Re: [Harp-L] Why you should learn chromatic

[Ansel <anselsb@xxxxxxxxx>]

Yes, it can be done, and quite effectively at that. For evidence, check out
Howard Levy's Out of The Box DVD in which he plays songs in all 12 positions
on one C diatonic. Here's samples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MtRHq8ERCE
Nor is he the only one. There's a growing following who are pursuing his
lead, especially with the advent of his school.

As to why you would want to play a diatonic chromatically, that's almost
like asking why would you want to learn violin instead of the viola, or vice
versa. While similar, they're ultimately different instruments, and what
draws you to one over the other is an aesthetic preference that can't be
justified. In the case of the harmonica, there are practical benefits as
well: the diatonic is smaller, cheaper, and easier to maintain (no
mechanical moving parts) than the chromatic. Personally, I just like the
sound better with its expressive ability to bend notes--which, incidentally,
I think sound quite "musical."  But again, listen to Howard (or any other
overbend practitioner) and judge for yourself.

Just my $.02.


Ansel


On Thu, Jun 10, 2010 at 8:18 AM, <harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 06:04:04 EDT
> From: MundHarp@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Why you should learn chromatic
> To: cadean329@xxxxxxxxx
> Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Message-ID: <e1d27.10855889.39421294@xxxxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> In a message dated 10/06/2010 13:44:32 Malay Peninsula Standard Time,
> cadean329@xxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> <<  Is it really possible to bend, blow, draw, over blow, and over draw,
> the
> entire chromatic scale in all 12 keys on one diatonic harp?  >>
> YES it is... But why would you want to? And chances are there will be a few
>  notes you won't get... Although all notes are available somewhere within
> the 3  octave range of a diatonic harp... Just not necessarily  where you
> might  want to find them.
>
> And the sound isn't always that "musical"...
>
> John "Whiteboy" Walden
> English harmonica player,
> who resides in Cebu City,
> Philippines.
>
>
>
>
>