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Blues Chromatic

Discuss with other members anything related to playing Blues Chromatic.

Sticking blow notes.

Posted Wed, 03/15/2023 - 08:43 by Graham Dent
Graham Dent's picture

Hi all,

I have a Hohner CX12 and am slowly going through David's chromatic material. I have noted that the 3 and 5 hole blow notes are starting to stick. Generally I can free them with a bit more blow force. Is this a regular problem that I will get used to fixing whilst playing or is there an easy improvement? Am trying not to do too much work on wind savers etc.

Thanks,

Graham

  • 6 comments

Suzuki SCX-48 vs SCX-56

Posted Tue, 03/07/2023 - 11:13 by nexo99
nexo99's picture

Hello!

I'm buying my first chromatic harmonica. I decided on Suzuki Chromatix, for the availability and price in my region.

I found the SCX-48 and SCX-56 for the same price! What's the suggestion? Do I buy the traditional 48 or do I take advantage of the 56 promotion?

Thank you!!

  • 5 comments

4 Hole Dip

Posted Wed, 02/15/2023 - 12:36 by Graham Dent
Graham Dent's picture

Hi,

I'm just starting on Blues Chromatic Study 3 and have found that no matter what I do in my Hohner CX12 I cant get dips to work in hole 4 and above. Holes 1 to 3 are fine, so, I think my technique isnt 100% off. Is there anything I should do to the reeds to help this? Or is it just practice?

Thanks,

Graham

  • 3 comments

Playing major blues

Posted Tue, 11/29/2022 - 11:31 by gabbeauchamp
gabbeauchamp's picture

Hi,

So when playing a major song in the key of D with a C chromatic harmonica. You just have to be careful not to play the minor third? Like the 2 draw would clash right??

Is there another technique to play on major songs?

Thanks

Gabriel

  • 2 comments

Bending on chromatic

Posted Mon, 11/21/2022 - 17:10 by Expert Winslow Yerxa
Expert Winslow Yerxa's picture

Is note bending on a standard chromatic possible or practical? Here's a little spontaneous demo I did recently, using a standard, valved 12-hole chromatic, playing one and two-semitone bends on both blow and draw notes:https://www.dropbox.com/s/vvxmrrdsi4kd1nc/Chromatic%20bending%20car%20vi...

Half-tone difference (slide), and so different?

Posted Sat, 07/30/2022 - 14:01 by ÉricD
ÉricD's picture

I go back irregularly to the chromatic, to test if my overall progress on the diatonic is helping. I still have a hard time sounding the 1 draw on the chromatic (and a bit also the 2 draw, to a lesser extent). The tone seems good (at first it wasn't, as for the diatonic) but now there is a slight delay before it comes, which ruins it all. Like it begins to choke, then sounds. continue reading...

  • 7 comments

Draw 2 "locking up" and "windsaver" noise

Posted Tue, 07/19/2022 - 07:56 by cmack
cmack's picture

I'm new to the chromatic after playing blues on diatonic harps for 25 years. I was gifted an inexpensive Swan 1040 and started messing around with it. It did play pretty smoothly and although the slide was a little clunky it sounded good except that it wasn't very loud and apparently not very air tight. You could actually bend some of the draw notes like a diatonic as well. Looking in it you can tell there are no "windsavers". continue reading...

  • 3 comments

Dark Night By David Barrett backing track

Posted Tue, 07/05/2022 - 00:56 by Darron 'Boots' Best
Darron 'Boots' Best's picture

Gday. Was wondering if anyone was aware if there was a backing track for the song Dark Night by David Barrett. This was one of the songs that made me want to learn the chrome and now that I know it I'd love to play it to the actual backing track.

I've been using Dm slow blues progressions on YouTube prior.

 

Thanks 

  • 1 comment

Poll: Your second chromatic key?

Posted Sun, 04/03/2022 - 19:32 by UkuleleRob65
UkuleleRob65's picture

Quick question for those of you who have chromatics in two or more keys: Assuming a C was your first, what was your sexond?

I thought of this during yesterday's Dennis Gruenling Zoom Q&A that focused on the the music of William Clarke. One of the pieces that Dennis analyzed was in C in third position, i.e., on a Bb chromatic. Dennis talked about how when he first heard the song and tried to figure it out on his C chromatic, and couldn't figure out how Clarke was getting those sounds. And then the light went on. He wasn't playing a C, he was playing a Bb. continue reading...

  • 5 comments

Hohner 280, maybe pre war

Posted Sat, 03/19/2022 - 05:44 by Monster-Toys
Monster-Toys's picture

Huhus,

My Chromonika III 280 C arrived. It is marked with a 870 on one of the cover plates. If my research (with very little results) is correct, that means it was tuned to chamber pitch A=435Hz and made in the 1930's.That is pure speculation tho, my harmonica (history) knowledge is close to non existent.

The optical condition seems to be quite nice, even the leather valves look almost like new and it is almost playable. The comb has a crack/split around hole 6 tho that would need to be repaired first. continue reading...

  • 1 comment
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