Ask Harmonica Expert Winslow Yerxa

Hi Winslow...Sorry if it sounds like a dumb question, but, is it generally accepted that playing a chromatic harp is very different than playing a diantonic?  I am specifically referring to the amount of air required to get decent volume.  I recently purchased a Hohner 270 Deluxe, and after adjusting the the gap on holes one and two, I am still finding that it requires more air than a diatonic.  Before I adjusted the gap, I found holes one and two were choking on both blow and draw with a normal volume of air.

Homer.

Hi Winslow,

I'm looking to add some jazz to my solo repertoire and heard lee Oskar do a version of sentimental mood on a blues harmonica blow out session.

Do you know what tuning he was using for this? At the moment I'm using c and Ab harps to cover the positions

I guess chromatic would be another option but I'm not that familiar with it yet.

Thanks

G

I did pick up the CX12 to help me with my 5 hole Octaves and my U block tendency.

More deeper and feel a definite flat blocking of the tongue. I have been presenting the harmonica too front on. I have to angle it back and feel a flatness of the tongue. I was not doing that.

My request is, I can't find Chromatic Song books that would help me with my skills. It would be very cool if it had mp3s or a .midi file to play with.

Any suggestions, Winslow. You have been very kind to me.

Will

Winslow continue reading...

I have a customer at the music store I work at who is having a lot of difficulty getting started on chromatic harmonica. He is mainly a tremolo harmonica player, and recently purchased a 64 Chromonica. He seems to be having trouble figuring out the tuning of the instrument and is wondering if there are any harmonicas that will play a chromatic scale without bending that is NOT a traditional chromatic. I can only order Hohners at the store where I work, and I see they make an orchestra harmonica called the Chromatica, but I can't find too much info on it. continue reading...

I have purchased hohner silverstar harmonicas for learning from the site as I am a beginner. I have heard that silverstar are inferior harmonicas. Is this true? Should I play on a different harp? Please enlighten.

Hello Winslow
I'm back with a few questions.
1. I need to replace the shell of my CX 12 the notches on the button side wore through. I do like the CX 12 because every time I pick it up I know what to expect, I just wish the tone was a little more like the 270. I was told by Hohner the gold shell was made out of slightly different material and of course the CX 12 Jazz shell is shaped differently. Have you ever noticed a tonal difference from one shell to the next. continue reading...

Hi Winslow,

I'm doing the various section on David Barrett's phenomenal harmonica website (http://www.bluesharmonica.com/). In studying tongue-blocking and soloing on the harp, my challenge now is tongue-blocking hole #1 by switching the tongue from left to right (covering holes 2 and 3). It almost feels like my tongue is making a "windshield wiper" type movement. A little awkward, but I'm getting the hang of it. continue reading...

Hi Winslow,

I'm having trouble with my 270 DLX. I even sent it in for a full servicing at Hohner. Every so often (enough to hinder playing through an entire song) a note doesn't sound. Other times that same note will sound. Sometimes I'll hit a note and there will be a delay before it sounds. When it doesn't sound it, I can blow again or a little harder and it's almost like it's stuck and breaking free.

Is this a windsaver issue? It does this whether the harmonica is cold or warm.

Any advice?

-Taylor

Hi Winslow,

On most GH Smith album covers he's holding a giant long harmonica. Any idea what this is?

Taylor