Here's a question I think I know the answer to, but would welcome your take on it.
When the song is minor, I usually opt for either 3rd or 4th position. Occasionally I use 2nd for funky minor songs (like the Stones "Miss You") when I want more options to play percussively on the lower register.
Anyway, the question is which position do you typically use for minor key songs
While I think there are many different minor scales, I always simplistically think that there are two main ones - at least for simple blues, folk, rock, funk etc.
One is a natural or relative minor (Aeolian Mode) which is 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8 For this scale, the IV chord in the song will be minor as well, as the b6 corresponds to a minor third in the IV chord. So, if I see that the IV is minor, I'll use 4th position
The other minor scale is when the IV chord of a song is major, meaning that the 6th note in the scale is major. To the best of my my understanding this is the Dorian mode, so for these songs I'd try 3rd position.
GH, I'm not trying to be funny, but I think the simplest answer is to let your ear be the final arbitor. Seriously. You might make a culturally unpopular choice, musically speaking. But, if it sounds good to you, who cares? And I really am trying to be serious; no flipant attitude intended. ---------- 'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
I like 5th and 3rd. 5th is easy for scales based on the pentatonic minor, and is even better if you can overblow. I agree with Mickil let your ears decide.
G H your synopsis of those two scales is dead on! Of course there are other minor scales and you can explore them as well but your totally on the right track. You can also choose your position based on the overall register of the harp meaning pick a position in order to use a higher harp (ex: F) or one to use a lower (Ex. G) etc....of course I think you already figured that out years ago. Also any position can be in some situations good for any thing (major/minor. funky, swing etc...) thats what can begin to define a players uniqueness or individuality. I have video on some minor scales.
I wanted to add that 4th position plays in a relative minor. That is the basic minor scale that works with most minor tunes. You change the degrees in the scale depending on the chord changes, really.
Thanks for the responses, all. Good to know I'm pretty much on the right track - if a lot still to learn. and should trust my ears a little more
Violin Cat - I hadn't come across theses two clips before, thanks for posting. The playing, especially on that Arabic-sounding scale halfway through the first clip, is absolutely staggering. As I say, plenty to learn.
Forgot to mention 5th position, which I occasionally use as well. As like most I'm more of a 2nd position player, so the 5th is sometimes more natural to me than fourth at this stage of my musical development. I generally skip the 5 draw, though, I find that that b2 is a little *too* funky and phrygian.
GH, this is a good topic. This clarified some things for me. Thanks to Violin Cat for doing those great videos too. I recently took my first steps into minor key stuff by playing some oldies, House of the Rising Sun and St. James Infirmary, in third position.
Interestingly, I first tried to work out HOTRS in 2nd position and had a hard time with it. Switched to 3rd and it was easy to work it out, and I also had two adjacent octaves to work with. Later I went back to 2nd position and could do it. And 1st in the upper octave. Now I'll try 4th and 5th to see how those are too.
