What are Positions for Blues Harmonica?

In this lesson we will be looking at blues positions. Positions are essentially the answer to the question 'how is the harmonica played?'

We will look at:

1. Harmonica positions (in general)

2. 1st position (straight harp)

3. 2nd position (cross harp)

4. 3rd position (slant harp)

Enjoy!

What's a position?

Even though blues harmonicas are built to be played in one specific key, we can play them in multiple keys depending on context and the style of music. This means we need to decide how to understand which keys we are playing in, so we know which harp to pick up and play. That's where positions come in...

Positions are a way of talking about the relationship between the key of the harmonica and the key of the song. Knowing about positions can help you work out when and what harmonica keys to use for different contexts. As we said before, positions are essentially the answer to the question 'how is the harmonica played?'

1st position (straight harp)

First position is easy to understand because you don't really need to know anything to work it out. It just means playing the harmonica in the key for which it was intended: e.g. playing a C harmonica in the key of C, or an A harmonica in the key of A.

First position harmonica is sometimes used in blues, but not as often as second or third, because it tends to give a more 'happy' sound unless you use lots of bends and/or overblows.

The starting notes (the note around which this position resolves) are the 1 blow, 4 blow, 7 blow and 10 blow.

2nd position (cross harp)

To find second position harmonica, we have to count in the scale to the fifth note. For example, with the C scale we'd count up to G: this means that in second position on a C harmonica we are playing in the key of G. Or on a G harp, we'd be playing in the key of D.

Second position is easily the most common position for playing blues harmonica because of its expressive bending and versatility over the full 12 bar blues format.

The starting notes for this position are 2 draw, 6 blow and 9 blow.

3rd position (slant harp)

It’s easy to work out what key you are playing in 3rd position. It's easy to work out because you just count up one note from the natural key of the harmonica. So if you have a C harmonica you'll be playing in the key of D in third position.

Third position is most often used for playing minor key blues because it naturally sounds really dark and broody.

You can start third position on the 1 draw, 4 draw or 8 draw.

Here's a quick reference guide for these three positions:

Blues Harmonica Positions Quick Guide:

• 1st position (straight harp) starts on 1 blow (also 4, 7 and 10 blow) and gives you the same key as the harmonica (e.g. C harmonica = key of C). Generally used in blues for bright and energetic solos.

• 2nd position (cross harp) starts on 2 draw (also 6 and 9 blow) and is a fifth up from the harp key (e.g. C harmonica = key of G). Default position for blues harmonica playing.

• 3rd position (slant harp) starts on 1 draw (also 4 and 8 draw) and is a tone (two semitones) up from the harp key (e.g. C harmonica = key of D). Used mostly for minor blues.

I hope this helps you to understand a little bit more about positions and their use on the blues harmonica. Here's a video explaining a little more about the theory behind positions:

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