Lee Oskar Major Diatonic Harmonica key of F Low

Understanding 1^st & 2^nd Positions

The Major Diatonic Harmonica was originally intended for playing simple Folk music of the nineteenth century and its notation layout was adequate for that purpose. The Major Diatonic harmonica is the most commonly used tuning for playing Blues, Rock, Country Folk & Jazz.

Several other manufacturers, using various names stamped on their cover plates, for marketing purposes, have the exact same notation layout as a Lee Oskar Major Diatonic harmonica.

The original style of playing, known as 1^st Position (Straight Harp), is suitable for playing simple melodies, Folk music and various other types of music that call for melody lines, along with some chords. 1^stPosition (Straight Harp), is still used by many players today, but due to its simplicity of sound, it is not as popular as 2^nd Position (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 2^nd Position (Cross Harp). 90% of today’s players use 2^nd Position for Blues, Rock, Country & Pop music.

2^nd 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).

FEATURES:
* Slide-Together Interlocking Cases

• Convenient for carrying multiple harps
• Color-coded tunings for fast, easy indexing

* Durable Plastic Comb

• Eliminates swelling and shrinkage
• Projects loudly with a brightly balanced sound
• Wide chambers and narrow dividers for ease of playing
• Precision-molded, recessed bed secures reed plates and prevents air leakage

* 1st & 2nd Positions Clearly Identified

• At both ends of the comb

* Replaceable Reed Plates

• Top quality brass
• Mounted to the comb with 3 Self-Tapping-Screws

* Expertly Tuned to 441 Plus

• For a brighter sound

* Equal Tuning by Octaves

• Excellent for single-note lead playing