A blues based intro to playing 11th position

Pick up your C harmonica and play along in a minor cross harp position (2nd). We're playing in Gm but the music will switch to Bbmaj7. You will find that you can play your same cross harp licks!!!

Don't be scared by Overblows if you can't play them, you don't even need them. Be sure to NEVER play draw 7 or 3 draw or Blow 5 and everything should sound pretty good.

Enjoy and don't be afraid to ask questions.

The backing tracks I made can be found here: http://www.buddhasgarden.net/music/

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Chris
• Michalek
• vibrato
• overblow
• harmonica
• jazz
• howard
• levy
• how
• to
• blues
• harp
• diatonic
• lesson

[chrismichalek]

The positions as I teach them follow the circle of 5ths. C=1 four blow G=2 six blow D=3 four draw A=4 six draw E=5 five blow B=6 seven draw F#=7 five Overblow Db=8 four Draw Bend Ab=9 Six Draw Bend Eb=10 four Overblow Bb=11 six Overblow F=12 Five draw

[chrismichalek]

yes 12th is F on a C harp. The thinking is the same as Howard's except he came up with his own terminology. Not everybody knows it unless they've worked with him. It totally makes sense but a lot of blues cats who hear Howard's name automatically think "It's too hard" I was just trying to keep things simple.

I love 11th. I use it for R&B style playing and a lot of major key tunes. 12th is great too but I think 11th is a little more bluesy. I'll demonstrate that in the next 11th position vid.

[chrismichalek]

Thanks! I'm not much of a blues player so please forgive the fakery...LOL

The chords are

Gm7 for 8 bars

---------------Music style change

Bbmaj7 for 4 bars

Gm7 for 4 bars

The idea is that you can really get by with playing cross harp licks in a minor position. Maybe later today or this weekend I'll make something a little more advanced. That's more centered around playing in Bb on a C harmonica

[chromaticfarmer]

Hey, you did a head shake! I hate those.

Ok, just kidding. Otherwise I loved this video.

[suzyqblues]

You are a truly amazing harper.

Love what you do I do.

[mamboz1]

Excellent excellent stuff. I love your playing. I'm an instant fan!

[theloveboxquartet]

Cheers, Chris.

[theloveboxquartet]

That was quick!

[theloveboxquartet]

With the notes, of course, cheers, joel

[theloveboxquartet]

Hey Chris,

Could you give me a rundown on the different harp positions? Like, on a C harp...1st position - blow 1, 2nd position...etc?

It's confusing me! would be a great help.

Cheers.

[1horton3]

got it - thanks! sounds like fun. You know I never tried that one before. I play piano and harp so I get the idea of position and scales that work. Is 12th position using a C for F? is that Levy's "first flat?" I have tried that and 5th and 6th for a diminished sound, the rest between 7th-10th is almost ridiculous in terms of technique I think!