billy_shines
353 posts
Apr 04, 2012
2:00 AM
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i just got a chromonica 270 in C. i dont know what im doing but i can alternate with a Db diatonic harp any clue what key im in?
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jbone
853 posts
Apr 04, 2012
3:35 AM
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Dm most likely. doing the draws on a C chromatic in 3rd, you are playing Dm notes. in other words when i play in 3rd position on a chromatic in C, the root key of the song/guitar/band will be in Dm. this is also true for a diatonic in 3rd.
you can also use a G harp when the song is in A. F harp when the song is in G. Bb harp when the song is inC. Eb when the song is in F. A harp when song is in B. do you see the pattern here? on a circle of 5ths chart you go one step further past the 2nd position key.
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MrVerylongusername
2307 posts
Apr 04, 2012
7:18 AM
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I'm confused...
If he can alternate with a Db harp, then he's in Db surely? button in on a C chrom.
If he's playing Dm on a Db diatonic then he's in 8th position (I think) - possible, but far less likely than being in 1st.
Perhaps I'm missing something?
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laurent2015
94 posts
Apr 04, 2012
8:09 AM
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Also confused.
D=minor scale
Db=major scale?
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hvyj
2301 posts
Apr 04, 2012
9:17 AM
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If the slide is out and you start on draw 1 (D) and don't work the slide, you will be playing in D Dorian minor.
If the slide is IN, and you start on draw 1 (D# OR Eb) and don't work the slide, you will be playing in Eb Dorian minor).
IMHO, it's more useful to think in terms of "keys" rather than "positions" when playing chrom, but if you insist on thinking in terms of positions, these keys would be THIRD position.
You can play a C chrom in ANY key. There is a book by Billy Joe Holman "The Mel Bay Complete Harmonica Method" that has tab for all scales and all modes in all 12 keys. Very useful reference. Richard Hunter's "Jazz Harp" has tab for arpeggios. Chrom is a different instrument from a diatonic. THINK KEYS, not positions.
You also have to think SHARPS, not flats. Since pushing the slide in RAISES the pitch a half step, Bb must be played as A#, Eb as D#, etc. B#=C which allows you to play C as a draw note instead of as a blow note, and E#=F, which allows F to be played as a blow or draw. It's not that hard to start thinking in terms of sharps. What's harder to get used to is maintaining spatial orientation on the instrument to navigate the side by side Cs.
Last Edited by on Apr 04, 2012 9:23 AM
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WinslowYerxa
223 posts
Apr 04, 2012
9:18 AM
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I think that jbone just made an incomplete statement.
Blues on chromatic is most often played in third position, using that nice big D minor chord that runs all up and down the harp when you play a C chromatic. On a G chromatic, 3rd position gives you a nicebig A minor chord, and so on.
If you press in the slide and hold it, you can play all your third position stuff and it comes out a semitone higher. Technically this is 10th position (Eb is 10th position on a C harp) but unless you put the slide in motion, you can play just like you would in third.
With the slide in, a C harp plays a Db major blow chord and a Db major scale. Again, as long as you don't put the slide in play, this plays just like first position even though technically it's 8th position.
By the way, position concepts are useful for chromatic if you play different keyed chromatics. Paul deLay, William Clarke, Norton Buffalo and Rod Piazza are all blues players who play (or, played) multiple keys of chromatic, mostly in third or 10th position (or, in Norton's case, in 2nd.)
I play a C chromatic in all 12 keys, but I still find position concepts useful when I play chromatics in other keys.
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Last Edited by on Apr 04, 2012 9:22 AM
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timeistight
517 posts
Apr 04, 2012
9:58 AM
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@billy_shines: What position are you playing on the Db diatonic? That'll tell you what key you're in:
1st: you're in Db
2nd: you're in Ab
3rd: you're in Eb
4th: you're in Bb
5th: you're in F
6th: you're in C
12th: you're in Gb
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groyster1
1841 posts
Apr 04, 2012
11:15 AM
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love that circle of 5ths chart...it sure simplifies the above...
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billy_shines
354 posts
Apr 04, 2012
11:28 AM
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its a chromonica 12 hole in C
the diatonic is Db
i can do this riff on the low notes button out then go up a bit do the same cool riff
then push the button in and do som crazy ear peircing stuff then back to the cool riff with the button off
but then i switch to the Db diatonic and i play that really cool riff again then i switch to the cool riff on chromatic button in button out it doesnt matter.and i can do this a awhile then go back to the really cool riff as a one really low bottom.
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