[Harp-L] Harp L: Chromatic versus Diatonic

[Paul Routledge <paulandrewroutledge@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I posted the message below in a thread over on the MBH forum and  
thought it might be a good topic to explore here.

I'm not personally a great fan of overblows as I have stated on  
previous occasions. However I do think that they have a place in  
music. It's just my preference not to use them.

I can see why some people like using them in a blues context, but when  
it comes to playing jazz, classical, pop, etc and wishing to play  
chromatically. I can't see why people wouldn't just choose to use a  
chromatic harmonica instead. The tonality exhibited by most people  
playing chromatically on a diatonic in genres outside of blues (and  
maybe country music) is so close to the chromatic, that I honestly  
don't see any real tangible benefits in using it.

For example if you listen to the audio clip that Chris Michalek  
posted. It is extremely good playing as usual by Chris, although it's  
overall tonality owes more to the chromatic work of Stevie Wonder and  
Toots than anything else. So I just can't see why it wouldn't be  
better to use the chromatic.

The clip by Chris can be found about halfway down this page:  http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/607263.htm?page=1

I'd be interested in hearing the reasons for and against choosing to  
use a diatonic played chromatically over the chromatic harmonica, when  
playing in genres outside of blues.


Paul