Model: 1910 – Labeled in 1st Position – Orange Label
Available in 18 Keys (Listed low to high):
Low C, Low D, Low E, Low F, Low F#, G, Ab, A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#, Hi G
About the Major Diatonic Harmonica
The Major Diatonic is the standard Blues tuning and may be played in the 1st & 2nd Positions (Straight Harp & Cross Harp).
The evolution of music introduced Blues, Rock and Country and along with these new forms of music came the need for greater expression. Harmonica players began to experiment and found that when they primarily used the inhale (draw) notes, a different kind of sound was provided. This resulted in a new and more fluid style of playing, known as 2nd Position (Cross Harp). 90% of today’s players use 2nd Position for Blues, Rock, Country & Pop music.
2nd Position (Cross Harp), is a Blues scale that offers a more expressive and soulful sound. Many of the draw reeds can be bent (a technique used to change the pitch of a note).
Understanding 1st / 2nd Position
Although it is possible to play in many keys of music on any one harmonica by using various positions, most players use only the first two positions, 1st Position also known as Straight Harp, (starting from Blow) and 2nd Position also known as Cross Harp (starting from Draw).
Although it is possible to play in many keys of music on any one harmonica by using various positions and techniques, most players use only the first two positions; 1st Position (also known as Straight Harp) and 2nd Position (also known as Cross Harp).
NOTE: It is important to know that 1st Position (starting from BLOW / EXHALE) plays in a different key from 2nd Position (starting from DRAW / INHALE).
It is necessary to determine which style of playing will be used to know which key of harp to select. To determine the correct key of harp to use, refer to our Notation chart samples below and review the Resources section of this website.
For each harmonica tuning (the Standard tuning and our three Altered tunings), essential points are explained below, using specific keys as examples; however, the same patterns shown below can be used regardless of the key chosen within each tuning.
NOTE: With different techniques, you can obtain additional notes by using bending or overblows/overdraws. Some reeds can be bent to achieve multiple notes – we recommend you review the Notation Charts which includes bending to become familiar with bending patterns.
Major Diatonic HarmonicaExample: Key of CLabeled in the 1st Position Key (shown in orange as #4 Blow) |
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Available in 18 keys:Low C, Low D, Low E, Low F, Low F#, G, Ab, A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#, High G
This chart shows 4 fundamental, common playing positions (keys) of music that Major Diatonic harmonicas may be played in. The left column represents the key of the harmonica, labeled The Major Diatonic Harmonica is commonly used for playing Blues and Rock starting from |
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