Re: [Harp-L] What is a Hohner 365 "for"?



Brad asks:
This may be a really stupid question, but I am wondering what a Hohner 365 is “for�.  I recently got two along with some Chromatics, which is what I was really looking for...
If you have some thoughts, please share them.  If this post is just drivel, and you can’t even figure out what I am talking about, flame on.  Wish I could put it into better words.

As always, Winslow is spot-on with his comments regarding the availability of those uber cool low notes on the C 365. But I have another take on this often misunderstood instrument.


As you have discovered, it does not feature the usual Richter note layout. As a result, I think the 365 is meant to be played almost exclusively with a chordal/tongue blocked style. Yes, those low notes are there, but as you point out the instrument's note/hole blow-draw arrangement can definitely be confusing. That is until you stop playing the instrument single-note style! If you just try moving around the harp playing 4-note chords with the instrument well into your mouth, the "magic" of the design will emerge. It is almost impossible to get a dissonant sound out of a 365 when played in this way. I love to play gospel music on mine. And as you probably know, the tone you can achieve with this great harp is unlike any other.

Since you are used to the MB 1896, which is also designed to be played with a chordal/tongue blocked style, this method of extracting all the goodness designed into the instrument should not be a difficult concept for you. The thing to understand is that the 365 was designed to be played almost exclusively in this manner. Forget, for the moment at least, playing melodies single-note style and warm up to this chordal monster harp.

Try it, Brad; you'll like it!

Michelle

PS: If, after taking my advice, you still don't care for the 365, try a Hohner 14-hole"Steve Baker Special," SBS 365, which is built on the same platform as the normal 365. The note layout will be much more friendly to a Marine Band player, as it just adds an additional low octave to the more familiar 10-hole Richter layout. Or, for what I think is a better form factor, try a Seydel 12-hole Solist Pro, also sporting the SBS note layout. One of my favorite harps!





This archive was generated by a fusion of Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and MHonArc 2.6.8.