Re: [Harp-l] Chromatic vis-a-vis Diatonic harps

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Nothing stupid at all about your points Jerome, and it isn't the  
'harmonica community' as a whole, only a few misguided people.  Not only do  I agree 
with your take on this but I've been saying it just slightly differently  
for a long time: 'whatever floats your boat' (and satisfies your  muse)<G> - 
it's why I changed the heading to 'vis-a-vis'.
 
 
 
I also think more players could benefit by expanding their horizons  into 
other instruments (where possible) since it seems to give one a better  
ability to play by ear - and for those who want to read music - a keyboard  can 
be especially beneficial. Nothing musical is off-limits. Whatever  works, 
whatever pleases one's ear is all good. There are no 'shoulds' or  
'should-nots' when it comes to harmonicas.
 
 
 
Can't imagine why anyone would think a chromatic could be made obsolete for 
 any reason since its voice is so incredibly unique AS IS that of a  
diatonic.
 
 
 
I so dislike this idea of 'opposition', just as you do. We've been through  
this before and too often for my liking. I don't know where it originates  
since most of the players I've known for years don't have this mind-set - in 
 fact they love and enjoy all types of harmonicas, but each time it 
behooves  us to make it clear that the majority of players respect all kinds of 
harmonicas  otherwise these strange ideas tend to gain a foothold.
 
 
 
Nothing pleases me more than watching players usually known for one type of 
 harmonica taking out another type during a performance and surprising the  
audience with their playing. More chromatic players are playing diatonics 
and  more diatonic players are adding a chromatic to their arsenal. This is 
all good  - and will help keep the manufacturers in business and continuing 
to work to  make our instruments just the way we want them.
 
 
 
Elizabeth
 
"Why one would have to oppose chrom & diatonic ?
These are two  different instruments, as you say with two different sounds,
different  techniques, etc.

If you like chrom, play chrom, if you like diato, play  diato, if you like
both, play both, if you don't have time to play both, then  choose the one
you prefer ...

I feel stupid saying that, but at the  end I still don't understand why the
harmonica community opposes both  instruments.
To me, it sounds a bit like opposing the trumpet with the  saxophone. 
Who cares ? The only thing that matters is the poem you can sing  with your
instrument, isn't it  ?

Regards,

Jerome
www.youtube.com/JersiMuse