Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Chromatic: Advantages of each position

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

John: 
 
While you're much further along the musical ladder than I am and I don't  
think in terms of positions, I too have several chromatics in various keys 
and  play them all. However I'm an amateur and doing so mostly to fit my music 
to an  already recorded CD or a guitarist or pianist at an impromptu 
gathering,  etc.
 
 
I prefer the A since I love its tone and I seem to be able to do a lot more 
 with it; next the Bb, although I still do use a C for its 4 octaves and  
playing along with my keyboard.
 
 
WHEN I've smiled and used the words 'I cheated' after playing (almost  no 
one EVER knows I've used an 'other keyed' chromatic until I tell them),  the 
standard reaction is bemusement (no one heard anything different) to  those 
who DO know what I do telling me that I shouldn't think of it as  cheating 
since it's anything but, and that however one  does achieve playing music is 
perfectly legitimate. 
 
 
Now those are the kind of harmonica players I can truly appreciate, even  
though they themselves play only key of C chromatics - because they 
understand  that as people we are not and never will be 'one size fits all'. As long 
as  you do make music that sounds good that should be all that matters in 
the  overall scheme of things, n'est-ce-pas? 
 
 
SO glad there are more of us talking about the use of these other keys. Are 
 yours CX-12's or 270's? I remember you mentioned losing a lot of 
instruments not  so long ago. Did you have to start building your 'kit' all over 
again?
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 10
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:36:55 -0400 (EDT)
From:  MundHarp@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Chromatic: Advantages of each  position
To: robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

I always  think in "positions" whether playing diatonic or the chromatic 
harmonica.  I'm not an expert in any way in the theory of music... But I 
find 
that it  works for me!
The main problem in playing chromatically on any harmonica is  that of 
chords. That is the main reason my working kit of harps includes  chroms in 
all 
twelve major keys. This also has the bonus that once one  learns a complex 
tune in one key, should the vocalist decide to sing the  song in another 
key 
entirely, it is easy to grab a different harmonica and  play exactly the 
same 
"pattern" and get the required key without having to  ditch the chords! 
Much the same as a keyboard player hitting the "transpose"  button on a 
modern 
synth or a guitarist using a capo. It may not be clever,  but it produces 
results.
When I play music, I do not care if I seem to be  "cheating" in this way. I 
simply want to make a musical sound, and that is  all that matters as far 
as 
I am concerned.

Best wishes,
John "Whiteboy" Walden
Just now in Scotland,
But I'm  available for work anywhere in the world.
_http://johnwalden.freevar.com_  (http://johnwalden.freevar.com) 

In a message dated 3/13/2012 6:31:15  P.M. GMT Standard Time, 
robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

Will there be a  presenter at SPAH12 teaching how to choose positions on a
chromatic? Even  though all notes are present, I imagine some modes and
scales "layout" better  in certain positions, both for comfort and for
expression.

Robert  Hale
Learn Harmonica by Webcam
Low Rates, High  Success
http://www.youtube.com/DUKEofWAIL  <http://www.youtube.com/user/DUKEofWAIL>
http://www.dukeofwail.com