[Harp-L] Chromatics-- Stay with C Harp or change?

[Norman Vickers]

From: <dfwhoot at xxxxx>

To: "harp-l at xxxxx" <harp-l at xxxxx>

Subject: [Harp-L] Chromatic KEY choices

 

> Just a curious question. Playing in different keys and modes on the
Chromatic , is it easier >to change to a different key chromatic , or just
stay on a C harp.  Jerl Welch

 

In response to Jerl Welch's query, I'd like to tell my story-

I'm a serious amateur pianist.  Diatonic harmonicas never fit with me as I
couldn't get the notes I wanted.  During WWII when I was a kid, someone gave
me a plastic-yes, all plastic-chromatic - in "C"  Hooray!  Could find all
the notes I wanted.

 

Never worked too hard on the chromatic- Played mostly for myself in "C."
Also got reasonably good on guitar-mostly rhythm. In course of time,
collected some chromatics in other keys in order to play along with friends.

 

Was invited to play with a group of older semi-professional and professional
musicians-I was now in my 40s-who played music of the '20s to '40s.  Took my
guitar to the event, but it became obvious that I'd never get many solos as
there some really great guitarists in that group. Also, pianists were 2-3
deep, so not likely that I'd have many opportunities to push them off the
piano bench.

 

Soooo,  I took my sack of chromatics and played through microphone-amplifier
combination, a la my hero Toots Thielemans.  That worked pretty well and I
got to play so some solos which were reasonably good.

 

Fast forward to 1979.  I took along my sack of chromatics and  attended a
week's harmonica workshop in Kansas City led by Chinese harmonica
virtuoso/inventer Cham Ber Huang.  He was working with Hohner and had
invented his CBH chromatic professional model which only comes in "C."
During that week, Mr. Huang says to me, " If you're good enough, you only
need one!"  I took that as a challenge and decided that any new song I
learned would be played on the C professional model.  But , for older songs
I'd learned, I'd reach in my sack for the appropriate key.

 

Soon, I began to go nuts!  I was hearing the note which corresponded to the
piano and the professional C model harmonica.  Example  Eb on professional
model is draw with chromatic slide depressed, whereas on Eb harp it's blow!
So, I had to put my sack of chromatics away and only play on the
professional "C" model.  That was great freedom!

Had myself a "holster" made for my professional model, so it could be easily
carried and accessible in case opportunity to work out a tune In a spare
moment.

 

I'm still grateful to the late Mr. Cham Ber Huang for that sage advice!

 

Thanks for listenin'!

 

Norman Vickers

www.Jazzpensacola.com