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Free Sample Lessons
After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.
- Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
- Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills
There are two big differences between a slide diatonic such as the Trochilus Blues (I have those, along with the older Hohner Koch 980) and a solo-tuned chromatic.
A solo-tuned chromatic takes Holes 4 thru 7 of the dinatonic and repeats that note layout in every octave.
A slide diatonic in standard tuning has a different note layout AND a different chord in the bottom octave, and with notes missing. On a C harp, you'll get a G chord, with the notes F and A missing, instead oa D minor chord with all notes available without bending.
On a slide diatonic, in the top octave the draw notes will shift one hole to the right instead of staying in the same position as in the middle octave.
So no, a slide diatonic won't give you the same scale layout or the same chords as a solo tuned diatonic.
If money is a concern, get an Easttop Forerunner, an unavalved three-octave solo-tuned chromaitc. Costs about the same as a good diatonic and will serve you better for blues chromatic studies.