Re: [Harp-L] Chord Harp

[David Payne <dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Huang Chordet 20 chord was my first chord harmonica, got it for about 100 yankee greenbacks new and it came with the Al and Judy Smith chord book. It will play in a few keys, the most obvious missing key is E. 
Vern was talking about you might not have some use for it if you're not going to be in an ensemble. Very good point. What I'd like to add is, you don't have to play it in a harmonica ensemble. There is so much chord harmonica potential that is not tapped. You can play anything. I've used it in blues and bluegrass. In Bluegrass, it's killer. As a rhythm instrument, it is the closest thing to perfect completion, except for the fact the chords themselves are techically limited to finite number. With a chord, I've made a trio sound like a quartet by playing a strong mandolin chop on 2 and 4 beats and a guitar brush (softer) on 1 and 3. The tones you can get from one are incredible, there's a multitude, soft vibratto, a deep roar, all kinds of sounds. There is an incredible amount of potential for breaking new ground. 

A chordet 20 isn't that big of an investment. It's good for learning. When you play, don't stick to straight chords all the time... remember the 7th chords are your friends.

If you can clean up a used one, you can keep your eyes open and find something. I got my Hohner 48 chord for $125, they're what, like $1,500 or something new? I had to clean it and stuff and that was hard, sure, but I could swing $125. I looked for maybe two years before I found that.

In my regular job, I work with special education kids. They love that 48 chord and think it's the coolest thing ever. It probably is. 

Another factor here with playing a chord, I play rhythm with the 48 chord, then play lead on diatonic or chromatic like I always did. So I've still got the leads covered like always. And you know the looks harmonica players get... those tend to decrease when you've demonstrated an ability to play a dynamite rhythm.


Dave
 


----- Original Message ----
From: Walter Scanlon <scanlon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Mon, December 28, 2009 12:17:13 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Chord Harp

My harp bag includes all the diatonic keys and three respectable chromatics.
Besides playing Polkas, is there any good reason to add a chord harp to my
collection, and if so, which one might be recommended? Will working with a
chord harp improve my diatonic and chromatic, blues, jazz and classical
playing?  Can I entertain myself by having one? (Or would I bore myself to
death?) What would be a moderate priced chord harp to purchase. I hope these
questions don't sound too stupid!

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