Cross Harp

Also known as “second position playing,” cross harp is a system that originated with the blues and that has expanded into other genres. Cross harp is a system where a diatonic harmonica tuned to a key a fourth (five half steps) higher than the song’s key is used. For example, for a song in the key of G, a diatonic C harmonica would be used. This results in the harmonica playing a blues scale with a flatted seventh (in our example, the flat 7 is an F), and draw notes that can be bent for additional expression.