[Harp-L] MIDI will Restore the Status of the Slide Chromatic

[Brendan Power]

(This is a topic I started over on Slidemeister, but since many here will
not be members of that forum and it's to do with the harmonica in general, I
thought I'd post it on Harp-L to get a wider take on the topic):

 

 

In the history of the harmonica, the balance of power between the diatonic
and chromatic has ebbed and flowed. By 'balance of power' I mean not so much
popularity in terms of numbers sold, but more 'perceived status'. 

 

For several decades after Larry Adler established the slide chromatic as a
concert instrument and Toots made it THE harmonica for jazz, the chrom was
the main choice for so called 'serious' harmonica players looking for a
professional career. It was the lead instrument in all the hugely-popular
harmonica bands of the 1930s-50s, and was featured on a #1 smash hit with
Jerry Murad and the Harmonicats.

 

But the rise in popularity of blues harp in the 60s, then Howard Levy's
development of overblowing to a high level (plus the advanced harp
customising overblowing requires) meant that the diatonic has become the
harmonica of choice for many talented younger players today. They use
embouchure techniques (bending and over-bending) to play chromatically
without a slider, whilst retaining the blues harp's earthy tone. As a result
of this shift, in recent years the slide chromatic has been generally
perceived as not quite as hip because of its purer, less bluesy sound. It's
undeniably fallen from its earlier high status - much to the sadness of
older players who remember the chromatic in its heyday.

 

But I see a change a-coming, a swing back of the pendulum. 

 

Some of you may have seen the recent demo video I did for Erik Lekholm's
Digital Chromatic Harmonica Controller, the Lekholm DM48:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwgIAFOnJVs

 

Though it has breath sensors instead of reeds, it is based on the format of
the slide chromatic. 12 holes, a button, Solo tuning as the default scale.
Getting to know it has really opened my eyes to several things. 

 

It quickly dawned on me how amazing the potential of this new kind of
reedless harmonica is. There is so much you can do on the DM48 that is
simply impossible on a normal chromatic, or any other kind of harmonica. The
video shows some of the capabilities but, since it is so endlessly
configurable, there is a whole lot more potential just waiting for a new
menu to be created. It is really expressive too, and a lot of fun to play. 

 

But to access the wealth of goodies it offers, you have to be a slide
chromatic player! Though the DM48 can bend notes (up and down), the bending
is not the controllable interactive-reed bending of the diatonic harp. It is
a nice effect, but the bent notes can't be used as notes in their own right
as on a blues harp (at least, not yet). And it simply won't respond to
overblowing...

 

So all that amazing embouchure-based technique developed by Howard Levy and
his many followers to play chromatically is of little use with a MIDI
harmonica. To play it chromatically, you need the button (in the DM48 it's
attached to an on-off switch, not a slider). 

 

The power of MIDI is so sexy and alluring that I'm sure many harmonica
players will be attracted in the near future to buy a MIDI harmonica as a
doubling instrument. For slide chromatic players it's an easy transition:
just transfer all your familiar playing technique over to the DM48 and you
can instantly sound mind-blowing.

 

For 10-hole Richter diatonic players the switch will be MUCH harder. Though
the Richter tuning is included as one of the standard options in the DM48,
it will need to be played with a button - like the old Koch chromatic.
Either that or learn Solo tuning, Diminished or one of the other established
slider tunings. That's a whole new skill for most 10-hole players, and means
not using the bending/overblowing techniques and myriad licks involving them
they have sweated blood to master. It will be a hard choice, and many will
probably not bother.

 

That will leave the fast-developing MIDI harmonica scene open for the
existing button-pushers - and young slide chromatic players coming in who
want to be where the action is. The cachet of the slide-chromatic will grow
once again, as it is seen as the essential acoustic partner of the MIDI
chromatic.

 

>From my one month as a MIDI newbie, I am convinced this branch of the
harmonica scene will grow very fast, as MIDI harmonicas develop and the
price falls. The sheer fun you can have with a MIDI-monica and the power it
gives you to play expressively with a huge palette of sounds means that more
and more will want to join the party. 

 

The purist blues harp/overblow guys and the old-school strictly-acoustic
chromatic players will increasingly have to share the scene with younger
players who mainly strut their stuff on things with mouth holes that you
suck and blow, but are utterly different to traditional harmonicas in every
other way. 

 

That will shake up the scene and create all kinds of dilemmas - like, will
these new MIDI harmonicas be allowed in harmonica competitions? Not that I
really care, but I can see committees of the APHF and Trossingen agonising
over it as more players bring them along and want to use them. 

 

For example, in harmonica trios with bass and chord harmonicas. Frankly who
would want to play the cumbersome, all-blow bass harmonica anymore when you
can play super-fast in the bass range with blow-draw breath on a small
harmonica that can put out any bass sound you want (including sampled bass
harmonica)? Likewise the DM48 can be configured as a chord harmonica, which
is something I have in mind to try with the test model I have. The mind
boggles.

 

The advent of the DM48 indicates it's going to be an interesting 10 years
ahead, I think. For those who want to know more about this amazing
instrument, go to Erik's website: 

http://www.lekholminstruments.com

 

Brendan

 <http://www.brendan-power.com/> www.brendan-power.com

 <http://www.youtube.com/BrendanPowerMusic>
www.YouTube.com/BrendanPowerMusic