Yes ---Everyone is correct --u can play 3rd pos----But I play with a rack---I can play it with the same feel as a standard richter
Some say Im cheating-- Its a very SWEET sounding harp when in a minor key
Theas are some of the songs i use them on Thrill is Gone I Shot the sheriff Jonny B good reggae--Peter Tosh Summertime Dont Let me be misunderstood Back to the city It segues into Oye =como va Hotel California Down by the river ANDLOTS MORE
I do "work Song" in Gm rather than Fm-- easier on my fingers---I use a Cm harp and match the guitar licks--this one took me awhile--
I do "feelin Alright" Cm7 to F9-- not standard C7 to F7 or F9--- on the lead -I segue into "Mr Magic" then back to song - Nothin to nobody- R Ford - Dm harp
All along watchtower I use an Fm harp
Do This; Buy a E nat minor tuned
Find "Thrill is gone" BB KING make sure its in Bm--maybe use your regular E harp -to make sure--
Now try your [standard Richter] E Try a A harp for third pos Try your new Em tuned U decide
Bear in my my main reason I use 'Nat minor' is cuz of rack
If I play work song "Free handed" no rack-- and I stick with key Gm--I use a standard Richter in C---I try to play "mark fords" lead--my favorite version ---and just bend correctly
It takes about 2 monthes of playing nat minor b4 yr ears adjust
I now use Richter--Nat minor and Melody Makers-- My ears know the difference in sound and its no big deal---but u have to give it time.
oLD Video i made --- I do Thrill in Cm not Bm---I sing better higher
BB Bob was right-- My single note playing is a little sloppy--
Listen to the [Im Ivm] chordal and octave split stuff at begin
If u get a nat and u have a song in mind do these vamps In [3rd -- 2nd pos] and do it wth your new nat minor --again U DECIDE at 2;54 bsong starts Cm--F9 I use F nat minor harp
Minor harmonicas give some great chord options that can sound beautiful. If you are trying to sound more like minor key originals a regular Richter probably works better, just because that's usually what they used on original recordings most of the time, but when you aren't trying to do note for note or you are creating, minor keys are a great option.
I use Lee Oskar Natural Minor harmonicas for some tunes – for others I use a major key harmonica in 3rd position. It usually depends on what sounds better to my ear.
But there is no magic solution! As an example, 'Summertime' is in A minor. On a G major harmonica there are some looong -3” (i.e draw 3 bent down two semitones) at the end of phrases. I find it hard to be ‘spot on’ with the bend and to hold it for all those beats. A Lee Oskar Natural Minor in Am (they’re labelled in 2nd position) means that note is now a -1. However, there is a long end-phrase note that is a +5 on the G major but becomes a -3’ on the Am – so you can’t escape a long, end-phrase bent note.
