Hi, thanks for reading my question. I have been playing blues/country diatonic harmonica for 18 years now. Lately (on and off for the past 5 years or so) I have been listening to William Clarke, and George 'Harmonica' Smith. I am completely facinated by this style of playing. From the multituda of things that attract my ear the "ornamentations" used by Clarke and Smith on chromatic harmonica are particularly interesting! I have gone and bought four chromatic harmonicas. And to be honest, I find them frustrating. A much different beast for sure, compared to diatonics.
I am interested in knowing the "mechanics" of these ornamentations. Anyone who plays harmonica will know what I mean. Those sounds that pepper the song, from simply shouting woah! between chops, worbling awsome effects, and something I can only describe as dissonance of two notes. I am yet to understand how to acomplish these. Any help will be appreciated - frustrated new player of chromatic harmonica Bill Clarke was my favorite. He and George were as close as father - son. I used to remember when Bill's brother played drums for him. George was the founder and King of the Chromatic if you ask me. Get a copy of "Blues in the Dark" and listen to the licks. Short, sweet, simple - perfection! Rod Piazza was also a protege' of George. I was introduced to George by another blues legend Doug MacLeod. Got to open the gig with Doug and his band, play 3 tunes while George observed and had a couple J.D.'s. He then got up on stage and said "That Boy is dangerous" I was elated, best and most valued compliment I have ever received. George then proceeded to play "Blues in the Dark". I had never in all my days heard anything like it. Dripping and then sizzling with emotion and soul. I don't think any George's best work was never captured on tape, you had to be there. My advice - STUDY AND PRACTICE THAT SONG UNTIL YOU CAN COPY EVERY NOTE. You will then discover some of the secrets. Lots of it is adjusting your breathing as well as putting in the time. You know what I mean. Take care - you have good music taste! ;-> the chro is a chromatic instrument,that is to say it can be played in any key,like guitar,piano and so .blues chromatic is not that difficult,in so as,.take a c chro,if you draw hole 2 you are in the key of dminor,actually a dminor6th,which fits well in blues,just draw on the c chro up an down,hear the minor 6th?all the blue notes are there in the key of d.so take a g chro draw hole 2 you got the key of a,follow.look at pictures of little walter holding a chro,the slide is broke off he rarely used it.you can bend notes also but not near as well as the diatonic.the slide is used in passing or grace notes for effect,which comes out real nice.i could go on and on but check out David Barret's book,chromatic harp for the diatonic player.or go to www.harmonicamasterclass.con,i believe this will take where you want to go.
ps;if you already play diatonic in 3rd position,you are already half way there.
take care.fellow harp blower of 33 yrs.and blues flute player.
pss:on a 16 hole chro such as horner super 64 holes are numbered 1-2-3-(4-1)-2-3-(4-5)-6-7and so on.holes 4 and 1 blow are the same note as so 4 and 5 blow,and so on so on,when you blow the octive the next blow note is the same on the high end.if you blow an octive,you can have three notes the same pitch,which sounds realy cool.any other questions you might have?phrygian56@yahoo.com.
all the tec crap in the world,realy is not the blues.just play just one or two notes from your heart,that is in tune,thats the blues. |
