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From: Michael Will
Date: Mon, 04 Mar 1996 09:41:18 -0800
Subject: Re: A Stubborn Position

Bobbie Giordano wrote:
>
> I've been feeling some pressure lately to proclaim my agreement with the
> notion that positions on the harmonica are represented by nothing more than
> designated holes and their airflow direction [i.e., blow or draw,] with no
> relationship to modes, scales, or anything for that matter. Just a place.
> Though I much prefer being as accordant as anyone, I've absorbed too much
> in studying this matter lately to view it so simply.
>
>
> Hence, my frustration when I finally looked into the position designations
> of alternately tuned harmonicas. It made no sense, on its surface, to me.

Because you aren't accepting the premise. Before chromatic playing on a
diatonic harmonica was demonstrated, there was a pretty tight link between where
you started playing and what mode you were in. (There still is for us mere
mortals..). But, the addition of valves, overblows, and overdraws changes the
rules. So, maybe now it would make more sense to redefine position numbers--but
tradition has a way of taking hold.

> Positions changing locations, modes, scales...different from one tuning to
> another. Now positions aren't even standard in their positions? Too much!

I think you mean "Now modes aren't even standard in their positions?"

>
> The modes are defined. Scales have their own meanings. The circle of fifths
> and chords are structured.
>
> So what gives with the positions? Whatever they are.

If we accept the definition of position as "which hole and how it is played as
the root note", then it is clearly defined. You can speak of the mode
associated with the natural notes (unbent) of a particular position.

Let's look at the piano. You can start at any white key, and play only
successive white keys, and get a different mode (one associated with each
starting white key). If you call the root white key the starting position, you
end up with the situation diatonic players are in. White keys correspond to
unbent notes; black keys, bent ones.

But that doesn't mean you can't start at any white key and play any mode by
using both white and black keys. Straight and bent notes. Any position.

Mic'l