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

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "tom ball" <havaball@xxxxxxx>
To: "Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>
Cc: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 10:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: (Harp-L) Hello and introduction


> Well, as I mentioned, the swap vis-a-vis of opinions is truly what makes 
> the world go 'round... :)  I welcome your point of view.

As I do yours.

> you wrote:

> The person asking the question is a brand new player.  The very structure 
> of Richter diatonic tuning is quite forgiving -- if one tries to learn a 
> simple melody (like, say, "Oh Susanna,") and cannot yet nail individual 
> holes right out of the shoot, the holes that are *next* to the ones a 
> person wants to hit are at least harmonies. I.e. if one is sloppy as a 
> beginner, on the diatonic one can still play a close approximation of what 
> one is aiming for...

> This means that, for a beginner who is as yet incapable of always nailing 
> individual holes, a certain harmony exists -- a harmony that is not 
> incorrect.  As much as I love chromatics, (solo tuned,) this is not the 
> case...

The same harmonies exist for all of the blow notes on the chromatic.
These harmonies do not exist in the middle or high octaves of the diatonic 
(where melodies that include Fa and La must be played.)  The presence of Fa 
and La sours the draw chord as it does on all octaves of the chromatic.
Informing the beginner that playing draw chords only works on the low end of 
the diatonic (where he can't play a melody) is a complication.

It seems to me that your position boils down to the presence of the draw 
chord in the low octave.  That is an advantage if you wish to play the 
dominant chord and a disadvantage if you wish to play a melody there.

My opinion/attitude about the diatonic was formed when I was a youngster and 
my grandfather gave me one.  About the second day I became frustrated and 
disgusted with it because a lot of the notes that I wanted/needed were 
missing. I could not even play the National Anthem on the darned thing! It 
seemed positively hostile when it sounded Sol when I wanted and expected Fa! 
and sounded Ti when I wanted and expected La.  I hunted in vain for an 
occasional accidental. At that time, I would not have understood the 
sacrifice of  Fa & La for the dominant draw chord, modes, bending, or 
position playing. When I discovered the chromatic, it was an immense relief 
to have a harmonica that was not a balky little beast that fought me at 
every turn.

I wonder how many beginners are "turned off" by these difficulties and just 
give up in disgust never to return.

I think that expert diatonic players who have learned to bend and otherwise 
deal with these irregularities tend to underestimate the difficulties that 
they present to a beginner.

As you say... this is a matter of opinion and not fact.

Vern
Visit my harmonica website: http://www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com