[Harp-L] Guy's Chromatic Hard Bopper

[Robert Bonfiglio <bon@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Oct 4, 2007, "Guy Buxman" <gbuxman@xxxxxxxxx> 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,

Yes, you do!!   Rob Paparozzi and I have been teaching chromatic to  
diatonic players by emphasizing just how much they have in common.   
First they both are harmonicas which requires learning to blow and  
draw.  Both require learning single notes, vibrato, tone.  The C  
scale on the diatonic in C is exactly that of the chromatic which  
applies to all sharp scales, etc.



> 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.

Hey, knowing about music will only put you on a par with all the  
other musicians playing instruments in the world.


> 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 find my diatonic playing feeds my chromatic playing and my  
chromatic playing feeds my diatonic playing.  If you learn to play  
chromatic well you may start to drool and stutter, but your diatonic  
playing will be enhanced.


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

Playing the harmonica is not work; an office job is work.  They call  
it PLAYING music, not working music.  Have fun with it and the  
rewards will be ten times that office bonus.

Harmonically yours,

Robert Bonfiglio
"Guy Buxman" <gbuxman@xxxxxxxxx>