Hi Brian - I use 3rd position quite often (more than any other player I know actually). Keep in mind that there are MANY ways for 3rd position to sound different than 2nd (especially away from holes 4-6), but mastering the blues scale and playing all notes in tune outside of this area of the harp is more complex than standard 2nd position playing. More than likely, the reason what you're playing sounds like 2nd position is that in the middle octave while playing 3rd position, there are tuning similarities on the lower octave in 2nd position, which can make some licks/patterns sound similar to 2nd position. Since the lower octave in 2nd position is most players "comfort zone" this is usually a big help for players. 

There is another track I found you might like too.  Another talent that was not a big headliner because of the decline in audience of blues in general in the 80s and 90s.  I recently saw an old interview with Buddy Guy, and he was asked what his worst experience in music was; and he answered that his kids did not know who he was until they got old enough to go to a club because they had stopped playing blues on the radio.  Lean times for blues musicians.  This is of James Son Thomas on a tour in Europe, singing his song "Beef Steak Blues".  He only recorded one record, I think.  There is very little video of him around, but I found this song and it really got to me.  I have been playing it for a while; not exactly the same but pretty close to the right groove.  It also has a couple of great lyrics: "beef steak when I'm hungry, whiskey when I'm dry; beef steak when I'm hungry, whiskey when I'm dry; a pretty woman while I'm livin', and heaven when I die."  This is a bit easier to figure out, it's in standard played in E.  What I find is, when you really hit this groove right, people start tapping their foot and dancing.  Here is is on the bill with a couple of very good bands, but he still lays it down.  It's also very cool because the lyrics start pretty much on the IV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg6XG0WGFr8                         17:47

Seems like we are like minded! Agree with your thinking. Sometimes less is more and Jennie Mae Hemphill proves that. Regards

Hi, Does anyone have a 12 bar backing track in A that would be suitable for me to play harp to on "keep our business to yourself" ? It figures I would pick one of the first lessons for me to do and it doesn't have a backing track.  Thanks

Both Dennis and Rick are excellent chromatic players and play it regularly in their shows. I use it strictly on a "need to" basis. Not sure how many of our subscribers have a chromatic. A couple of introductory lessons may be a possibility - it's something I'll speak to Mike about.

I play either the Hohner Marine Band DeLuxe or the Hohner Crossover.

No apologies necessary.  I'm glad you found it as appealing as I did. And the community here is a great resource; I enjoy it. I was really taken by the song and her great vocal delivery.  And this was a little known artist just carrying on a tradition.  So economical and perfect.  The groove is something you can listen to indefinitely.  And she has that great confidence in the music that she knows you are going to listen without playing a lot of notes or getting loud.  That's one thing I really admired about Hooker, is that he could just with absolute confidence play a couple of notes and just sit there and people would immediately start listening.  Somebody who played with him said that when they would start and it was very noisy in the crowd, instead of upping the volume to get their attention, he would go down, way way down in volume, and start playing those notes, and every time the crowd would quiet down and strain to hear and start listening.  Jennie Mae Hemphill, before that track, says "you want to hear me put the blues down now?  I can put em down now, I can put em down. I can get you to put on your walkin shoes."  It just reminds me of what the music is about.  Not just strats, les pauls, big amps and recycled riffs.

Hi Vinny.  Apologies for jumping in. But wanted to thank you for introducing me to that Jennie Mae Hemphill track.  As you say 'deadly'. Echoes of Hooker and Burnside. What a groove. Would be great to get that down!

My bad on the spot where Jennie Mae Hemphill appears - it's about 18:12 into the video which is 1:31:14 long.

Great, so glad you agree.  For some reason I did not get a notice by email that there was a reply here, so I just read your message.  I like this groove he hits in Poor Black Mattie, Jumper on the LIne, Shake em on Down.  He plays slide too, but I love these songs just with this synchopated boogie beat in open G.  It's sort of  a doorway to a whole world of songs in that style, including John Lee Hooker.  And while we're on the subject, I don't know if you ever heard of Jennie Mae Hemphill.  I found only one example of her on YouTube and I don't think she was ever recorded.  Not a famous player, but from the same area as Burnside.  Her family were fife and drum players and I think her grand father was recorded by the Library of Congress.  But there is this rather low key documentary made in the 90s where she plays this song "You Can Talk About Me" - and her playing of this song is absolutely deadly.  This music is so elegant and simple and perfect in a way.  If you have not seen it, this is a very unique.  I think it's in Open D, down tuned a bit. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T8T0pcCxLw                 1:31 into the video she plays.

Have been playing for a long time and have been fronting a working band for the past four years. My frustration is in that when I use third position, unless I use chords or octaves, it pretty much sounds like 2nd position. I really noticed this today while working with Taj Mahals "Everybodys gotta change sometime" it's done in the key of G so when I switch back and forth between a C and LO F harp it sounds very similar, that is unless I do octaves. Maybe it's just the style as eth Taj Mahals version of "Checkin up on my baby" using a Bb for third position it sounds like cross but that's how he does it. 

Vinny that is a good suggestion.  I knew R.L. and we toured together in the US and Europe.  He would slay them with a smile every time.  Tell me a song that you have in mind.

I was wondering if you go into more instruction on doing  bends and timing, the essentials to getting better on the harmonica. Could you do some more detailed lesson on those things. 

Hi Frank --- you're computer and OS should be fine.  Firefox too.  

My first guess is that you are missing the Flash Player plugin.  You can get it here:

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

If that doesn't work, can you tell me what happens when you go to a Swingin the Blues lesson and click on the video.

Thanks.

Medion, Windows 8, Firefox

Thanks for answer

Mr. Robillard would you kindly sign a photo and send it to me?

Hi Frank --- yes, I can help.  Can you tell me a bit about your setup

1. what type of computer 

2. what browser (Chrome, Safari, IE, Firefox or .... )

We should be able to get this fixed.  FYI that these lessons require the Flash Player.

I cannot get the lessions " Swinging the blues ". Could you help me?

Thanks

Frank

Thanks Duke

Hi Bill, I think its fine to work on more than one song at a time as long as you don't do too many as to forget what you're working on. Duke 

Hi Duke,
    Do you think it's okay to work on multiple songs at a time or is it better to master one song then move on to the next?

Thanks,

Bill

Sure Bill, I'll consider them both. Good songs. Duke 

Corey:  I know you get a lot of requests, but I wonder if you feel comfortable ever doing something in R.L. Burnside's Hill Country style?  Looks simple but strumming-dampening-rythms are very tricky.  I can get close but no cigar, as they say.  A lot of the same notes you hear from John Lee Hooker but somewhat different style.  I love this house party dance music; people can listen to it all night long.  A song in Spanish tuning; although I know he played in other tunings as well.

Hi Duke,
    I would love if you would teach two songs by The Fabolous Thunderbirds if you would ever consider teaching them.

Scratch My Back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QzJdUpz3is

Wait On Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JykOs5r9PZ4

Thanks

Bill

And to you also Mark