Excellent Post Joe and alot of Funny Truths in there!!!,-)
However, IMO, I think the Chromatic is only getting more popular amongst Diatonic players and surely going beyond 3rd position interest, at least that's what I'm seeing in my travels and teaching requests.
OK regarding your Number 9,-) ...Just remember if your SLIDE spring breaks, you risk being evicted from your home, however I heard they are building a new Ronald McDonald Home for these wandering 'Broken buttoned Vagabonds' called The SM House,-))))
just joshing ofcourse, nice work on the post, I enjoyed it!
best,
Rob
PS....as my favorite singer Clarence 'Frogman Henry' from new orleans sings:
I AIN'T GOT NO HOME !
9... Remember, chromatics are like an apartment building. Each and every note has a TRUE bone fide address. Some on the first floor (slide in). some on the second (slide out). Some on this side of the hall (draw), some on the opposite side (blow). But with a chromo. it is almost impossible to get an address wrong. A diatonic is more like a rooming house. Although you DO have apts/ rooms for MOST of the notes, some have no TRUE home and live a..in the laundry room, b..in the stair well, c.. in the utility/furnace room, d.. in the linen locker, e.. in the void in the walls between apt 3 & 4 where the chimney and plumbing goes.
In other words, these are the notes where you (as the mail man) more or less INVENTED an address FOR them in an effort to 'deliver their mail'. Every note manufactured out of thin air has an address concocted out of thin air.
----- Original Message ----- From: "joe leone" <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: "Mojo Red" <harplicks@xxxxxxxxx> Cc: "Harp L Harp L" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 9:39 PM Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Chromatic Harp_L?
On Jun 8, 2010, at 8:38 PM, Mojo Red wrote: Having to do with dividing harmonicas into divisions.
This was done most excellently tongue in cheek. To which I replied ALSO tongue in cheek. And I hope everyone took it as such. But I have a few things to submit that may or may not help explain the 'perceived' division(s) in harpers. Remember, this is only an opinion. Ascertained from years of ascertainment.
1... There seem to be some (remember, I said some) music readers whom think that they are up a step when dealing with non music readers. This is fine EXCEPT, I know readers who play with no feeling. Given a choice, I prefer the one whom plays with feeling.
2... There are some (remember the some) players whom only play the C chromatic and learn everything in every key on said chromo. To this end, they feel they are up a step when dealing with people who play various keys IN that key. While it IS true that most players who play other keys DO do this, there are also players who use various keys IN various keys. Winding up with a THIRD various key.
3... There are chromo players who feel that unless you are able to play the melody, you are a step down. This is where there is a division between chromo and diatonic players. Some chromo players feel that for diatonic players to only comp., fill in, do runs & riffs, and in general add flavor, are not as interesting as someone who can do the 'recognizable' melody. They feel that even the diatonic solos are only improv. Even if the player can duplicate these solos, it is still improv.
4... Most chromo players (with exceptions) stay pretty much close to the melody. And anyone who goes so far out into orbit so as to loose said melody, are not good players, and therefore loose respect. While diatonic players are better known for pushing the extreme edge of the world and spend time balancing out over the edge, some getting very close to falling off, most chromo players don't venture as far into the netherworld.
5... Some chromo players are not impressed when someone plays diatonic, claims to also play chromo, but only uses the chromo in the 3rd (Dm) position. Using the excuse that Dm is the easiest key one can possibly Play ON a chromo. Using the excuse that there is NO possible way to GET a discord in Dm, and ANY mouth full of DRAW notes will work as the notes all mesh melodically.
6... Some players (both chromatic and diatonic) feel that altered tunings are 'cheating'. Their feeling is that YOU are playing something that you PURPOSELY rigged in such a way that THEY can't duplicate it. Even if the only reason you did it was to make it sound better. They still think they are being 'slicked' (cheated).
7... There are players in both instruments that feel that their taste in music is what they will listen to. Instead of being open minded, and giving other music a chance. Why I remember a man leaving the hall when 'The Mooch' was played. Being a droning minor key arrangement, that (very good chromo player), referred to it as 'Devil Music'.
As I said the other day, I think it's an age thing. Many of the older players are set in their ways, and have developed a taste for music that, may seem to some people, be frozen in time.
8... Some players see harmonicas as being male & female. Just as the female it thought by many to be the 'newer improved' model, the older, earlier to arrive diatonic is the male from which the chromatic sprung almost 'rib like' onto the scene. To that end, some players see the chromatic as the new improved model.
9... Remember, chromatics are like an apartment building. Each and every note has a TRUE bone fide address. Some on the first floor (slide in). some on the second (slide out). Some on this side of the hall (draw), some on the opposite side (blow). But with a chromo. it is almost impossible to get an address wrong. A diatonic is more like a rooming house. Although you DO have apts/ rooms for MOST of the notes, some have no TRUE home and live a..in the laundry room, b..in the stair well, c.. in the utility/furnace room, d.. in the linen locker, e.. in the void in the walls between apt 3 & 4 where the chimney and plumbing goes.
In other words, these are the notes where you (as the mail man) more or less INVENTED an address FOR them in an effort to 'deliver their mail'. Every note manufactured out of thin air has an address concocted out of thin air.
Ergo, I feel diatonics are more difficult to master than chromatics. I say this AS a (predominately) chromo player. So, in conclusion, everything is going to work out fine as the chromo band keeps getting smaller. The other day I said the dividing line is 64 years of age. 15 years ago, I would have said 49. Time marches on..be patient. There's no reason for any (so called) divisions. Soon i will be a moot point..........by attrition. :(
smokey-joe