The Most Overlooked Position | Blues and Country Music | Howard Levy Diatonic Harmonica

Why don’t most harmonica players know how great 12th position is for playing blues and country music? The overlooked key of 5 draw (F on a C harp) is FULL of sweet-sounding bends and licks- a real winner! If you haven’t tried it, this video will start you off on the right foot.
The harmonicas I use in this video:
(For demonstrating Just Intonation: Herring Master Blues in C)
Hohner Golden Melody in C
Hohner Crossover in C, customized by Joe Filisko
► Howard’s harmonica books- Rhythms of the Breath, Vol.1+Vol.2: levyland.com/book-rhythms-of-...
Free Backing Tracks: levyland.com/teaching-videos-...
► My Harps and Gear: levyland.com/my-harps-and-gear
► Howard’s online harmonica school: artistworks.com/harmonica-les...
► Website: levyland.com/
► Facebook: / howardlevyfanpage
► Instagram: / howardlevyland
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0:28 Introducing positions
1:14 Why didn’t people play in F?
3:02 Why do I like playing in 12th?
4:41 How to play Blues with no OB/OD
8:11 Slow Blues in F
9:38 How to play Blues with OB/OD
11:21 Slow Blues in F
12:47 How to play Country Music
14:40 Country Tune in F

[@FilipJersMusic]

Everytime I hear you play and talk about music, I pick up a harmonica and start playing. Thanks! 😀

[@dennisferrell3662]

Filip, I feel the same every time I listen to you play as well.

[@gregoryporch8395]

I didn't think 6th Position was possible until watching Filip Jers

[@gregcox9205]

I think this guy has insight into the harmonica that is leagues beyond all others!

[@abaddonbolero9605]

This man has such a commanding GRASP of the whole enchilada,,,it's BEYOND Amazing, But Howard I just Love the way you incorporate and relate the playing styles of the guitar Giants we grew Up with........just.....So Good...... You're like a Blues (and it doesn't stop There) Encyclopedia....and FUNKY Too! Thank you.

[@p1nesap]

Finally I get how positions are named, thanks!

[@HowardLevyland]

Glad I could help!

[@gabrieln3613]

I have played harmonica 48 years and was able to play full-time by age 20. I generally, as most do, play mostly in 2nd, 3rd, 1st position and some Chromatic. I started out in Bluegrass and was full-time in country music, listening to these country licks in 12 th position is mind-bending...in a good way, thanks Howard! I had a Swing Dance band for 10 years and we covered many Jazz Standards too.....I "discovered" 12th position when working out what harp to play on a Billie Holiday song "Day in Day Out" that is actually in key of F so, yes a "C" harp- either Chromatic or Diatonic works and I alternate depending on the day. Anyway, the song is structured as three 16 bar sections and then an 8 bar tag section on the end. The first 8 bars each time are the same, then the second 8 bars have a slight variation mostly in chord voicings but distinct. Then comes the final 8 bars. The chords are beautiful and I discovered everything laid out really naturally in 12 th position (I do not play overblows) even though the song is very "Jazzy" sounding and it really swings as well. I can only imagine with Howard's overblow techniques and music theory background how he could really FLY over that song in 12 th position. Worth looking up, Billie Holiday's lyrics on it also are very cool.

[@bobstannard8551]

I never ceased to be amazed at not only your playing, but your knowledge of this instrument. Just beautiful

[@tilltheisen7258]

I don‘t know why , but his 12th Position Videos hold a Special Place in my Heart. Thank you sir!

[@lukasholly4453]

Well, it isn' surprising at all, that 12th position is suitable for playing blues. Relative minor to F is D minor. And that is the 3rd position on C harmonica. So when you play blues in d minor or F major, you can use the d minor pentatonic scale in 3rd position. I like the addition of OD and OB to this position, and its use in country music. Anyway, excellent video as always. Thank you Mr. Levy.

[@graemethorne4540]

You Sir are so inspiring thankyou.

[@janpeters-jansongsproducti1010]

Yes thank you Howard!

[@funwithmadness]

Great video... Howard chilling on his couch, nerding out on harp talk with a couple of Grammy awards behind him on the mantle. :D

[@cpjuliansp]

I won't be able to play anymore... my jaw is on the floor!

[@marcelo_luz]

Amazing!

[@pierrepineau5988]

The 12th position has much in common with the third position because the D minor pentatonic (Third position on a C harp) is actually the F major pentatonic in 12th position. And the blues scale in third position is another blues scale (a jazzy one) in 12th position, as the b5 in third position is the minor third in 12th position.

[@jayjay1598]

Truly enlightening and inspiring. Many thanks!

[@willgalison]

wonderful explanation as always!

[@chrishumphries1516]

Many thanks for posting this Howard!!

[@BlackSheepTruthMedia]

so great of a lesson thank you brother

[@michaelkral]

Awesome really 🙏

[@J.M.Stigner]

So good, cheers Howard

[@rayGale]

Yeah, Howard I love the 12 position for a lot of major tunes. It just sets up so well that major scale with all those beautiful bends

[@RosarioDiRubbo]

You are terrific Sir! I love so much your style and your video's!

[@baobazz_harmonica]

Awesome video ! A lot of instructions and ideas !

[@levargas3675]

Amazing lesson!. Thanks for this video.

[@charliebarath6409]

Thank you, Howard! 🎶🙃

[@Bluewaterboy]

Thank you for this video! So much great information!

[@seadogbob]

Thanks Howard

[@LongBeachHuntington]

Thanks! Happy New Year!🤯

[@Wurstkiste]

So gratefull to you for all your Videos of experience and knowledge you bring up tu us. Masterclass!

[@donaldneumeyer4423]

Phenomenal Howard!

[@robertvavra414]

Thanks for the review of Just intonation!

[@James-hs3tu]

Learn from this video. Amazing!!!!!!!!

[@mattmc2492]

Thanks so much for posting this, It’ll start to sink in in after a few watches. So much scope on a diatonic!

[@MrSupersidewinder]

So many things covered in such a short time... BRAVO🎉😮

[@detharp]

11th pos teaching appreciated too. thnx & a healty new year

[@peteaustin5327]

Awesome I learned allot !!

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

amazing, thanks! I have so much to learn..

[@jeffmason]

Great video 👍

[@irish_failed_guitarist]

That blues was so cool

[@JCroozy]

Only 6600 subs? OMG you are a legend!

[@gaetanocalabrese3179]

Strepitoso come sempre, con la semplicità che ti contraddistingue 🙏

[@potwms99]

Great stuff. This channel deserves way more subscribers. Thanks for your masterful teaching. Peace.

[@caminhosharmonicos3444]

Show 👏👏👏👏

[@TheTrumpetSoul]

You're great as you have plenty of ideas, knowledge and applications.

[@CurtisMcLeodMusic]

Dang that is slick, I’m gonna mess around with this. Thanks Howard

[@HowardLevyland]

That’s the idea!

[@stevelewis8620]

Ah, musical…genius!

[@AdamWestUS]

Exelent coverage of material often overlooked! I had a contract to play George Michael's song (Careless Whisper,) and 12 pos. saved my butt!

[@4tune889]

Over blew my mind

[@ZvikaDror]

Wonderful video, so many good points for temperaments and how to approach the instruments, which are a superb edition to other videos you might find on YT and elsewhere regarding Harp positions! I love to play on 12th but rather on Gypsy minor scale up, Harmonic minor down: 2D'' 2D 3D''' 3D 4B 4D' 5B 5D - 5D 5B 4D' 4B 3D' 3D''' 2D 2D'' Also Byzantine: 2D'' 2D' 3D'' 3D' 4B 4D' 5B 5D I play those on Manji A in 12th to match 3rd pos on C harp and 1st pos on D, each harp gives different feel to the different minor variations and allow passages reminding Clarinet, Fiddle, Flute etc.

[@dolphy1harp]

👍👏

[@philippeberland9276]

Tenks'you'woward'traduction'francaise

[@pierrepineau5988]

Carlos del junco has some tunes played in 12th position.

[@hamonick]

Just watched this video and I decided to pick up my diatonic harps

[@multiphony]

this is beautiful in many ways.. the topic, your love for it, the way the video goes through topics along the one position.. and of course your playing!

[@HowardLevyland]

Thanks David!

[@rolfr6662]

Play the blues Howard. PLAY THE BLUES… “oh I played a 1 overblow”😂

[@GreyOwl-Harmonica]

Thanks for this informative video Howard. Is it possible to explain why Chords sound bad on an ET harp but sound OK on a piano? Is it a feature of reeded instruments?

[@Юрій_Сова]

🎼🎶👏👍💪

[@TheRealFeechLaManna]

LOL I suspect you have to be such an accomplished harp player to keep up with this guy that you probably don't need the class in the first place :D

[@nacoran]

A bit of music theory sure helps with this. I can play in 12th, although nowhere near this proficiency level, but I can follow. at least conceptually, and I only had 100 level music theory classes. :) Of course, conceptually and practically are two different levels. There are a lot of pro-players who really don't stray far beyond 1st-3rd position.

[@jeffsimslmt]

Great lecture with your impeccable playing! Speaking of tuning, have you ever tried tuning A=432?

[@inerstate8]

432 is good, but if you really want a next-level modification, you've got to got to add a 1/1000000000 mixture of bulls-horn to water to each reed, arrange 7 quartz crystals around the harp, and do the chakra dance; otherwise your instruments aura will never align with the vibrations of the universe. Of course, this only works if you are a Libra.

[@PostMountainCountryBoy]

Are you playing a C harp or an F harp,?

[@4tune889]

He did say that he was using a C harmonica, which he used for all tutorials. F scale is the 12th position on the C diatonic harmonica and starts from hole 2 full draw bend

[@ross-harmonica]

fascinating!