"C" 10 Hole Chromonica
Hey Dave!
Just when I thought I wasn't going to have any other interest I decide to just look at the chromatic lessons and now I've got the fever. I had an old Hohner key of C Chromatic called THE "CHROMONICA" . When I try to play along it doesn't sound the same is that because it's 10 hole or is it not solo tuning or is it possibly got problems it is old??
Thanks!
Yea! ok! now that you cleared that up my ear wasn't wrong the tuning is off on some of the holes according to my tuner. I guess I need to send this one end, I'm also going to order a 12 hole for the class. Thanks again!
Great. There's only one lick I can think about that you'll need to go up to hole 11, so you may decide just to stay with the 10 hole. A side note, you can also choose to have Hohner replace your 10 hole with a new one at a discounted price... something to keep in mind.
As I mentioned the note's on my 10 hole seemed off, my question is it me or the harp I've tried varying my technique on each hole but consistantly get a G# on 2 draw (should be F) and a B on 3 draw (should be A) D# on 4 draw (should be B) this starts to change on 5,6,7,8,9,10 many bad some good, didn't want to bore you but as I mentioned this harp is old and I wondered if the windsavers being bad could allow air through causing the note to be off or is that totally the reed? It doesn't seem to take allot of air but thats hard to judge being new to chrom. 1st 4 blow notes are fine and draw 1 is fine also. I would think that it is the reed but so many??
Thanks!
I will need to send it in eventually I know but until my new one gets in I'm playing around with this thing.
Note: all draw/blow notes mentioned are with NO button, not even looking at that yet!
The Chromonica series tuning is the same as we use on the site. I'm not aware of any of these models being different and the tuning you mention doesn't look like any alternate system I am aware of. To make sure you should list all of the notes so I or Winslow can see if there's a method to the tuning. There's noting you can do in your technique to make the reed go sharp on a chromatic. I am not aware of windsavers ever causing pitch issues as well. So, at the moment, it's a total mystery tuning... but you should list all the blow and draw notes to see if there's a pattern.
Ok, I made a slight error before when reading but I don't think it changes things, when reading the note I was adding the # because the note was # but as in draw 2 slide out it reads as a "G" that is sharp. So below I took 2 different tuners Korg Chromatic tuner CA-30 and a Arion UM-70. I read them separtely on each hole several times to be sure.
HOLE NUM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Blow slide in C# F G# C# F G# C# F G# C#
Blow slide out C E G C E G C E G C
Draw slide out D G B D F A B D F A
Draw slide in D# G# C D# F# A# C D# F# A#
I have now checked these notes about 6 times, I had the tuner set on 440 and also checked on 444 don't know why but I read it somewhere didn't make any big difference. I noted the blow notes were all correct with 440 so I thought it must be good except for blow 5 which doesn't repeat "C". I hope you can give me an answer because I'm starting to think I've lost it!!! Thanks!
I have a new 270 deluxe coming I orderd from Rockin Rons Music for less, hope you don't mind the shout out he's a great guy and has the best prices shipping always included too!
Thank you... mystery solved. You have a fun animal... it's a chromatic tuned like a diatonic. Pretend you're playing a diatonic and every time you need a sharp or flat use the button. I believe Hohner called this their "KOCH" model (KOCH was another manufacturer in Trossingen, Germany).
So I'm not as crazy as first thought!, That makes sense the old guy that sold me this one sold me one of those (KOCH) too! It's got the same tuning, I feel kind of stupid now looking at the tuning it looks obvious whereas before all's I could see was Chromatic tuning, thanks for lifting the fog. Looking forward to getting my 270 more than ever.
Thanks for solving my mystery!!
Understandable. When you're looking for one thing, the other doesn't always make itself clear easily. Have fun with your new chromatic.
So glad to read this. I have been playing for about 10 years. Mostly diatonic, but started chromatic butchering about a year ago. A friend gave me his dads old 260 (key of C) a month ago. Said his dad purchased it while in college in the early 1930's. Told me it played just like his diatonic with the slide out. I thought he was mistaken... until I played it. Sure enough...it plays just like a 10 hole C diatonic. I just assumed he had it special tuned. I also have a post war 260, as well as two 270's. two 280's, and a CX-12. They all have the standard Hohner chromatic tuning. But for kicks, it is fun to pick up this old gem and play it like a diatonic and hit the slide instead of bending. Thanks for the history lesson. Just signed up for your lessons this month. Really enjoying them. Take care.
very cool BigDogDaddyD
Yes, the chromatic is a lot of fun. The Chromonica model you have is tuned correctly and is the same layout as what I use in the lessons (it's just missing the top two holes of a 12-hole). If you feel it has some issues you can send it to Hohner for servicing. Visit http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?1487 for info on that. Their service is very fast.