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From: Mike Curtis
Date: Sat, 31 Aug 1996 13:06:58 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: All these positions

On Fri, 30 Aug 1996, Mark wrote:

> Hi all. I hope I dont sound too simpelton by asking this, but
> I was wondering how many positions there are, and what holes to you
> play to play each position?


This is an entirely reasonable question. There are 12 positions. Going
by the present-day most accepted method of using the circle of fifths,
on a C major diatonic harp they are:


1 C 4B
2 G 2D
3 D 4D
4 A 6D
5 E 5B
6 B 3D
7 F# 2Db
8 Db 4Db
9 Ab 3Dbbb
10 Eb 8Bb
11 Bb 3Db
12 F 5D

1st column= position number
2nd column= key on a C harp
3rd column= where the first note of the scale is located .

While scales are often associated with positions, any scale can be played
in any position, e.g. while 2nd position is usually associated with
mixolydian mode (major scale with a "flatted" or "natural" seventh), it
can easily be played in dorian or aeolian minor with a few nominal bends,
etc. Therefore, in a very strict sense it is inaccurate to say that any
particular position is "in" a particular mode.


-- IronMan Mike Curtis
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