Re: [Harp-L] Standing at the crossroads

[Philharpn@xxxxxxx]

How fast do you want to accomplish this? 

Go buy a Hohner Slide Harp and you can be playing all the chromatic notes 
(all black and white notes on piano) before you get the harp out of the box. I 
think they cost about $100 today. The Hohner model comes only in the key of C. 
(But you could probably special order one from Seydel in any key you want for 
about the same price.) More below.


If you can do blow bends, then you can handle the Promaster and XB40. The 
Promaster plays "faster" than the XB40. But talking about it won't do it; you 
have to actually spend some time on your own Promaster and XB40 to make a 
comparison. (And I don't think borrowing a harp for a few minutes will do the job.)

If you already have a XB40, you know it is as big as a 10-hole chromatic. If 
you don't have any problem with the size of the harp and the holes, go with 
it.

A lot of people don't like it because it is bigger and doesn't quite behave 
like the small 10-hole harp. But then it does so much more. And that is the 
second major problem. Since you can get so many bends on it, it is more difficult 
to play than a standard 10-hole because it presents more opportunities to hit 
the wrong note.   

All the notes bend and if you hit a reed with a faulty embouchure you will 
accidentally bend it to the wrong note. Chances are, you couldn't do the same 
bend if you tried on a standard 10-hole because of its limitations.

You don't mention the Hohner Slide Harp. It is a diatonic set up like a 
chromatic. You already know the layout -- where the notes are and where the bends 
are. Press the button and you get the extra chromatic notes you want with no 
effort. Because it is half-valved like the Promaster, you can also blow bend the 
first six holes. The valves just cut down on the air leaks; they don't block 
any bends.

As for overblows, there are two parts to the exercise. (1) You have to learn 
how to execute them (play them) and then (2) play them on demand in a musical 
context and (3) make them "musical" -- they usually sound as musical as a car 
horn. I'm sure there are folks on the list that will assure you that you can 
master all parts of the overblow in an afternoon. 

The standard chromatic -- often called the "complicated" chromatic and 
"unusually difficult to master" chromatic -- is another matter. The thing that makes 
it complicated to learn is that every octave is exactly like the holes 4-7 on 
the diatonic and pushing the lever raises every note a half-step. It is 
further complicated the each octave is complete. The blow pattern is CEGC CEGC CE 
which gives you double Cs. Unlike the diatonic: CEG CEG CEG C. (There is no gap 
in the hole spacing on either harp; it just typed them that way to make it 
easier to see the difference.)

Most people find the chromatic nearly impossible to master (judging by 
reaction on this list recently) apparently because the layout IS different from the 
diatonic and they get lost -- because they EXPECT it to be the same. 

Some ppeople think you have to read music to master the chromatic but that is 
not true. Most people who play the chromatic can't read music and play in the 
key of C. Many of them play it upside down. There are a few exceptions. (If 
you don't believe me, check out any SPAH convention or the SlideMeister list.) 
The problem with test driving a chromatic is that you have to buy one to test 
it and you can't take it back and they cost a lot more than a blues harp. 

You could consult with a teacher who plays all three who might be able to 
explain better the differences between overblows, valved harps and solo tuned 
chromatics. 

However, what a teacher is able to do may not work for you. And no matter how 
much time you spend on any one of these harps (pick one) you just can't get 
it to work.

In short, there are no easy answers. You're gonna have to try each one to 
find out. 
Hope this helps.
Phil Lloyd






 





In a message dated 6/18/08 7:13:51 AM, rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:


> I have been playing diatonic for 30 years, although I went through a 
> long while of not playing much while I learned the guitar. Meantime, 
> harmonica technology exploded. When I started playing harp properly 
> again rather than just bluedooling occasionally, I bought a variety of 
> "new" harps to try out. I am interested in playing chromatically and I 
> can do all bends easily on a diatonic, but overblows are not coming 
> easily. So I could go any of 3 routes:
> (1) Keep to diatonic master overblows
> (2) Use valved harps like the Suzuki promaster or the Hohner XB-40
> (3) Learn the chromatic
> Some people on this list will have happily done all 3, but my time and 
> energy is limited. I also think from my attempts so far that the 3 
> techniques interfere with each other (in my musical brain anyway). Any 
> comments on the costs and benefits of each for chromatic playing would 
> be appreciated.
> 
> Richard
> 
> Richard Hammersley
> Grantshouse, Scottish Borders
> http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley
> http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley
> http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
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> 
> 




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