Harmonica: 1st and 2nd Position - What's It About?!

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---Hey everyone - In this lesson, I'll use some practical examples to give you the best explanation of what's the difference between the two most prominent "schools" of harmonica playing - 1st position and 2nd position. If you still got questions, I'd be happy to answer in the comments.
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[@HarmonicaJamz]

Become a badass harmonica player, fast: Harmonicajamz.com

[@tnysteph]

I like that you used a song with vocals as an example. Playing at an open mic or in a band there will be vocals. The blues song was very good too. Five stars for this video.

[@HarmonicaJamz]

Thanks Tony! Yes we forget sometimes that live music isn't another generic YT backing track of a 12 bar where you're supposed to solo for 6 minutes straight hahaha

[@diranu605]

Thank you for this explanation!!!

[@charliebacchus5360]

I am very new to the harp (and my interest is primarily BLUES) so I could have misunderstood the chart and his comments at 7:08. I have a C harp and 2nd position is clearly stated as "G" ... thus far I have learned its 5th not 4th... To Find the 2nd Position from the ROOT KEY count up 5 (bcz the musical distance between C and G is the same as musical distance between A and E. This is known as a fifth.)

[@lonesomelou4188]

Hi...I had this confusion of 2nd position...With a "C" harp, you're playing blues in "G" ( the 5th)...if you say you're playing blues in "G", you need a "C" harp( the 4th from "G")...it's just a matter of direction...you probably already figured this out, but I thought I'd explain it in case...

[@kdon8497]

Good video great explanation as well

[@HarmonicaJamz]

K Don thank you!

[@barrywysiwyg896]

Nicely explained and good example of playing along to accompany a song

[@HarmonicaJamz]

Thanks Barry, glad you enjoyed the example. It's one of my favorite songs.

[@elijahmonn3757]

I’d agree. Nicely done mate. You kept it simple. I’m like you I prefer to play in 1st position. I have deliberately stayed away from 2nd position. Because I think you can get lazy and hide behind a few blues licks. To impress people. I impress people with actual songs i.e amassing grace. Great at a funeral. The harp really speaks to people. Improvised playing will develop you as a better musician. Well that’s my 2 cents worth.

[@dolfevenberg847]

Clear explanation! Thank you. Very helpful 👍

[@RenGuitar1750]

Would have been cool to hear him play tiny dancer in bluesy style.

[@jelmervanlenteren773]

Dude you saved my life

[@HarmonicaJamz]

hahah happy to (:

[@rickeydenler2385]

I'm from shreveport and I learned first position first because it was easier to play the melodies of the songs I sing and play guitar too

[@relearn1]

So 1st position is the harp key and second position is the the key the second hole starts with?

[@Sammy10100]

Hi you played the first position notes but never mentioned what notes they were. Can y please list the notes here. Thanks

[@ChefMoshe]

great video achi. where is that venue in the picture in the background. I

[@HarmonicaJamz]

Thanks gever. It's the House of Blues in Chicago, I took that picture in 2013 during a coast to coast trip, and that band (The California Honeydrops) went on to become one of my favorites since that night!

[@chudapatil]

Nice job brother. Appreciate it. But are you sure about the table that explains the keys ? The cross harp should be 5 th letter from the straight if I am correct. Example if the straight harp is C then it should be G

[@folchandre]

you're thinking in another direction, you're thinking of the key of the harp in relation of the key you'll improvise. He was thinking of the key you're improvising in relation of the key of the harp you'll play, so, to improvise in the key of G you should take the C harp (the fourth on the key of G). Exactly what you've said but you were thinking in other direction, the C harp should be used in order to improvise the blue scale in the key of G (the fifth on the key of C)

[@milforddekalb2379]

@@folchandre using the circle of 5ths counting 5 up from C including the C you come to G Counting backward 4 steps from G you come to C.

[@531katie]

Wow. THANK YOU. great info. I have. A C as anc 3rd i can’t remember. I’ve bought each one separately $40 approx each. Do you recommend buying a set of 5 Mine ate 10 yrs old

[@HarmonicaJamz]

My pleasure (: I dont recommend playing old harmonicas such as 10 year old ones... get yourself some new ones that feel good! They dont have to be a set, I like having different kinds actually

[@zulkifcengiz9254]

Do you just blow those holes in position 2? None of them 5,6,7,8,9,10?

[@gillygil8747]

@ about 4:40? People really don't get so easily offended. If people do? Forget 'em. OK. This the fist time I actually waited around to see what somebody had to say about playing. This was good. Thanks.

[@zokimirchovski2968]

Even though I am an educated musician, this positions thing is a bit confusing, must admit that.

[@Bdb83]

99% of it comes from the blues

[@mitreka88]

yeah... so its hard to play blues for us in asia. we just know the 1st position

[@cherncf2129]

Mm

[@bindodundid]

They could just call it minor and major and save people from having to look this up

[@bsnf-5]

exactly. Minor pentatonic and major pentatonic. Just like you would play on a guitar

[@stevejohnson9717]

You took a difficult topic and made it hard to understand.

[@HarmonicaJamz]

hahahahaha. Thanks. A new video is underway actually.