[Harp-L] re: chrom-style bends on a diatonic?

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Frank Nims writes:
"I read somewhere that, on a chromatic, (a) any note can be bent down  
a half-step, and that (b) this was because all the notes were valved."

Phill already dealt with the nature of the two different types of  
bends, dual and single reed, so I won' t go into that again.   
However, single-reed bends can in fact be bent significantly more  
than a semitone if you know what you're doing.  The ultimate range  
depends on the note in question and the technique of the individual,  
but I have heard it from a reliable source that Adler could bend down  
a fifth.

"  If this is true, then what if you got a solo tuned diatonic and  
put valves on all the notes - would that give you a harp that could  
play all the notes of the chromatic scale?"

Yes, but not all with the same timbre, attack and with issues of  
intonation control with bending.  Really, the exact same issues as  
are found on a standard diatonic using bends and overblows to "play"  
all the notes of the 12-tone scale.  Or the same issues as with an  
XB-40 or some alternate tunings that eliminate the need for overblows  
for "chromatic" playing.

"  That would be a lot easier for richter players to adjust to - to  
flat a note just bend it, instead of going back one hole and hitting  
the sharping button."

Except that the reason for a chromatic to have the slider is so that  
you can play all the notes of a the 12-tone scale with the same  
timbre, attack and precise intonation (ignoring for the moment the  
problems of a bidirectional, blow/draw system inherent to most  
harmonicas).  What you describe is simply a valved diatonic  
instrument, no more or less "chromatic" than the standard diatonic  
(though perhaps more so than a solo tuned diatonic without valves).

Hope this helps.



 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()   & Snuffy, too:)
`----'