Re: [Harp-L] first chromatic questions

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Garry - 

The CX-12 is a solid choice.

For a first chromatic, three octaves will be less overwhelming than
four - just the difference in size from a 10-hole diatonic is
considerable.

That said, part of the standard third-position blues chromatic sound is
the use of that bottom octave. One way to get that in a three-octave
instrument is to get a tenor - i.e. a low C.

As to key, the usual (but not exclusive) way of using a chromatic in
blues is to play third position (D on a C harp), or 10th with the
button held in (Eb), sometimes 1st (C) and every now and then 9th (Ab,
like second with the button in), 8th (Db, like first with the button
held in). Second position isn't all that popular.

If you plan to start reading music, a C chromatic would be the most
straightforward - no need to figure out transpositions. If not, then
perhaps the best way to choose is to decide which key you'd most like
to play third-position chromatic.

Winslow

--- Garry Hodgson <garry@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> i'm thinking about getting a chromatic, my first one.  i'm a diatonic
> player,
> intermediate level, playing mostly blues and whatever comes up at the
> jams.
> i don't have any serious plans to go chromatic, but would like to
> have one to
> fool around with and maybe use on the occasional tune.
> 
> i checked the archives, and found some useful info, but i still had a
> couple of
> questions.
> 
> 1. i'm leaning toward the CX-12.  is this a sound choice?
> 
> 2. is it important to have 4 octaves, vs. the 3 the CX covers?
> 
> 3. what key should i get, for general purpose use?
> 
> 4. what else should i be asking about, if i knew enough to ask it?
> 
> thanks
> 
> 
> ----
> Garry Hodgson, Senior Software Geek, AT&T CSO
> 
> nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.
> do something.
> 
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