Re: [Harp-L] Diatonic v Chromatic

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Is your question about whether non-C chromatic harmonicas read music as transposing instruments the way Bb and Eb saxophones, clarinets, trumpets, etc., do?

There's no consistent convention for this.

Diatonic harmonica is pretty much always written at concert pitch (though sometimes shifted up or down an octave for convenience), regardless of the key of harmonica used. (Broadway musicals such as Big River and Floyd Collins do this, even though the key of diatonic harmonica may be specified in the score. When I transcribed John Popper's harmonica solos for publication, he likewise opted for non-transposed notation when I offered him the choice.)

When playing chromatic harmonicas in non-C keys, it would be convenient to have notated music pre-transposed. if you're playing  Bb or Eb chromatic, you can read from music transposed for instruments in those keys (clarinet, trumpet, tenor and alto saxes). But you're not likely to find music transposed for A or D or G instruments.

Years ago I transcribed a Toots Thielemans solo that he played on a G chromatic (East of the Sun, from Man Bites Harmonica). I notated it in the transposed key, and placed this information at the top of the first page. I got complaints from people who were trying to play it on the C chromatic and ignored my explicit and prominent note about the transposition.

I personally often use a D chromatic to play fiddle tunes notated for C instruments. I've learned to sight-transpose for D chromatic, just as I have for most keys of diatonic. Sight transposition for your most commonly used harmonica keys (and positions) is simply a real-world survival skill.

Winslow
 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance


________________________________
 From: Peter Schwartz <peter_schwartz@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Cc: Peter Schwartz <peter_schwartz@xxxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Sunday, September 1, 2013 12:15 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Diatonic v Chromatic
 

So here's a dumb question...

I was always under the impression that diatonic harmonicas played in specific keys. So, to change keys, you needed to change harmonicas.

Chromatic harmonicas, I believed, allowed you to play in any key, much as you can on a piano, for example.

But now I see that chromatic harmonicas come in different keys, too. But have also read that the 12-, 14-, and 16-hole models have equal temperament and can play in any key.

But now I'm wondering whether the 12, 14, and 16-hole models are transposing instruments that can play in any key the way a Bb clarinet can play in any key. So that playing a chromatic harmonica A is a bit like playing a Bb clarinet in that sense (C sounds a Bb).

Anyway, obviously I'm confused and wondering if anyone can sort this out for me.

Best,
Peter