Re: [Harp-L] Re: (Harp-L) Hello and introduction

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Apr 11, 2005, at 9:20 PM, tom ball wrote:

> Hiya Smokey,
>
> While I might respectfully disagree, I love your analogy -- well 
> thought out and indeed humorously presented.  Kudos!  :)
>
> cheers,
> TB
>
> ___
  Oh Jeez Tom, I wasn't being in disagreement as to which harmonica to 
start out with as a GENERAL premise. That's why I placed the word 
(personally) into the MUCH harder to play sentence. To understand where 
I'm coming from let me use an example:
  During several of the after hours jazz gatherings at spah, buckey and 
other venues, I noticed that it was QUITE difficult to maneuver the 
right combination(s) of notes into the tunes with a diatonic. This is 
basically due to a couple reasons.
  Reason #1 would be that while I play both harmonicas, I don't quite 
have the expertise (at my level) on a diatonic to negotiate some of the 
passages, tongue twisting combinations, or 'manufactured' notes as 
(let's say) a Chris Michalek or Allen Holmes. I have heard them several 
times and their mastery of the instrument is genuine. Although I have 
played from 1955-1958 and 1983-present, I never progressed at the level 
I should have. The reasons are moot, but suffices to say, I wasn't 
really 'going for the gold' , so to speak.
  Reason #2 since my taste in music was more pop, jazz, Latin, show 
tunes & light classical I concentrated more on harmonicas which had the 
"necessary" missing notes (or at least what 'I' thought were 
necessary). To that end, I am at a stage where I can sit in at one of 
these fiascos and not be out of place, but it would be with a 
chromatic.

 In actuality, I generally hold BOTH types when I do a number, and 
since even the great Charlie McCoy uses a 'G' chromatic to start the 
tune "T.D's Boogie" and then switches to a suck harp for the remainder, 
I don't see it as being blasphemous. Most programs for teaching new 
players have you starting out with a diatonic. I (again personally) 
think this is wrong as when one moves from one key to another (which 
one eventually MUST), trying to remember what notes are in what hole is 
nearly impossible. To that end, I feel diatonics must ultimately be 
played by 'feel'. One must get SO SO very intimate with the diat that 
notes flow without any thought process being involved. It must be a 
natural instinct. Also, since one must ultimately use many different 
positions or modes AND do this in all 12 keys (24 if you count the 
minors), diatonics are terribly difficult to master. Play..yes, but 
master...don't make me laugh, I have chapped lips.

 Chromatics, on the other hand, are fairly straightforward, and with 
the exception that you have to ALSO know what you're doing when you use 
various keys, as long as you think in C, it's easier sailing.

Always remember that you are coming from the thinking process of Tom 
Ball (a GREAT player). Don't forget that not all of us can do what I 
have heard you do (with Kenny). I can do almost anything McCoy can do, 
but I can't do what YOU do, and I'm not that much of a blues player. I 
play clean clear Louisiana style.

 When a small boy in Trieste Italy, the only music you could get was 
local Italian (nice but too many mandolins). You could get armed forces 
radio out of Frankfort (mostly swing). MY (personal) favorite was radio 
Praha, Wien, or Buda-Pesht. I ADORE middle european & gypsy music and 
its too hard for me to do on diatonic. Ergo, I used a chromatic.

your fan        smokey-joe


previous msg.
> >   I (personally) feel diatonics are MUCH harder to learn than
> > chromatics. Chromatics have 40/48/56/64 'residents' who ALL live at 
> > the
> > same address year after year and never move.
> >
> >   With diatonics, when you try to deliver the mail to the residents, 
> > you
> > find there are 40 "permanent" residents and anywhere from 10 to 20
> > "transient" residents who don't live at any specific address.
> >
> >   You therefore have to deliver the notes to residents who live 
> > "behind
> > the cardboard box halfway down the hall" OR "at the bottom of and 
> > under
> > the stairwell", OR "in the broom closet behind the ice maker" OR "at
> > the bottom of the elevator shaft". Finding some of these residents 
> > when
> > you need to is a bit frustrating.
> >
> >   Nay, 'I' would START with a chromatic........much much
> > easier.......smokey-joe
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