To the critics, I would like to say it makes no difference how one plays an instrument such as you can run into left handed guitarists. My first harmonica, as a kid, was a cheap diatonic - no numbers. Being dominantly left handed, perhaps, I taught myself how to play by ear. I somehow held the harmonica with low notes to my right. Later, switching to the chromatic, I kept my habit. Mechanically, there is no difference. Same as the ability to read notes (which I am still learning). As for subsequent models that have numbers written on them, well, I rarely pay attention to numbers, but if I need to take a quick peak, then reading numbers upside down is no biggie. My recommendation is, just play music, and enjoy the process.
Absolutely correct!! I have been playing the harmonica for fifty three years and have had lots of fun whether it is diatonic,chromatic,tremolo and octave.Left hand or right it does not matter just enjoy playing,it always makes me smile when I play.
You know who else played upside down? My musical hero, Terry McMillan. According to himself, he picked up the harmonica upside down by mistake when he first started playing and didn't know the numbers were supposed to be on top. But nothing ever stopped him from playing that way. A special thing to note is that he's right handed, not left handed. It was just how he learned to play.
Thanks for the informative review. I like your style....bit of humor, honest, and to the point for all of us harp loving amateurs. The Sunday morning robe added to the casual vibe lol. More reviews please!
I know when people say you have to warm up the chromatic, so it can flow a little better.My answer to that is used , Hair dryer gun. For a couple minutes back-and-forth back and forth on the blow Range .You'll Here. the differen before you use it allready be warmed up Ready to use. Yes, I do The sidel, Grand Has a warm temperature. Case Chromatic has a warm temperature in its always ready.
Hohner make a great all-around chromatic called the Discovery 48. It has a hard plastic type of comb like the Special 20 a AND you can easily take off the front mouthpiece and reverse the slide button for lefties. It comes with a fairly rugged carrying case. I own other more expensive chromatics but this is my every day carry around chromatic. It's a big step up from their Chromonica line, with a real mouthpiece. It also has a much quieter and smooth slide.
Excellent review☺ Just started playing Winter 2020, have 3 Chromatics, a Swan 10 hole and 2 Easttops, a 10 and a 12 hole. The Swan doesn't have as loud a tone as the Easttops, but is a beautiful instrument
Danke für das Video. Schön zu sehen. Im preisgünstigen Segment, find ich die Thomann 64 noch am besten. Spiele selber aktiv auf meiner Suzuki. Der Klang ist unglaublich, auch wie leicht diese anspricht.
So glad to hear you recommend the Swan 1664 , Amazon for 70 usd , having a little trouble with 4th hole draw , but that may just be my lack of experience , Sounds pretty good to me so far. Ever learn to breathe & single note ... can't possibly get worse . Thanks Mr. Muray
Thanks! Sometimes reeds need to be adjusted by carefully reducing/increasing the gap. In most cases warming up the instrument does the trick. At other times, it gets better after a few minutes of playing.
air leaks are common, especially with chromatic, i saw a video they use vaseline on the slider, it improved. another thing i dont like is the plastic wind saver, sticking. i tried the tombo no slider type chromatic. i also use the cheaper harp for practice.
I've got a couple of Seydel Chromatic Standard harmonicas. They are also intended as a budget travel/practice instrument. They also have no windsavers and also play well with almost no maintenance.
Great video of explain .and welldone you for the video very realistic .and well explain wish lot people be like you .when seeing video of explain top 1 man
I am in need of a good 16 hole chromatic. I saw the Hohnner super x 64 but the price is over $600.00. I prefer the plastic mouthpiece over the metal. The lower notes come through loud and clear and it is said to have superior sound. Is there a lesser priced harmonica comparable to the super 64 X?
Mauny, thank you for the video. I just order a Swan, my first ever chromatic for $75. I have played diatonic harmonicas for most of my life. But because yesterday would have been Toots Thielemans 100th birthday, I got interested in chromatics. thanks again
Did you start on chromatic yet??? Curious what you think of your Swan.... I got an early 1248 from them and it was really leaky. I've reworked it to where it is 'playable'.🎵🎶👍
Bought a tremolo and a diatonic, but i liked playing the tremolo more since i could play deeper sounds plus i can play some sounds that i could not achieve with my diatonic. Hmm i liked the how you pointed out that owning a chromatica will allow one to reach the lower sounds. I have been defintely thinking about saving up for either an Eastop or a Chrometta 14. Although i hope to get something between $40 to $50 for a beginner chromatic harp. I also appreciated how you played the harps together in comparison so that even those without musical backgrounds could understand. It was difficult to read the reviews from online stores since they were made either by gift buyers or by newbie players ljke myself. So i can't really tell how good one is compared to another. I'll defintely look for a Swan chromatic harp now.
I love rthe fact that you are giving reviews on the bottom end of Chromartic harmonicas but there is also one that is so cheap it is rediculous. It is available on Alliexpress and it sells for only $18.40. That is right. That cheap. Here is it's description. Chromatic Harmonica 24 Holes C Key Slive Professional Mouth Organ for Children Beginner Musical Education Boat Shape Harmonica. Take a look at the number of holes. 24. I have not found another Chromatic on the market with this much range. That is like 6 octaves. I have ordered one of these. I will enjoy the range even if it is as cheep as it's price.
@@aniketghosh9541 Yeah i found that out after I got it. But here is another possibility that does not exist but could. I own an Eastop Melody Bass Harmonica that goes an octave lower than a Swan 1664 Chromatic and is only marginally wider than the Swan. It shows that a Chromatic could be built to be a 20 holer. Now to find someone to do a Custom Build. I already talked to Eastop but they where not interested.
Thanks for the video , I am a beginner but I have these in mind Honer Chromonica270 M27001 Honer CX-12 Black M7545 Honer Chromonica 270 Deluxe Not sure what from above to choose ? can you please recommend?
I have just approached EastTop concerning a 20 hole Chromatic . I came up with the idea because of their Melody Bass Harmonica which is chromatic without a slide. It goes one octave lower than a 16 hole chromatic and is only marginally wider than a chromatic. What are your opinions on a 20 hole Chromatic.
I never heard of a 20 hole chromatic. Would the extra holes be on the high side, or the low side? What keys would work better? As it is now, a 16 hole (my go to harmonicas) has nearly screechy notes at the top, and ultra low at the bottom. I would be interested to listen to a 20 hole to decide whether I would be liking the extreme range they might produce.
Are there any chromatics that don’t have the tonic note repeat in holes 4 and 5 ? I think it’s also on holes 8 and 9. Is there a harmonica where this does not occur? If so, that’s the one I want to try.
You know, in my experience, the repeat holes actually are well placed. You have the C and the F to play in both directions, or with a slide push. I am studying jazz. With fast licks, I strategize how to play those notes that are repeated, and if I am out of breath, or the sequence is tricky, I try to see if I can alter how I play just those two notes, and I play the option that gives me less trouble inside any given arpeggio...
I caught myself mispronouncing East Top after posting. I stand corrected! I used to work with an outfit called Eastport, and the name stuck…my apologies, and thanks for your comment!
The harmonicas you are playing are upside down the toggle should be on the right hand, the reeds are probably having a hard time playing on the low and high end because of that
He is likely left handed and plays all harmonicas this way because of that. I just tested rotating a cheap easttop and it sounded about the same. Critique I would have is that the slider setup makes a difference because the one side open slider like the swan cant be used for gating afaik.
@@BonsaiBoon im left handed and I play right side up......its been my experience that right handers play upside down and backwards......like Paul Butterfield.......William Clarke and sonny Terry
@@crimsonchrome3012 most right handed plyers play right side up as well, like Watani, Adler or Thielmanns. its a matter of what feels comfy at the end of the day, imho.
That is true. It doesn’t really matter. There are several pros who play upside down. I didn’t have a teacher. Once I developed the habit, it was too late to change…
Sorry, I no longer own a Chromatta, but I used to own one as a teenager. I liked it then, but at present, I suspect the large holes wouldn’t fit the type of music I am currently studying.
These are thin usually plastic covers that are placed on the opposite side of each reed. When you play a note, the reed vibrates. If there is no cover on the opposite side, air leaks. Leaking air will make the reed play soft, and with fast licks, you may run out of breath quicker. The valves can be trouble, but worth it if you want a pure sound from your instrument.
very helpful review......what do you think of the kongsheng lyra?....its reviews are stellar and 159 dollars......btw easttop harmonicas are pronounced.....eeeeeeesst tawp not east port lol...i noticed you play upside down......interesting....to see...i cant do it
I own a Kongsheng Lyra. It is reasonably priced for what it is. It can be played loud, and is in tune. That being said, it is heavy, and tends to get sticky. My favorite all around higher end instruments are Hohner Super 64 X Performance, followed by Suzuki 12 & 16 Chromatix models.
Do you think English is his first language? If he makes one annunciation mistake in likely his second language leave it to some barely monolingual American to make jokes.
Don't waste your money on these harmonica not good. Blow and draw need heavy breathing in harmonica. Better to buy Suzuki, Horner and big name. Buy good ones to learn.
I’ve been giving this same advice to who ever will take it for over 10 years now. And yes the Swan 1248 has valves. My Swan 1040’s are my everyday go anywhere harps. Here are a few examples of my stuff on a Swan 1664: czcams.com/video/9puUmdlWcXI/video.html czcams.com/video/z6oO9RgTvsk/video.html
To the critics, I would like to say it makes no difference how one plays an instrument such as you can run into left handed guitarists. My first harmonica, as a kid, was a cheap diatonic - no numbers. Being dominantly left handed, perhaps, I taught myself how to play by ear. I somehow held the harmonica with low notes to my right. Later, switching to the chromatic, I kept my habit. Mechanically, there is no difference. Same as the ability to read notes (which I am still learning). As for subsequent models that have numbers written on them, well, I rarely pay attention to numbers, but if I need to take a quick peak, then reading numbers upside down is no biggie. My recommendation is, just play music, and enjoy the process.
Always play what you want and how you want. Otherwise it’s not sincere music. Good video Mauny!
The internet will always bring out the critics. I hope it hasn't deterred you 😊
Absolutely correct!! I have been playing the harmonica for fifty three years and have had lots of fun whether it is diatonic,chromatic,tremolo and octave.Left hand or right it does not matter just enjoy playing,it always makes me smile when I play.
You know who else played upside down? My musical hero, Terry McMillan. According to himself, he picked up the harmonica upside down by mistake when he first started playing and didn't know the numbers were supposed to be on top. But nothing ever stopped him from playing that way. A special thing to note is that he's right handed, not left handed. It was just how he learned to play.
Thanks for the informative review. I like your style....bit of humor, honest, and to the point for all of us harp loving amateurs. The Sunday morning robe added to the casual vibe lol. More reviews please!
Covid days, locked up in quarantine...haha.
As a beginner, I really appreciate your advice on budget harmonicas. I do know what to choose as a start.
I agree I have a Harmonica trio I love the swan it's excellent and robust and warm excellent value thanks to the makers.
Thanks for your time and knowledge, Mr. Muray. Cheers from Brazil.
I really enjoy these kinds of videos, comparing instrument quality compared to pricing etc. Wonderful👍
THanks for the video ,very nice! The Harmo is to me the one that is the most balanced, in tune and seems a bit easier to play when I hear you.
Bought my first pocket harmonica today. Nice to see your video😊
Thank you for giving your time and video...God bless you for sharing your views
I know when people say you have to warm up the chromatic, so it can flow a little better.My answer to that is used , Hair dryer gun. For a couple minutes back-and-forth back and forth on the blow Range .You'll Here. the differen before you use it allready be warmed up Ready to use. Yes, I do The sidel, Grand Has a warm temperature. Case
Chromatic has a warm temperature in its always ready.
Hohner make a great all-around chromatic called the Discovery 48. It has a hard plastic type of comb like the Special 20 a AND you can easily take off the front mouthpiece and reverse the slide button for lefties. It comes with a fairly rugged carrying case. I own other more expensive chromatics but this is my every day carry around chromatic. It's a big step up from their Chromonica line, with a real mouthpiece. It also has a much quieter and smooth slide.
Thanks for your input, Eugene! I will check this model out.
I got a Swan 12 hole and it works great for practice. I just loosened up the slide a bit and it's perfect now.
Excellent review☺ Just started playing Winter 2020, have 3 Chromatics, a Swan 10 hole and 2 Easttops, a 10 and a 12 hole. The Swan doesn't have as loud a tone as the Easttops, but is a beautiful instrument
Danke für das Video. Schön zu sehen. Im preisgünstigen Segment, find ich die Thomann 64 noch am besten.
Spiele selber aktiv auf meiner Suzuki. Der Klang ist unglaublich, auch wie leicht diese anspricht.
So glad to hear you recommend the Swan 1664 , Amazon for 70 usd , having a little trouble with 4th hole draw , but that may just be my lack of experience , Sounds pretty good to me so far. Ever learn to breathe & single note ... can't possibly get worse . Thanks Mr. Muray
Thanks! Sometimes reeds need to be adjusted by carefully reducing/increasing the gap. In most cases warming up the instrument does the trick. At other times, it gets better after a few minutes of playing.
air leaks are common, especially with chromatic, i saw a video they use vaseline on the slider, it improved. another thing i dont like is the plastic wind saver, sticking. i tried the tombo no slider type chromatic. i also use the cheaper harp for practice.
I had bought the swan 1664 it’s quite gud , only played the diatomic one till the swan
I've got a couple of Seydel Chromatic Standard harmonicas. They are also intended as a budget travel/practice instrument. They also have no windsavers and also play well with almost no maintenance.
Nice lesson sir!
Thank you so much God Bless.
Thanks from Brasil!
Great video
Great video of explain .and welldone you for the video very realistic .and well explain wish lot people be like you .when seeing video of explain top 1 man
Thank you very insightful.
I am in need of a good 16 hole chromatic. I saw the Hohnner super x 64 but the price is over $600.00. I prefer the plastic mouthpiece over the metal. The lower notes come through loud and clear and it is said to have superior sound. Is there a lesser priced harmonica comparable to the super 64 X?
Well, in my video, I list a couple of options. Try one of those cheaper ones that sound reasonably well.
Really enjoyable video thank you.
Mauny, thank you for the video. I just order a Swan, my first ever chromatic for $75. I have played diatonic harmonicas for most of my life. But because yesterday would have been Toots Thielemans 100th birthday, I got interested in chromatics. thanks again
Did you start on chromatic yet??? Curious what you think of your Swan.... I got an early 1248 from them and it was really leaky. I've reworked it to where it is 'playable'.🎵🎶👍
Good choice, and good luck!
I got one Easttop forerunner valveless harmonica,every hole easily blown and drawn...
Good choice! I play the Forerunner a lot for practice. I wish they were able to make a 16 hole that works this well...
Bought a tremolo and a diatonic, but i liked playing the tremolo more since i could play deeper sounds plus i can play some sounds that i could not achieve with my diatonic.
Hmm i liked the how you pointed out that owning a chromatica will allow one to reach the lower sounds. I have been defintely thinking about saving up for either an Eastop or a Chrometta 14. Although i hope to get something between $40 to $50 for a beginner chromatic harp.
I also appreciated how you played the harps together in comparison so that even those without musical backgrounds could understand.
It was difficult to read the reviews from online stores since they were made either by gift buyers or by newbie players ljke myself. So i can't really tell how good one is compared to another. I'll defintely look for a Swan chromatic harp now.
Good comparison.
Thanks Mauny ... I need a practice harp
I love rthe fact that you are giving reviews on the bottom end of Chromartic harmonicas but there is also one that is so cheap it is rediculous. It is available on Alliexpress and it sells for only $18.40. That is right. That cheap. Here is it's description. Chromatic Harmonica 24 Holes C Key Slive Professional Mouth Organ for Children Beginner Musical Education Boat Shape Harmonica. Take a look at the number of holes. 24. I have not found another Chromatic on the market with this much range. That is like 6 octaves. I have ordered one of these. I will enjoy the range even if it is as cheep as it's price.
Nah... It's still 3 octaves.... 1 hole for blow and the alternative one for draw notes
@@aniketghosh9541 Yeah i found that out after I got it. But here is another possibility that does not exist but could. I own an Eastop Melody Bass Harmonica that goes an octave lower than a Swan 1664 Chromatic and is only marginally wider than the Swan. It shows that a Chromatic could be built to be a 20 holer. Now to find someone to do a Custom Build. I already talked to Eastop but they where not interested.
9:47 ... I never eat within 4 hours of playing a harmonica and I use professional harmonica mouth cleaner. The Jack Daniel's brand work quite well.
Thanks for the video , I am a beginner but I have these in mind
Honer Chromonica270 M27001
Honer CX-12 Black M7545
Honer Chromonica 270 Deluxe
Not sure what from above to choose ? can you please recommend?
🙏👏👏
I have just approached EastTop concerning a 20 hole Chromatic . I came up with the idea because of their Melody Bass Harmonica which is chromatic without a slide. It goes one octave lower than a 16 hole chromatic and is only marginally wider than a chromatic. What are your opinions on a 20 hole Chromatic.
I never heard of a 20 hole chromatic. Would the extra holes be on the high side, or the low side? What keys would work better? As it is now, a 16 hole (my go to harmonicas) has nearly screechy notes at the top, and ultra low at the bottom. I would be interested to listen to a 20 hole to decide whether I would be liking the extreme range they might produce.
Are there any chromatics that don’t have the tonic note repeat in holes 4 and 5 ? I think it’s also on holes 8 and 9. Is there a harmonica where this does not occur? If so, that’s the one I want to try.
You know, in my experience, the repeat holes actually are well placed. You have the C and the F to play in both directions, or with a slide push. I am studying jazz. With fast licks, I strategize how to play those notes that are repeated, and if I am out of breath, or the sequence is tricky, I try to see if I can alter how I play just those two notes, and I play the option that gives me less trouble inside any given arpeggio...
Hi teacher, I hope you are well. For someone who likes to play classical music like Beethoven, which model of Hohner chromatic would you recommend?
Silver Concerto
I recommend the Suzuki Chromatix, or the Super 64 by Hohner.
Nice demo tnx. .
Wow......fantastic
Thank You
সুমনদা, ( কবীর সুমন ) আমার অভিনন্দন নেবেন! ছোটরা ন্যাড়ামাথাদের ভালোবাসে!
Interested presentation 👍🏾
Thanks for sharing
pronounced eeeesssstoppp not eeeestport.......nice review though
I caught myself mispronouncing East Top after posting. I stand corrected! I used to work with an outfit called Eastport, and the name stuck…my apologies, and thanks for your comment!
cheers
The harmonicas you are playing are upside down the toggle should be on the right hand, the reeds are probably having a hard time playing on the low and high end because of that
VKING45 The numbers should have given him the hint.
He is likely left handed and plays all harmonicas this way because of that. I just tested rotating a cheap easttop and it sounded about the same. Critique I would have is that the slider setup makes a difference because the one side open slider like the swan cant be used for gating afaik.
@@BonsaiBoon im left handed and I play right side up......its been my experience that right handers play upside down and backwards......like Paul Butterfield.......William Clarke and sonny Terry
@@BonsaiBoon most of the time he is holding with both hands. when he briefly holds in one hand notice its his right hand......
@@crimsonchrome3012 most right handed plyers play right side up as well, like Watani, Adler or Thielmanns. its a matter of what feels comfy at the end of the day, imho.
Nice 1 3hat best for folk at price of £25 _30
good vid thanx
i notice you playing upside down
That is true. It doesn’t really matter. There are several pros who play upside down. I didn’t have a teacher. Once I developed the habit, it was too late to change…
Pl give demo on Hohner Chrometta 12 c scale
Sorry, I no longer own a Chromatta, but I used to own one as a teenager. I liked it then, but at present, I suspect the large holes wouldn’t fit the type of music I am currently studying.
How do you know that a harmonica is out of tune?
Which easttop model is that?
Will someone please tell me ; what is a breath saver ? , and what does "valveless mean ? TNX
These are thin usually plastic covers that are placed on the opposite side of each reed. When you play a note, the reed vibrates. If there is no cover on the opposite side, air leaks. Leaking air will make the reed play soft, and with fast licks, you may run out of breath quicker. The valves can be trouble, but worth it if you want a pure sound from your instrument.
🌸🍻
very helpful review......what do you think of the kongsheng lyra?....its reviews are stellar and 159 dollars......btw easttop harmonicas are pronounced.....eeeeeeesst tawp not east port lol...i noticed you play upside down......interesting....to see...i cant do it
I just bought a brand new kongsheng Lyra chromatic harmonica sc12.it's not good . check my review for this harmonica.
...........
I own a Kongsheng Lyra. It is reasonably priced for what it is. It can be played loud, and is in tune. That being said, it is heavy, and tends to get sticky. My favorite all around higher end instruments are Hohner Super 64 X Performance, followed by Suzuki 12 & 16 Chromatix models.
i like you Mauny 😊
why r u calling the Eastop an Eastport?
My bad, sorry. There was a company called Eastport I used to work with, and it stuck…
Haha. :)
Talkative....
Had you played the Swan harmonica then it would have been a complete review.
He did play the Swan😮
Go for Swan 1664. It's inexpensive, yet air tight, responsive and sounds good
You’re holding the harmonica backwards!
And he has his wedding ring on his right hand.
Wow, something wrong with this dude, heh?
East Port? It's East Top.
I am one mile from Eastport...lol
Do you think English is his first language? If he makes one annunciation mistake in likely his second language leave it to some barely monolingual American to make jokes.
@@SusieQsDairyBar ok Karen.
He should speak proper
I erred, and stand corrected…
That’s in Texas…?
All my harmonica are allemands ((HOHNER)) y préfère pay for calitie
Hohner is the best is like Ferrari in the domen
Don't waste your money on these harmonica not good. Blow and draw need heavy breathing in harmonica. Better to buy Suzuki, Horner and big name. Buy good ones to learn.
I’ve been giving this same advice to who ever will take it for over 10 years now. And yes the Swan 1248 has valves. My Swan 1040’s are my everyday go anywhere harps. Here are a few examples of my stuff on a Swan 1664:
czcams.com/video/9puUmdlWcXI/video.html
czcams.com/video/z6oO9RgTvsk/video.html
Easttop not esport
the east top ones are just crap not even worth the $8
"The harmonicas are cold,we haven't warmed them up.." if you're gonna review, do it properly dude, and play chromatically.
¿De verdad puede usted hablarnos de armónicas cuando no sabe ni siquiera hacerlas sonar bien?