Hi again chrome harp fans!
By the way, I gave the affirmative short answer first:
YES YOU CAN PLAY everything on a standard C chrome. But
if you want the full story, go back and read my epic
response.
One thing I failed to mention is that with a custom-tuned
minor key chrome -- you get the minor chord that goes
with the key on the blow reeds and possibly two notes on
the draw to go with the key.
This chord access is one reason why an A key chrome would
be better to play tunes in the key of A --so you could
get the A chord to comp with. If you won't need the
chord, skip this issue.
I don't have any minor tuned chromes, but I have several
brands of C chromes in 12 and 16 configurations and a
bunch of different keys in Herings and CX-12s. Why did I
buy so many different keys? I wanted to try them out.
Why would I spend my money? I can read music. So my C
chromes would work for just about every situation. I'm
not the greatest sight reader but I can work my way
through lots of sheet music. But I just liked the idea of
having a chrome in more than one key. You get the right
tools for the job.
Phil Lloyd
Hope this helps
Digression: Ultimately, if someone likes the sound of a
free read: Why fool around with a mouth harmonica when
you can play an all-blow keyboard harmonica like Hohner
Melodica (piano 36 keys) and arguably more chords than a
Harmonetta. Plus, anyone who ever put his hand on a
keyboard can play a Melodica.
AND EVEN those who never played a keyboard can make sense
out of it. I bought a Melodica for about $150 back in
1970 -- the only portable keyboard I could afford as a
beginning suburban daily newspaper reporter when a Fender
Rhodes stage piano cost about $2,000 (half my salary at
the time).
I've looked at the Harmonetta key layout and unless a
player can straddle more than one key at a time, you're
limited to 8 notes at a time(no thumb notes). Whereas the
Melodica --the red haired stepchild of the harmonica
world -- easily allow 10 notes (and even more if you hit
two keys with one finger).
Plus, Harmonettas a rare, expensive, and expensive to
repair and re-tune. Not to mention difficult to play. (Of
course, nothing is difficult if you know how to do it.
Reading music is not difficult at all, but most harmonica
players don't for a variety of reasons.)
If they were still being produced, I might be interested
in buying a new one. But they would probably cost $1,000
or more -- hard for me to justify at this point.
End of digression