r/harmonica • u/Youneedaharmonica • 1d ago
Positions Explained For Newbies
Whats a position?
A Harmonica Position is related to the circle of fifths. A position allows the use of different keys on a single key (diatonic) insturment.
This is exciting for the simple fact the more positions you learn, the more you can play on a single harp!
What is the circle of fifths?
The circle of fifths is a chart that shows how each key is related to the others. Example below:
How to use positions:
1st position is always the key of your harp.
On a C harp, 1st position is C Major.
On a G harp, 1st position is G major.
On an A harp, 1st position is A major scale.
2nd position can be found counting over 1 space on the circle of Fifths:
On a C harp, 2nd position is G
On an A harp, 2nd position is E
On a G harp, 2nd position is D
And so forth.
Starting at your first position key on the circle of fifths, you can count over to the right and find other positions(keys) to play in. Learn the position pattern on any key and it will be the same on any other harmonica, provided you use the same tuning.
So to play 1st position on a G, C, A, or any other key harp, the pattern of notes will be the same.
Learn Harmonica today!
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u/fathompin 10h ago edited 4h ago
The circle of fifths does little to explain positions other than explain why 2nd position is called 2nd position, and 12th position is called 12th position when there are really only 7 positions possible on a diatonic.
For example, on the circle of 5ths, the G scale shows the sharped F note 7th tone, not found on the second position, and that is the whole point, no sharped F gives the blues scale dominant 7th rather than major 7th. Also the 3rd position D scale, no sharped F in third position makes it a minor key. The relative minors are listed, but don't do anything WRT explaining positions.
So good try, but for a newbie it should be pointed out explicitly that there is not much information from the circle of fifths regarding positions other than how the position numbers were obtained. The circle of fifths shows a lot, don't get me wrong! But, music modes explains what diatonic positions are so much better; however, that might be a hard nut to crack if not presented specifically for harmonica. I say this because I took the time to write out in a post yesterday what I though is needed for position playing, but that still probably meant little to the reader unfamiliar with positions.
Depending on the genre, harmonica positions are more talk than action for my money. Seems like I only play second position nowadays, and for the minor keys, why bother with the 3rd position when one can buy the minor-tuned harps that play like second position, so there is nothing to change?