Re: [Harp-L] Chromatic challenge?



Some time ago, The Ode to Joy Summer Challenge surfaced.

It related to playing the Ode in second position on 12 different keyed 
diatonic harps as I recall.

An easy test (and probably equally invalid) would be to go to that site, 
print or play off the screen the versions of the Ode in 12 different keys on one C 
chromatic to find out which keys work best or worse, easy or kinda easy.

The Ode is short enough that those who want to try it out can convert it to 
chromatic tab without too much difficulty. And for those that read, a piece a 
cake.

Directing people to run through the 12 scales would require some to locate or 
input the scales and tab them out on 16-hole and 12-hole (most common 
models?) for those who don't read -- and it probably wouldn't be a much fun.

Now if there is a fatal flaw with Ode, perhaps there is another short piece 
that would work. The scale song from Sound of Music; the Christmas song Joy to 
the World descending scale. But the chief advantage of Ode is that it is 
already there.

This also might have the added benefit of opening up opportunities for more 
people to use the chromatic once they see how readily it adapts to the 
different keys. 

Phil Lloyd


In a message dated 3/27/08 1:49:37 PM, bon@xxxxxxxxxx writes:


> >
> > In theory, we should all learn to play in all 12 keys -- especially 
> > on the
> > chromatic where we don't have to worry about bends and overblows. 
> > But most of
> > us  don't have that kind of time.
> 
> As I have taught many people to play chromatic, I disagree highly.  
> If you don't try to bite off more than you can chew, you could 
> practice one scale, AND ONLY ONE SCALE, for a whole week with it's 
> arpeggio and in 24 weeks you would know all major and minor scales.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >
> >  Even if we understand the layout of the chromatic harmonica and music
> > theory and how it relates to the harmonica and can sight read -- at 
> > half speed  or
> > less -- our way through some standard pop tunes, we soon realize the
> > limitations of the C chromatic. While in theory the C chromatic can 
> > "play" in  all
> > keys; it is no piano and it really can't.
> >
> 
> Part of this statement is true, the chromatic is no piano, the 
> harmonica can crescendo, have vibrato, change tonal colors, bend 
> notes and do all kinds of things the piano can't.  It CAN play it all 
> the keys and depending on the piece, very odd keys may lie better 
> with a certain piece than others, well, just like the piano.
> 
> As Winslow already astutely pointed out, a key like B Major might 
> have some really cool advantages for a certain piece, like playing 
> the 2nd and the 7th, B and A together.
> 
> Harmonically yours,
> 
> Robert Bonfiglio
> http://www.robertbonfiglio.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> 
> 




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