Hi Harpsters of Sonic Junction!
Today I will start a new study piece and we are going down a new avenue for this one, on a Chromatic harmonica!
If this is new for you and you are not sure about playing the chromatic harp, or if you have experimented on your own and may be somewhat confused by the instrument (it is tuned and constructed differently than a standard harmonica)…have no fear! We will be utilizing no new techniques, only techniques we have already used on my other study pieces here on Sonic Junction, but we are just now using them on a different type harmonica. If you do play a little chromatic already, this will likely give you a better framework to start learning more and improvising more freely on the instrument for blues.
Any standard chromatic harmonica in the key of C will work (I am using a 12-hole Hohner model 270 “Super Chromonica”) and you can even seek out a “solo tuned” diatonic harmonica in the key of C if the chromatic harmonica is a little intimidating for you. A solo-tuned diatonic harmonica has the same note layout as a chromatic, but is the size of a diatonic harmonica, has no slide on it, and has some notes that you can bend. Either way, get your harp and ready to moan the blues with me on “Moan-a-Chrome”!
- Dennis Gruenling
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Chromatic Harmonica
Print Chords & Tab
C Chromatic Harmonica in the Key of D
Loop 0:40 Introduction to Moan A Chrome and Chromatic Harmonica
Loop 2:14 Whole Song
Loop 2:14 First Verse
Loop 2:53 Second Verse
Loop 3:29 Third Verse
Loop 4:05 Fourth Verse
Loop 4:42 Fifth Verse
Loop 5:18 Sixth Verse
Loop 5:55 Seventh Verse
Loop 6:30 Eighth Verse
Comments
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Hi Dennis !! yes it s tighter Now !! really appreciated your comments , and your tongue vamp ... Man it s fast !!
André
Thank you! Just takes steady practice, you will get it for sure.
Hi Dennis !! It s not tight like I d like , but ... it s a start and I really have to be able to count the beat ... i m sure it will help ... any comments anyone ??
Sounds good!! Sorry for the delay, this comment slipped through the cracks here on me. And good job moving with the groove, and keeping time with the tune. REALLY nice distorted notes, hit just right! I'm curious if it's gotten tighter for you since posting this....nice job though, sounds like you have the scale down really well.
This is great !!! A potential future good one would be I’m ready by Willie Dixon it’s a good steady chromatic piece 😎
Hey Dennis,
You've been preaching the gospel of George "Harmonica" Smith for a long time but I finally, on a 5-hour solo car trip, got in deep. I must have listened to Blues in the Dark 200 times, and am still listening. There's so much to learn in this piece! What is most impressive to me is how he defines and drives that groove - he's pulling the rhythm section along with him! Swinging behind and ahead of the beat, which you've mentioned elsewhere, to remarkable effect. So thanks for turning me on to GHS. This piece is really moving my chromatic playing.
Bill
Glad to hear that, thank you!
Yes, George was a phenomenal player, and a great musician. He knew how to build and release tension, and how to establish and play with a groove...on chromatic AND diatonic!
Hi Dennis, great to finally have some chromatic lessons for blues harmonica. You teach very well.
I was wondering if you had a preference for a 12 hole vs a 16 hole when playing with a C?
I do enjoy the smaller size of the 12 hole but love that lower octave on the 16 hole but sometimes find it easy to get lost on it if I'm not carefully. And when I play the 12 hole I kinda miss those lower notes.
And is having a few different keys chromatic worth it? Or do you stick with a C and are happy with that?
Hi - thanks!!
I like the low octacve as well, but for amplified playing, it is easier to use a 12 hole to manipulate the tone as much as possible...and I have several different keys I use, because the chords are limited on the chromatic in different positions.
GREETINGS DENNIS A FEW QUESTIONS NOTICE THAT YOU DID NOT USE THE BUTTON ON THIS SONG,,ALSO WONDERING IF A SUPER 64 PERFORMANCEIS THE RIGHT CHROMATIC HARMONICA FOR THIS SONG AND WHATS THE DIFFERANCE BETWEEN THE 64 AND THE 64X?
I did not use the button on this song, it was meant as an intrroductory Blues Chromatic piece...but still is more musically "advanced" than many other chromatic piecves you hear some other players perform.
The 64X is put together differently, and they just are introducing a new 64X model, totally redesigned. It is awwesome, but much more expensive, and more responsive. Both instruments are tuned the same and have the same notes however...
Hi Mike !! thank you ... for the backing track !! a lot
Hi Dennis !!
There s no Backing track ??
Hi Andre - thanks for the reminder. The track is up.
Hi Dennis,
In the first chorus, at the end of part over the 4-chord, you land on the 2-draw but then it kinda swells into a big, low, distorted growl. Are you playing 1- and 2-draw there? That's a super mean sound.
Thanks Bill!! That is a 2 draw, that just swells into a distorted 2 draw - meaning I open up to include part f the next higher note with it (3 draw)...thanks!!
Might be time to buy a Chromatic! this is cool!! Thanks Dennis
Thanks! Glad you dig this! If you can do these techniques we've been using on the diatonic, you can totally tackle this one.
Absolutely fantastic! There is a lot of learning in this study!
Glad you like it! Not as difficult as it sounds, just a new instrument!
Absolutly Amazing !! .... I really want to master it ... looking forward to start Dennis !!
Thanks Andre!! You can tackle this, it really doesn't take more skills than the diatonic for this song, just a different instrument and a little more breath control perhaps. Have fun with it!
Sounds great. But you can't beat the diatonic.
Thanks Boyd! Just something different, not trying to replace the diatonic. There will be plenty more diatonic coming from me here on Sonic Junction!