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I've been having similar troubles with the chromatic. But then, I haven't had mine for very long. I've learned to play one song on it, and not very well (yet),and that's about it. I think it probably just takes alot more practise. When I first started to play the diatonic, it took some time for anything to happen. And I practise alot more with that than the chrom.
I have yet to gain enough understanding of the new instrument to help myself (let alone you), unfortunately.

Shaggy

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I'll be glad to help you guys out with learning chromatic through this forum. I will request though that if you ask, please ask very specific questions; general questions are difficult to answer without responding with a book-length answer. Although I can't give you direct audio feedback, I can prescribe the same instruction/ lessons plans I give my diatonic private students that would like to start learning chromatic as a "second instrument".

STEP 1-
If you haven't already done so on the chromatic, you should start with learning and memorizing:

"C" Major Scale (2 octaves)-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/tabs/tabsong_ch_cmajor.php
BEGIN THIS WEEK 1

"C" Chromatic Scale-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/tabs/tabsong_ch_chrom.php
BEGIN THIS WEEK 1 OR WEEK 2

"C" Blues Scale-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/tabs/tabsong_ch_cblues.php
BEGIN THIS WEEK 2 OR WEEK 3

STEP 2-
Take a look at the note layout of the chromatic and memorize the placement and names of the notes (i.e. hole 2 draw is "F" and hole 7 blow w/slide in (7B) is "G#" or "Ab". You can use the Chromatic Scale tab page to figure this out-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/tabs/tabsong_ch_chrom.php
BEGIN THIS WEEK 1 OR WEEK 2

STEP 3-
Learn and memorize a simple song that doesn't involve using the slide (i.e. "Summertime").
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/tabs/tabschromatic.php
BEGIN THIS WEEK 1

STEP 4-
Learn and memorize a simple song that does involve using the slide (i.e. "Love Me Tender", "Yesterday").
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/tabs/tabschromatic.php
BEGIN THIS WEEK 2

Chromatic Harmonica is a great, under-rated instrument; and in some ways, easier than diatonic. You can get good as long as you don't mind a bit of theory and gobs of repetition.

Play on,
Dave

Greetings in third position with a little slide,
Jervis

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Okay Dave,
thanks for your advice. I realize my question was nowhere near specific. However: I'm still interested if other players use "visualization" (as I've tried to explain in my question) when approaching the harmonica. And as your reply makes clear: practice, scales, practice, scales, etcetera. I will!
By the way: today the mail delivered David Barret's "Basic Blues Chromatic for the diatonic player". And I've ordered the William Clarke CD's that were missing in my CD-collection, so there's no shortage of stuff to practice on this side of the ocean!

Greetings in third position with a little slide,
Jervis

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Jervis,

I am a huge fan of the visualization concept. I basically see scale patterns in my head for chromatic and different positions and tunings for diatonic. It's almost like I pull up a template for what I want to play and go from there.

I haven't seen the David B. book, but I'm sure there's some good stuff in there. Let me know if you have any questions on anything in there or otherwise.

Play on,
Dave