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Conferences Advanced Topics/Chromatic Topic #156
Reading Topic #156
Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
41 posts		 May-01-06, 06:24 AM (PST)
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"Chromatic"
 
   I want to get and learn a Chromatic harp so i can keep learning and playing Blues and country stuff on my Diatonic and start learning some pop/jazzy stuff as well as blues on a Chromatic.If i get one i only want to fork out for one so ideally i want one that more or less covers all keys so should i go with the classic Hohner #280/64 Chromonica?
Cheers

www.surreystrongman.com


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Chromatic [View All], Andy Ox, 06:24 AM, May-01-06, (0)  
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webmasteradmin
Member since Jan-20-03
698 posts		 May-01-06, 02:33 PM (PST)
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1. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #0
 
Andy,

(I'm a huge fan of both types of harmonicas, so I like your idea. I also plan to add more chromatic instruction and info this year to the site.)

There is no right or wrong answer as to which brand, model, or amount of holes is best. . . it's completely subjective.

The 16-hole Hohner #280 was used by Little Walter and Stevie Wonder.

The 12-hole Hohner #270 is used by Toots Thielemans and many other pro players.

The 10-hole Hohner #260 is my favorite and what I use exclusively. It is the cheapest quality Hohner chromatic and I find that the 2 highest holes that are missing (found on the 12 and 16 holes) are so high that they are unnecessary and the extra low octave found on the 16 holes never function consistently enough for most pros to use them (the actual reeds and windsaver valves get flaky after a certain physical length. This model is also easier to use hand effects with.

More chromatic info-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/dcforum/DCForumID4/44.html#5

http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/dcforum/DCForumID4/33.html#7

http://www.harmonicastore.com/harm_chrom.shtml

Play on,
Dave Gage


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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
41 posts		 May-02-06, 04:45 AM (PST)
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2. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #1
 
   By saying 'used by Stevie Wonder'I think you've just sold me the 280 as i'm currently searching for any Stevie Wonder Tab books for when i get a Chromatic.I was also trying to find out which Chromatic he uses.For a beginner/intermediate player like myself playing Blues harp can sometimes feel a bit limited so i want to also do some melody work which can only help my single note playing.
Appart from Ievets Rednow do you know of any good Stevie Wonder CDs to get which has plenty of harp work in it.I'm bidding on ebay for his Definitive album.Or is that not your scene?
Cheers Dave.

www.surreystrongman.com


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webmasteradmin
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698 posts		 May-02-06, 10:44 AM (PST)
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3. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #2
 
Eivets Rednow is really the sh*t. It has very smaltzy production, but the playing is great. Other than that, I would slowly collect the songs that have good amounts of Stevie playing on them one by one via iTunes or something similar.

Two non-Stevie songs that have great playing on them include:

"I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues"- Elton John

"There Must Be an Angel"- Eurythemics

Here's the part from "That's What Friends Are For"-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/tabs/tabschromatic.php

Play on,
Dave Gage


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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
41 posts		 May-02-06, 11:33 AM (PST)
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4. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #3
 
   Thanks Dave.
Can't seem to get hold of the Eivets Rednow album,can you get it on cd ,when available of coarse or is it vinyl only?

www.surreystrongman.com


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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
41 posts		 May-02-06, 12:15 PM (PST)
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5. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #4
 
   Just found a uk site about Stevie ,with a page listing songs he's played Harmonica on.
Thought it may be of interest.
http://www.steviewonder.org.uk/SongsOfWonder/session_man.htm

www.surreystrongman.com


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webmasteradmin
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698 posts		 May-02-06, 03:30 PM (PST)
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6. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #5
 
Good deal.

Play on,
Dave Gage


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webmasteradmin
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698 posts		 May-02-06, 03:31 PM (PST)
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7. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #4
 
Andy,

It seems to go in and out of print on CD. You could try emailing Motown and see if they have any info on availability.

Play on,
Dave Gage


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adeeter
Member since Jan-19-04
123 posts		 May-03-06, 01:54 PM (PST)
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8. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #7
 
   I find that if you search on Amazon there is a whole grey market of older out of print CDs that lots of folks have.

Good luck,

Alan

The good times last forever
The bad times fade away


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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
41 posts		 May-04-06, 01:27 PM (PST)
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11. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #8
 
  
Quote
I find that if you search on Amazon there is a whole grey market of older out of print CDs that lots of folks have.

Good luck,

Alan

Cheers Alan,i have been looking at Amazon but its so damn expensive to buy it as its becoming a bit of a collectors item.Amozon UK has a copy for £63.00 don't know £ $ exchange rate is but its probably around $110 and i think that was second hand.
I keep checking back there every now and then.

www.surreystrongman.com


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danielbernard13
Member since Mar-9-06
21 posts		 May-04-06, 07:39 AM (PST)
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9. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #0
 
   Disclaimer: I'm a raw beginner.

Why don't you try stacking two harmonicas together that are a step apart. The result will be exactly what you would get in a richter tuned chromatic. There is no way I'm going to play a chromatic.


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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
41 posts		 May-04-06, 01:22 PM (PST)
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10. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #9
 
  
Quote
Disclaimer: I'm a raw beginner.

Why don't you try stacking two harmonicas together that are a step apart. The result will be exactly what you would get in a richter tuned chromatic. There is no way I'm going to play a chromatic.

Try it and tell me how you get on,but i think i know the answer already.

www.surreystrongman.com


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danielbernard13
Member since Mar-9-06
21 posts		 May-04-06, 03:05 PM (PST)
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12. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #10
 
   I bound up an A with a Bb and did great with exercises. I’m not reading sheet music yet, and I don’t have anything challenging enough to try it on in terms of playing tunes. I'm sure I can make the transition as fast as pressing a button. This poor man's chromatic is something that is commonly done in Asia. Huang sells solo tuned tremelos in pairs for this purpose. I'm going to gravitate towards this technique in time. I'm sure the music reading is going to give me more trouble than playing the notes.


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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
41 posts		 May-04-06, 11:21 PM (PST)
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13. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #12
 
  
Quote
I bound up an A with a Bb and did great with exercises. I’m not reading sheet music yet, and I don’t have anything challenging enough to try it on in terms of playing tunes. I'm sure I can make the transition as fast as pressing a button. This poor man's chromatic is something that is commonly done in Asia. Huang sells solo tuned tremelos in pairs for this purpose. I'm going to gravitate towards this technique in time. I'm sure the music reading is going to give me more trouble than playing the notes.


I stand corrected good luck with the music reading.

www.surreystrongman.com


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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
41 posts		 May-08-06, 04:50 AM (PST)
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14. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #13
 
   I reveived my Hohner 280# 64 Chromatic last week, what a lovely harp.

Excuse me if this sounds stupid to all you more expiranced players but On the top its numbered 1 to 4 with dots above then numbered 1 to 12 without.What are the first 4 for?is it something to do with chords?
cheers
Andy

www.surreystrongman.com


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webmasteradmin
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698 posts		 May-08-06, 07:55 PM (PST)
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15. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #14
 
Andy,

That's actually a very reasonable question, especially if there nothing explaining the harmonica layout that came with it.

The first 4 holes with the dots are another octave of the the "C" Major scale, but below middle "C". The hole 1 (without the dot) is actually middle "C". On some 16-hole chromatics, the fifth hole is called hole 5.

The reason they number it the way they do on yours is because the most common chromatic is the 12-hole variety. If you ignore the bottom 4 holes on your 16-holer, then standard tab for a 12-hole chromatic will read fine with your chromatic. This numbering sort of makes it easy to relate the the world of standard chromatic tab (note the "sort of").

Here's a few chromatic hole layout charts-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/theory/layout_chromatic.php

Let me know if you have more questions.

Play on,
Dave Gage


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Andy Ox
Member since Apr-20-06
41 posts		 May-09-06, 09:31 AM (PST)
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16. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #15
 
   Gotcha it all becomes clear now Dave,thanks.
I'm slowly working through the Mel Bay basic chromatic book and have ordered Richard Hunters Jazz harp book.Its a long road but i'm really enjoying it.

www.surreystrongman.com


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webmasteradmin
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698 posts		 May-09-06, 01:06 PM (PST)
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17. "RE: Chromatic"
In response to message #16
 
Excellent. I've known Richard Hunter for many years and I do recommend his book (Richard occasionally will post in these Forums). Have fun with it!

Play on,
Dave Gage


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