PORT TOWNSEND — Participants will learn a series of standards on the harmonicas during the Port Townsend Harmonica Union Meeting from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.
The jam and teaching will be at the Quaker Port Townsend Friends Meetinghouse, 1841 Sheridan St.
A free-will offering will help organizers pay for the $50 room.
Participants will learn what a “straight harp” is. Diatonic straight harp is playing a harmonica in what is called “straight harp first position,” organizers said.
If a tune is in a specific key, then it must be played on a harmonica in that key. For instance, if a tune is played in the key of D, one must use a D harmonica.
Participants will learn a series of common standard tunes such as “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain” and gradually move to folk tunes played for old-time dances.
“Later in the year, we will transition into some country-western and ’40s and ’60s popular tunes,”organizers said.
Basics of third position
Chicago Bob Longmire will teach the basics of third position.
“By mainly using the draw notes and shaping your mouth in ways you may not think possible, he will have you wailing away like a true blues player,” organizers said.
Participants also will be schooled in learning to play by ear.
“Ever go to a jam and you don’t know the music? Would you like to learn the techniques that will enable you to play almost note for note a tune you have never played before? George Yount will show you how,” organizers said.
Schedule
Here is the schedule:
• Noon to 12:15 p.m. — Registration, questions and answers.
• 12:35 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. — Preview of the program tunes of the day, which are “Sunny Side of the Street,” “Year of the Jubilo,” “Lady Be Good” and “Ain’t She Sweet.”
• 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. — Learning session on playing melody, chords and rhythm at the same time, taught by Yount.
• 1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. — Break, announcements.
• 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. — Learning session on the third position, playing minor tunes, one whole tone above the first position key — e.g., a song in D minor on a C harmonica — taught by Longmire.
• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Tunes-of-the-day orchestration.
• 2:20 p.m. to 3 p.m. — Tune-sharing jam session. Participants are urged to bring a list of four or five tunes.
