Questions about the chromatic harmonica

Cafe Society
1

I saw Toots Theilmans play on TV once, and he had a whole bunch of chromatic harps that he swapped among. Which got me wondering.

Do chromatic harmonica players use one harp for all keys, playing in different ‘positions’? Or do they use different ones for different keys, like diatonic players generally do? Or some combination of the two?

Although I’ve known a few really good diatonic harp players who could play as many as five positions on a single harp, most diatonic harp players use different harps for different keys. Even mediocre ones like me can play in two positions per harp (e.g., a C harp is used to play in C major and G blues).

As I understand it, Toots was at one time recognized as the only harmonica player capable of true jazz improvization on the chromatic harp. So if he uses different ones for different keys, I assume everyone does.

(For non-harmonica enthusiasts: a chromatic harmonica contains all twelve notes in the scale. It has a little button that changes the available notes. The more familiar diatonic harmonica contains essentially only the major notes in the scale. Sort of like a piano with only white keys).

2

I don’t think that Hohner manufactures chromatics in more than 2 or 3 keys. At least when I was looking in a Musician’s Friend catalog many moons ago, I’m pretty sure I only saw 2 keys available IIRC. I think the question becomes “Does a chromatic harmonica offer all sharps and flats, ie, 13 notes?” If it does, then you probably don’t need harps in every key. And if you know your repertoire and are really savvy with harmonic theory, you can probably work out how little you need.

3

What an interesting question! I like Toots, and I didn’t know he used multiple chromatic harps. In fact, I didn’t even know they were made in different keys - I thought they were all like my Hohner Chromonica, in C. But then I’m a keyboard player, and only really dabbled with the harmonica.

So I’ve done a bit of thinking, and realised it makes sense to have different pitches, especially if you’re doing chordal stuff. I’ll think aloud, but remember, I ain’t an expert.

Sure, you can get all 12 notes in the chromatic scale, but unlike a piano, you can’t get them all at once. You can’t play a G and a Bb simultaneously, for example, if you’ve got a C harp.

Of course, it’s even more complicated than that, because you’re combining the use of the button with the inhale/exhale thing, although some notes can be got in different ways, as in the C/B# type of thing.

Another explanation might be that Toots simply isn’t comfortable transposing. I can’t believe that, since he also plays guitar wonderfully, but it’s a hypothetical. Maybe you’re aware that Irving Berlin couldn’t transpose (he always played in F#, as I recall), and had a specially-made piano that could shift the keyboard left to right. And the piano is about as truly chromatic as you can get.

As I say, thoughts only, since I’m not an expert. This being the SDMB, doubtless someone who knows for sure will be along to give you better answers.

4

Chromatic harmonicas are almost always in C, sometimes in G, and a few models come in assorted keys. The Hohner Super Chromonica appears to be available in all keys excepts F-sharp and A-flat. (Note that in the linked listing half of the keys are only available as special orders.)

For anyone unfamiliar with how a chromatic harmonica is set up, each octave is tuned like the middle octave of a diatonic (in C: blow CEGC and draw DFAB). Pressing the button raises all these notes a half step.

FWIW, Hohner’s two Toots Thielemans models (the Hard Bopper and the Mellow Tone) are available only in C.

5

With the use of overblows and overdraws (as popularized and perfected by Howard Levy), or a valved diatonic, it actually is possible to play in all 12 keys on a diatonic harp. (Yes, a chromatic scale from the first hole all the way to the last.) Still, even those harmonica players who can play a diatonic chromatically will switch from harp to harp depending on where certain notes fall. However, I have seen Howard play the same tune in all 12 keys on the same diatonic.

6

As a (poor) diatonic harp player, I would guess that the reason that Toots Thieleman uses differently keyed harps is purely about range of notes available. If your chromatic harps are in C and G, then the G harp has a range 5 notes higher (or 4 notes lower) than the C harp. Both can play the same notes across the common range, but one get some higher notes that the other cannot get, while the other has some lower notes.

Just my 1p… (and my wife won’t let me buy a chromatic harp to find out - she freaked out over the 5 diatonics I purchased, and I still need an F…)

Si

7

I have a Toots HardBopper, several Hohner cx-12’s, a suzuki, and a Honica Educator 10, and all of them the Educator 10, I think is the best. It’s rugged, great sound, smooth in sound and slide, has 10 holes. Best of all it costs only $39!
They make it only in C, which is really too bad. You should try it out! You’ll love it!

8

n/m. Didn’t see OP date.