Re: [Harp-L] Hohner Super Chromica 48 reed harmonica

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

This is a 12-hole chromatic harmonica. Also known as the 270 (Hohner model no. 270) it comes in several keys but can play in any key as it has all 12 notes of the chromatic scale (the scale that includes all the notes for all keys of music) in all three octaves.

If you play a C major scale in Holes 4 thru 7 of a diatonic harmonica in the key of C, this is the same arrangement of notes used in the 270 in the key of C (and in most chromatic harmonicas). This four-hole note layout is repeated three times, in Holes 1-4, then an octave higher in Holes 5 thru 8, then another octave higher in Holes 9 thru 12.

Press in the button at the right end of the mouthpiece and the harmonica switches to another set of reeds tuned to the key of C#. this supplies all the missing notes of the chromatic scale, and in the process duplicates a couple of the notes of the key of C.

The 270 is a 12-hole chromatic harmonica with a 3-octave range. Chromatics are available in several additional sizes and ranges. The 16-hole, four octave chromatic (such as the Hohner 280) is the largest, and you can also get 14-hole, 10-hole, and even 8-hole chromatics.

The 270 is one of the oldest models of chromatic harmonica, having been in existence for nearly a century. More modern designs are available from manufactures such as Hohner, Hering, Seydel, and Suzuki, but many players continue to value the sound of the 270.


The chromatic harmonica us used widely in jazz and classical but is also used extensively in blues.


Winslow

 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
Harmonica instructor, The Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
Resident expert, bluesharmonica.com
Columnist, harmonicasessions.com


________________________________
 From: Sam Lyons <sjlyons93@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2012 3:56 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Hohner Super Chromica 48 reed harmonica
 
What is a Hohner Super Chromica 48 reed harmonica, and how many holes does
it have?

Sam.