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From: flowe~sf.org (Ken Flowers)
Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 13:25:40 -0500
Subject: Position = Mode: A Myth?

I frequently hear the terms position lumped with mode on this
forum. I am starting to think of these two terms as related
but not synonamous. How do these definitions work for people:

Mode: One of the seven greek modes (Ionian, Mixolydian,Dorian
Aeolian, Phrygian, Locrian, Lydian) used for giving different
feels to the music. These are always played using the notes
of the related Major scale but by changing the tonic (I) note
according to the circle of fifths.

Position: A term used by harmica players to refer to a means
of playing a harmonica in multiple keys through the use of
bending, and overblowing techniques. Those key positions
are commonly labeled according to the circle of fifths convention.

When we say we are playing cross harp or second position, it
is my understanding that we are playing in the key of G Major on
a C harp. That is we are trying to match up with other players
who are using the G Major scale, thus:

G A B C D E F# G

I don't think we are saying that, dispite the fact that everyone
else is playing in G Major (Ionian), we will play in G Mixolydian,
thus:

G A B C D E F G

Or are we? Herein lies the rub - do we really mean for the F or
the F# leading note? (I usually skip the 5-, because it often doesn't
fit well, hence I think we mean F#)

Or when we play 5th position (E on a C harp) do we really mean:

E F G A B C D E

or

E F# G# A B C# D# E

If the band is playing in E Major we better not be playing Phrygian
mode, or we'll sound really bad.

What say ye? Am I only playing on 19 reeds?

Ken