Re: [Harp-L] Toots Hard Bopper



Many of your 3rd Position licks will transfer to the chromatic. The cool part is the chromatic licks will also be beneficial to your diatonic playing in 2nd Position. Octaves and tongue flutters are really big sounding on the chromatic. All of this will help your amplified playing on the diatonic. So I think it won't hinder your diatonic playing at all. It'll just give it more depth. George "Harmonica" Smith was known for his chromatic playing but I think his diatonic work is really tasty. The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree where George's influence comes in with players like Rod Piazza, William Clarke, Dennis Gruenling, and Mark Hummel. All of them are real strong chromatic players as well as killer diatonic players. Just get in there and listen to the great ones and mine the licks, then make them your own.

Jon



Jon Harl: Seydel Dealer
5731 Meridian Ave
San Jose, CA 95118
408/267-3933
e-mail: jharl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
web site: www.customseydels.com


On Oct 3, 2007, at 5:17 PM, Guy Buxman wrote:


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
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