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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > chromatic player can't play blues diatonic
chromatic player can't play blues diatonic
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Diggsblues
2335 posts
Sep 13, 2025
10:38 AM
I hear this sometimes and it makes me laugh. Lots of Chrom players are great blues diatonic player. This is from my old blues band.
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dougharps
2383 posts
Sep 17, 2025
9:02 AM
All generalizations are false, including this generalization...


If whoever said what you relate about chromatic harmonica players has a strict interpretation of blues harmonica as limited to rhythmic groove based playing, then there may be some degree of accuracy to their observation from that point of view.

Chromatic harmonica players and a good proportion of diatonic players think in terms of melody having a major role in playing harmonica in any style.

I have encountered traditional blues purists who disdain melodic playing. They consider melodic excursions as departing from traditional blues harp style. They focus on groove and chord changes.

I think we should incorperate both groove and melody in playing blues, but I am not a traditional blues purist.
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Doug S.


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