1st Position: Folk & Country
Most Folk and Country music is played on the harmonica in the key of the blow (exhale) chord.
This is called 1st Position, or straight harp, playing.
F# Major scale played in 1st Position on an F# Major Diatonic harmonica.
Begin by strumming your guitar.
With your F# Major Diatonic harmonica in its holder, starting with blow (exhale), try to pick out a melody in the midrange of the harmonica.
2nd Position: Blues, Rock/Pop, Country
Most Blues, Rock, and modern Country music is played on the harmonica in the key of the draw (inhale) chord. This is called 2nd Position, or cross harp, playing. For example, playing an F# Major Diatonic harmonica in the key of C#.
Mixolydian Scale (commonly used in Funk, Blues, and Rock music) played in the key of C# in 2nd Position on the F# Major Diatonic harmonica.
Notice the second note requires a whole step bend on draw 3. Click here for more info.
Begin by strumming a basic Blues shuffle in the key of C#.
With your F# Major Diatonic harmonica in its holder, chop chords on the backbeat, drawing for the I chord (C#) and blowing for the IV chord (F#). The harmonica doesn't have a V chord in 2nd position, but Blues harmonica players often substitute a warble on holes 4 and 5 draw.
With practice, you can work up an accompaniment pattern on the harmonica and use it to keep rhythm for a guitar solo.
The 1st and 2nd positions are labeled on either end of Lee Oskar harmonicas.
For more about the Major Diatonic, check out this
chord reference guide.