Blues Chromatic

Diatonic players sometimes wonder why chromatics have those pesky plastic strips called windsaver valves mounted over the reed slots. (Sometimes chromatic players do, too!)

As the name implies, they save wind, sending all the air to the reed you're playing. But they also affect tone and bendability.

Recently I posted a video on my YouTube Channel exploring the subject of valves on both chromatics and diatonics- fully valved, half-vavles, and unvalved. You can view it at: continue reading...

Well, I'm in trouble now. A musician friend is putting together a band for a Salute to Stevie Wonder show, and has asked if I'd be interested in playing chromatic. I'm OK with blues in D of course, and even other keys, but Stevie Wonder's stuff could be a challenge, even if I'm just doing an "impression" of it. Do any of you know of any sources (books, websites, etc.) with charts or transcriptions of what he plays on some of his biggest hits? Thanks!

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

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!!

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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