1) is there a "standard form" for minor blues? anything akin to the standard 12 bar?
2) when i was first learning minor blues i fell into 5th position and it seems to work pretty well, especially since the equivalent major scale is the 2nd position (i.e. Em in 5th and G in cross are both on a C)... any thoughts on 5th position for minor? 5th position vs 3rd?
Is it already 10 days ago that I said that my computer (noise) problems looked like they were solved? Well they are now and I feel like crying (from happiness) cause it's been awhile (more than 1 year ). I put something at the jam, but it's more like proof that I'm still playing and able to upload all by myself..... :crying:
PS is there a chance that the minor blues bt at Jon's jam is broken? Can't get it to play....
Irritating noise problems on my computer were the main obstacle for me to record anything worth listening to. It seems like I've solved the problem(s) and I'm getting ready to give it another shot. As for as the others.... I don't know... there used to be quite some people uploading their stuff here before, but they went to other jams and/or disappeared.... It would be nice to get some action going on again, especially since this is also a very good place for beginners to show their stuff and less intimidating than most other jams where there are lots of great players. Like your post at the jam, feels like sitting on a porch after a good dinner, nice playing :biggrin:
That is a nice track posted by Mark Wilson Dutch..I have been working on it myself. Mark wanted to hear someone attempt it in 12th pos. That would be with an A harp. I have done some of it in 5th and some of it in 3rd but, 12th is far beyond me.. I like the one in Jon's jam even better. Something is wrong with it as it wont play nor can I download it. I think Willie needs to upload it again.. Why does no one upload their versions there? I would be intersested to hear some. There are a couple very nice accoustic tracks.. I put one up altho it is not very good. I got in too big a hurry to post it..
There is a beautiful backing track at the jam at Harmonica Boogie.com. It's called "Slow minor in D". Check out the various versions played by the people there. Although the basic concept is to use a "C" harmonica to play 3rd position, you'll find that there are also other ways to play along with a minor song.
i wanted to chime in on third position playing. it has expanded my range of choices for harp keys and styles on a lot of songs. many songs that have worked well as second position songs now work GREAT with third. blues, country, rock, and jazz seem to be the styles that i get the most out of third.
minor key songs lend themselves to third position i think because third involves more minor notes. we do a couple or 3 minor songs in my duo, "gambler's blues" and a new original i penned and my wife worked out the music to, "the evil that you know". i find the lower key harps up to D and Eb seem to work best for third and esp the lower keys for minor work.
third to me is also an essential skill to have for playing blues with a chromatic. it seems to me that the chrom was built for third position playing. not on all blues, but i have heard delta guys on up through jump/swing guys use chromatic with great results. my adventures with chrom in third also have really expanded my range and added to my bag of tricks on stage. with third you can conceivably sit in with jazz, latin, jump/swing, country, blues, and probably some genres i have not gotten to as yet.
lee oskar makes a minor tuned harp- actually 2. one is more for european folk. i have one but rarely get it out, i have used straight up diatonics for so many years, and chro for about 6 years now. and the oskar i got is not a key that i've had occasion to play much. it's in Dm, and that has not beena common key for guitarists to use at least around here.
Now back to the pratiscing on those hand effects (my current subject) I just wanted to asked about the Minor thing while I remebered it, because I got so impressed when I heard a Minor Blues 8-)
I will be sure to go back to this Minor playing sometime, but this I got now will get me a good start so thx alot guys
Btw.
Just got myself a webcam with a Mic so that Im planning on using to record my self Soundwise (video I need some more confinence to do though hehe) but the idea was that I would start to record my self and See if I can hear some progress as I go along 8-)
Just to expand a little on what Jawbone said about playing 3rd position for minor blues.
For 3rd position use a harp that is one step back from the key of the song as Jawbone said. For example, song in Am, use a G harp. Song in Em, use a D harp. Song in Dm, use your C harp.
Try playing the following easy 3rd position scale (negative sign means draw, no sign means blow, ' means to bend). Your root notes are -4 and -8.
-4 -5 6 -6' -6 7 -8
You also have a root note down at -1. Try using the 1-4 draw octave as Jawbone said .... it sounds great.
Hi Ken - in 3rd pos use the harp 1 key back, Am use G, Dm use C etc. 4 draw is your root. Avoid the unbent 3. I avoid the 2 and 3 draw totally. The 1 - 4 draw and blow tongue block is a nice effect. Just play along with a minor key jam track. You'll soon see what works. It is a sweet sad sound for sure. jawbone (north)
Hi there been a while since I been in here and damm it has changed alot I must say, great new look.
I have a little question I hope you can help be better understand.
just this week I heard what is called a minor blues for the first time, and oh boy that sounded sweet 8-)
My question is what is a minor blues, how is it diffrent from say Crossharp playing, I seem to recall that Minor is played in what you call third Position (am I on the right track here?)
I don't know if this is the normal description of the style, but the Minor Sounded alot more like a real sad slow blues.
is the "trick" diffrent key's or is it the holes you play that makes the diffrence.
really hope some of you guys/girls can help me understand what a Minor blues is.
