The Most Overlooked Position | Blues and Country Music | Howard Levy Diatonic Harmonica

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Why don’t most harmonica players know how great 12th position is for playing blues and country music? The overlooked key of 5 draw (F on a C harp) is FULL of sweet-sounding bends and licks- a real winner! If you haven’t tried it, this video will start you off on the right foot.
The harmonicas I use in this video:
(For demonstrating Just Intonation: Herring Master Blues in C)
Hohner Golden Melody in C
Hohner Crossover in C, customized by Joe Filisko
► Howard’s harmonica books- Rhythms of the Breath, Vol.1+Vol.2: levyland.com/book-rhythms-of-...
Free Backing Tracks: levyland.com/teaching-videos-...
► My Harps and Gear: levyland.com/my-harps-and-gear
► Howard’s online harmonica school: artistworks.com/harmonica-les...
► Website: levyland.com/
► Facebook: / howardlevyfanpage
► Instagram: / howardlevyland
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0:28 Introducing positions
1:14 Why didn’t people play in F?
3:02 Why do I like playing in 12th?
4:41 How to play Blues with no OB/OD
8:11 Slow Blues in F
9:38 How to play Blues with OB/OD
11:21 Slow Blues in F
12:47 How to play Country Music
14:40 Country Tune in F

Пікірлер: 71

  • @FilipJersMusic
    @FilipJersMusic Жыл бұрын

    Everytime I hear you play and talk about music, I pick up a harmonica and start playing. Thanks! 😀

  • @dennisferrell3662

    @dennisferrell3662

    Жыл бұрын

    Filip, I feel the same every time I listen to you play as well.

  • @gregoryporch8395

    @gregoryporch8395

    5 ай бұрын

    I didn't think 6th Position was possible until watching Filip Jers

  • @gregcox9205
    @gregcox9205 Жыл бұрын

    I think this guy has insight into the harmonica that is leagues beyond all others!

  • @abaddonbolero9605
    @abaddonbolero96058 ай бұрын

    This man has such a commanding GRASP of the whole enchilada,,,it's BEYOND Amazing, But Howard I just Love the way you incorporate and relate the playing styles of the guitar Giants we grew Up with........just.....So Good...... You're like a Blues (and it doesn't stop There) Encyclopedia....and FUNKY Too! Thank you.

  • @p1nesap
    @p1nesap Жыл бұрын

    Finally I get how positions are named, thanks!

  • @HowardLevyland

    @HowardLevyland

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad I could help!

  • @lukasholly4453
    @lukasholly4453 Жыл бұрын

    Well, it isn' surprising at all, that 12th position is suitable for playing blues. Relative minor to F is D minor. And that is the 3rd position on C harmonica. So when you play blues in d minor or F major, you can use the d minor pentatonic scale in 3rd position. I like the addition of OD and OB to this position, and its use in country music. Anyway, excellent video as always. Thank you Mr. Levy.

  • @gabrieln3613
    @gabrieln3613 Жыл бұрын

    I have played harmonica 48 years and was able to play full-time by age 20. I generally, as most do, play mostly in 2nd, 3rd, 1st position and some Chromatic. I started out in Bluegrass and was full-time in country music, listening to these country licks in 12 th position is mind-bending...in a good way, thanks Howard! I had a Swing Dance band for 10 years and we covered many Jazz Standards too.....I "discovered" 12th position when working out what harp to play on a Billie Holiday song "Day in Day Out" that is actually in key of F so, yes a "C" harp- either Chromatic or Diatonic works and I alternate depending on the day. Anyway, the song is structured as three 16 bar sections and then an 8 bar tag section on the end. The first 8 bars each time are the same, then the second 8 bars have a slight variation mostly in chord voicings but distinct. Then comes the final 8 bars. The chords are beautiful and I discovered everything laid out really naturally in 12 th position (I do not play overblows) even though the song is very "Jazzy" sounding and it really swings as well. I can only imagine with Howard's overblow techniques and music theory background how he could really FLY over that song in 12 th position. Worth looking up, Billie Holiday's lyrics on it also are very cool.

  • @cpjuliansp
    @cpjuliansp4 ай бұрын

    I won't be able to play anymore... my jaw is on the floor!

  • @tilltheisen7258
    @tilltheisen7258 Жыл бұрын

    I don‘t know why , but his 12th Position Videos hold a Special Place in my Heart. Thank you sir!

  • @bobstannard8551
    @bobstannard8551 Жыл бұрын

    I never ceased to be amazed at not only your playing, but your knowledge of this instrument. Just beautiful

  • @pierrepineau5988
    @pierrepineau59885 ай бұрын

    The 12th position has much in common with the third position because the D minor pentatonic (Third position on a C harp) is actually the F major pentatonic in 12th position. And the blues scale in third position is another blues scale (a jazzy one) in 12th position, as the b5 in third position is the minor third in 12th position.

  • @funwithmadness
    @funwithmadness Жыл бұрын

    Great video... Howard chilling on his couch, nerding out on harp talk with a couple of Grammy awards behind him on the mantle. :D

  • @graemethorne4540
    @graemethorne45404 ай бұрын

    You Sir are so inspiring thankyou.

  • @janpeters-jansongsproducti1010
    @janpeters-jansongsproducti1010 Жыл бұрын

    Yes thank you Howard!

  • @rayGale
    @rayGale Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, Howard I love the 12 position for a lot of major tunes. It just sets up so well that major scale with all those beautiful bends

  • @jayjay1598
    @jayjay159810 ай бұрын

    Truly enlightening and inspiring. Many thanks!

  • @michaelkral
    @michaelkral Жыл бұрын

    Awesome really 🙏

  • @J.M.Stigner
    @J.M.Stigner Жыл бұрын

    So good, cheers Howard

  • @willgalison
    @willgalison Жыл бұрын

    wonderful explanation as always!

  • @marcelo_luz
    @marcelo_luz5 ай бұрын

    Amazing!

  • @seadogbob
    @seadogbob Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Howard

  • @chrishumphries1516
    @chrishumphries1516 Жыл бұрын

    Many thanks for posting this Howard!!

  • @levargas3675
    @levargas3675 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing lesson!. Thanks for this video.

  • @martinfosterrobbins
    @martinfosterrobbinsСағат бұрын

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydian_Chromatic_Concept_of_Tonal_Organization "The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization is a 1953 jazz music theory book written by George Russell. The book is the founding text of the Lydian Chromatic Concept (LCC), or Lydian Chromatic Theory (LCT). Russell's work postulates that all music is based on the tonal gravity of the Lydian mode."

  • @TheHarmonicaBarge
    @TheHarmonicaBarge Жыл бұрын

    amazing, thanks! I have so much to learn..

  • @BlackSheepTruthMedia
    @BlackSheepTruthMedia Жыл бұрын

    so great of a lesson thank you brother

  • @baobazz_harmonica
    @baobazz_harmonica Жыл бұрын

    Awesome video ! A lot of instructions and ideas !

  • @charliebarath6409
    @charliebarath64098 ай бұрын

    Thank you, Howard! 🎶🙃

  • @robertvavra414
    @robertvavra414 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the review of Just intonation!

  • @LongBeachHuntington
    @LongBeachHuntington Жыл бұрын

    Thanks! Happy New Year!🤯

  • @Bluewaterboy
    @Bluewaterboy Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this video! So much great information!

  • @RosarioDiRubbo
    @RosarioDiRubbo Жыл бұрын

    You are terrific Sir! I love so much your style and your video's!

  • @donaldneumeyer4423
    @donaldneumeyer4423 Жыл бұрын

    Phenomenal Howard!

  • @detharp
    @detharp Жыл бұрын

    11th pos teaching appreciated too. thnx & a healty new year

  • @peteaustin5327
    @peteaustin5327 Жыл бұрын

    Awesome I learned allot !!

  • @Wurstkiste
    @Wurstkiste Жыл бұрын

    So gratefull to you for all your Videos of experience and knowledge you bring up tu us. Masterclass!

  • @mattmc2492
    @mattmc2492 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much for posting this, It’ll start to sink in in after a few watches. So much scope on a diatonic!

  • @irish_failed_guitarist
    @irish_failed_guitarist Жыл бұрын

    That blues was so cool

  • @James-hs3tu
    @James-hs3tu Жыл бұрын

    Learn from this video. Amazing!!!!!!!!

  • @MrSupersidewinder
    @MrSupersidewinder Жыл бұрын

    So many things covered in such a short time... BRAVO🎉😮

  • @jeffmason
    @jeffmason Жыл бұрын

    Great video 👍

  • @pierrepineau5988
    @pierrepineau59885 ай бұрын

    Carlos del junco has some tunes played in 12th position.

  • @gaetanocalabrese3179
    @gaetanocalabrese3179 Жыл бұрын

    Strepitoso come sempre, con la semplicità che ti contraddistingue 🙏

  • @potwms99
    @potwms99 Жыл бұрын

    Great stuff. This channel deserves way more subscribers. Thanks for your masterful teaching. Peace.

  • @TheTrumpetSoul
    @TheTrumpetSoul Жыл бұрын

    You're great as you have plenty of ideas, knowledge and applications.

  • @AdamWestUS
    @AdamWestUS Жыл бұрын

    Exelent coverage of material often overlooked! I had a contract to play George Michael's song (Careless Whisper,) and 12 pos. saved my butt!

  • @JCroozy
    @JCroozy Жыл бұрын

    Only 6600 subs? OMG you are a legend!

  • @caminhosharmonicos3444
    @caminhosharmonicos3444 Жыл бұрын

    Show 👏👏👏👏

  • @stevelewis8620
    @stevelewis8620 Жыл бұрын

    Ah, musical…genius!

  • @CurtisMcLeodMusic
    @CurtisMcLeodMusic Жыл бұрын

    Dang that is slick, I’m gonna mess around with this. Thanks Howard

  • @HowardLevyland

    @HowardLevyland

    Жыл бұрын

    That’s the idea!

  • @4tune889
    @4tune889 Жыл бұрын

    Over blew my mind

  • @ZvikaDror
    @ZvikaDror Жыл бұрын

    Wonderful video, so many good points for temperaments and how to approach the instruments, which are a superb edition to other videos you might find on YT and elsewhere regarding Harp positions! I love to play on 12th but rather on Gypsy minor scale up, Harmonic minor down: 2D'' 2D 3D''' 3D 4B 4D' 5B 5D - 5D 5B 4D' 4B 3D' 3D''' 2D 2D'' Also Byzantine: 2D'' 2D' 3D'' 3D' 4B 4D' 5B 5D I play those on Manji A in 12th to match 3rd pos on C harp and 1st pos on D, each harp gives different feel to the different minor variations and allow passages reminding Clarinet, Fiddle, Flute etc.

  • @hamonick
    @hamonick Жыл бұрын

    Just watched this video and I decided to pick up my diatonic harps

  • @philippeberland9276
    @philippeberland9276 Жыл бұрын

    Tenks'you'woward'traduction'francaise

  • @dolphy1harp
    @dolphy1harp Жыл бұрын

    👍👏

  • @rolfr6662
    @rolfr6662 Жыл бұрын

    Play the blues Howard. PLAY THE BLUES… “oh I played a 1 overblow”😂

  • @multiphony
    @multiphony Жыл бұрын

    this is beautiful in many ways.. the topic, your love for it, the way the video goes through topics along the one position.. and of course your playing!

  • @HowardLevyland

    @HowardLevyland

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks David!

  • @GreyOwl-Harmonica
    @GreyOwl-Harmonica Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this informative video Howard. Is it possible to explain why Chords sound bad on an ET harp but sound OK on a piano? Is it a feature of reeded instruments?

  • @TheRealFeechLaManna
    @TheRealFeechLaManna Жыл бұрын

    LOL I suspect you have to be such an accomplished harp player to keep up with this guy that you probably don't need the class in the first place :D

  • @nacoran

    @nacoran

    Жыл бұрын

    A bit of music theory sure helps with this. I can play in 12th, although nowhere near this proficiency level, but I can follow. at least conceptually, and I only had 100 level music theory classes. :) Of course, conceptually and practically are two different levels. There are a lot of pro-players who really don't stray far beyond 1st-3rd position.

  • @Юрій_Сова
    @Юрій_Сова Жыл бұрын

    🎼🎶👏👍💪

  • @jeffsimslmt
    @jeffsimslmt Жыл бұрын

    Great lecture with your impeccable playing! Speaking of tuning, have you ever tried tuning A=432?

  • @inerstate8

    @inerstate8

    Жыл бұрын

    432 is good, but if you really want a next-level modification, you've got to got to add a 1/1000000000 mixture of bulls-horn to water to each reed, arrange 7 quartz crystals around the harp, and do the chakra dance; otherwise your instruments aura will never align with the vibrations of the universe. Of course, this only works if you are a Libra.

  • @PostMountainCountryBoy
    @PostMountainCountryBoy Жыл бұрын

    Are you playing a C harp or an F harp,?

  • @4tune889

    @4tune889

    Жыл бұрын

    He did say that he was using a C harmonica, which he used for all tutorials. F scale is the 12th position on the C diatonic harmonica and starts from hole 2 full draw bend

  • @ross-harmonica
    @ross-harmonica Жыл бұрын

    fascinating!

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