Third position blues scales

Understanding Third Position on the Harmonica

So now we'll look at the other position that's widely used, which is third position. This involves using a minor scale that exists in the harmonica without having to bend or do any difficult techniques.

The Basics

• Starting Hole: It starts on hole number four draw, allowing you to play a minor pentatonic scale.
• Comparison with Second Position: When we play in second position, we're using a major pentatonic scale. In this case, it's a minor one.

"If you check out the site, there'll be a PDF with this scale written out for your reference."

Easy Entry into Third Position

If you want an easy way into third position:

• Stay away from the first three holes.
• Play from hole four upwards.

Key Compatibility

Play over:

• D minor
• D major

This is one of the key aspects of third position: it works over both the minor and the major key. It sounds best, if I'm honest, over the minor key, but it will still work over the major.

"The scale that we're using there is a scale in the key of D."

Hole Number Three Considerations

• The reason for staying away from the first three holes is primarily to avoid hole number three.
• This hole cannot be played in its normal state in third position; you have to bend it.

"If you're going to venture down to the first three holes, or if you're going to venture down to hole number three, you have to be able to bend it. Otherwise, it sounds off."

Freedom Beyond Hole Four

Above hole number four, you can:

• Play great big draw chords.
• Experiment with glissando (glissandi) to your heart's content.
• If you can play octaves, you can make great use of them in third position.

"It's what people who play blues on the chromatic harmonica tend to use, the one with the push button. Because if you play those in third position, you don't have to use the button, which makes life a lot easier."

Hole Number Three Demonstration

The problem with hole number three is that you always have to bend it:

• You can jump over it if you want to use one and two, that kind of thing.
• If you've never done third position before, then obviously stay away from holes one, two, and three. Focus on hole four upwards.

Characteristics of Third Position

• It allows for a looser, freer playing style.
• It sounds quite bluesy due to the use of a minor scale.

Bending in Third Position

You can use the bend in hole number six quite freely. The bend in six draw is a powerful tool if we're using it in second position.

"If we use it too much, it's a bit like putting too much chili in food. It's a little overpowering and becomes a little bit irritating if you use it too much."

However, in third position, you can use it as often as you like because it serves a different role.

Recording Session

In a moment, we'll record a couple of 12 bars in D minor and possibly also a couple in D major to show you how you can use third position effectively over these keys.

Let's Play!

• D Minor (third position): Here we go!
  1, 2, 3, 4.

• Blues in D Major (still third position for the C harmonica):
  Oh.
  1, 2, 3, 4.