting key = 1.

So if the song is in G, you can eithe play a G harp in 1st position, or "crossharp" to C in 2nd position

Here's a chart for all 12 keys:

Song----1st Position----2nd Position-----3rd Position
Key----Straight Harp-----Crossharp-------------------

G. G. C. F
Ab. Ab. C#. F#
A. A. D. G
Bb. Bb. Eb. Ab
B. B. E. A
C. C. F. Bb
C#. C#. F#. B
D. D. G. C
Eb. Eb. Ab. C#
E. E. A. D
F. F. Bb. Eb
F#. F#. B. E
G. G. C. F

There, now copy that and paste it on the back of your git.

Comment by Uncle John on January 29, 2017 at 6:06am

Good and some new info to me.  

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