[Harp-L] Toots Hard Bopper

["Guy Buxman" <gbuxman@xxxxxxxxx>]

Several months ago I purchased my first chromatic harp . I had decided on a
Toots Hard Bopper in the key of C which I got from MusiciansFriend for
$99.00.

Being a diatonic player I don't really have frame of reference for chromatic
performance, but I'm very pleased with my purchase; the construction is
solid, great finish, and the action feels smooth to me; it's a beautiful
instrument. Also, the tone sounds warm and full, and I'm bending notes with
greater ease than I'd expected from a chromatic.

I've been reluctant to pick it up for fear that it might be an entirely
different instrument compared to the diatonic.  After tooling around with
it, trying to emulate the clarinet or soprano sax lead from Supertramp's
"Take the Long Way Home", I've concluded I was right; I might as well be
attempting to learn fluglehorn.  Worse still, it looks as though I'm going
to have to learn more music theory.  Alas, Rome wasn't built in a day.

Now for my question; is it possible that learning to play chromatic could
somehow hinder or muddle my diatonic playing...like learning to speak
Russian and Lithuanian simultaneously? Labas Vakaras!

I think I'd better put a cot and a mini-fridge in the woodshed!

GB