How to Play a Chromatic Harmonica | Harmonica 101
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
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The harmonica is used in nearly every type of music, from blues and jazz to country and rock. In this video, music teacher Marcus Milius teaches you how to play a chromatic harmonica.
"Hi, my name is Marcus Milius. I play harmonica. I got a degree at the University of Southern California, a Bachelor's of Music, in Jazz Studies - Chromatic Harmonica. I play and teach harmonica here in New York City, and I'm happy to show you what I do.
Alright, so playing the chromatic harmonica, you'll first need a chromatic harmonica, rather than a diatonic harmonica. The technique is pretty basic. Once you get a single note on a diatonic, the same technique applies to the chromatic. The only difference is, you have a slide on the chromatic harmonica, to get you the notes that you ordinarily bend or over-blow to on the diatonic. That makes it a lot easier to hit notes that aren't in the key, you simply press the button and it sharps any note up a half step. So, if you have a C, it sharps up to a C sharp, D, up to a D sharp. So all notes will sharp up a half step when you press the slide. The thing that does make that difficult is playing in C is very easy but playing in other keys means you have to locate the correct notes and know when not to press in the slide and when to press in the slide. So, each scale, each key is very different. So, here would be a major sound in several keys. So, each key is a different pattern that you have to learn. You can do some bending on the chromatic, it doesn't sound quite as bluesy as when you do it on the diatonic."
Bynum4life - It sounds like sticking windsavers - very frustrating when you don't know about them. My advice would be to blow and suck up and down the whole instrument a few times then put it in your pocket for about 15 minutes to come up to temperature, sounds a faff but it works
:-)
Nice quick rundown, but don't forget that, in hole 16, when you draw with button in, you get a D natural...gives you one more tone than you might expect…free of charge!
Wow I inherited one of these for my pops box and all original box and I'm trying to teach myself!
Me too!
Yeah me too . Let's do this guys 👍🏻
Thanks very much for explaining this. I have a beautiful vintage Horner Chromonika harmonica and just couldn't figure out how to play it. Now I know. Thank you so much.
Chromatic harmonica which reeds are the whole tones and which the semitones
Upper voice plate?
Lower voice plate?
You can not read this in the manual
greetings from Germany
I want a chromatic harmonica because i don't know how to bend...
You just move your mouth around that's how I do it
Just keep learning it, takes some time, but don't spend extra money on such an instrument just because you haven't gotten it yet
I know how to bend on a diatonic harp but i cant bend on a chromatic
@@jamesralcoonYou can't bend on chromatic harmonicas. They have all the notes.
@@elwoodjacobs4353No, you can bend too. It's different tho
They do. Suzuki, Hohner, and others have one or two models that can be bought in any key (Suzuki SCX and Hohner CX-12 for example). Typically, chromatic players use harmonicas in the key of C. In general, learning a new song (say, in the key of D) is no more difficult on a C harp than on a D harp. However, there are three drawbacks. 1) you have to relearn the song for each key. 2) some styles like irish are easier to play on a harp in the same key. 3) improv is harder in keys other than C.
Love that bending at the end!
You are right about cleaning windsavers but I find that however often I clean them I still need to go through the blow/suck/warm up routine before the instruments will play satisfactorily - this applies to both my Hering VelvetVoice and Suzuki SCX. The Hering will sound "raspy" until warm and the Suzuki has several winsavers that sick and pop until warmed up (they have been well cleaned on a number of occasions).
Thankfully EastTop makes a valveless you can play like a diatonic. No warming or stuck valves.
thank you super hipster!
hey ,if anyone else needs to find out about
learn to play the harmonica online try *Greega Mouth Music Guru* (just google it ) ? Ive heard some awesome things about it and my brother in law got excellent results with it.
Good instruction from an obviously accomplished player.
Should be noted that sound from a harmonica can be obtained by exhaling pushing into a note hole, or inhaling drawing from a note hole. Generally, inhale, pitch rises.
Chromatic harmonicas have a slide on right, which generally raises pitch. 4 combin'ns for each hole.
Chromatics generally start from C2 130.5cps to C6 2088cps, 4 8ves, 49 note any key tonic in between. Ex: 'That's What Friends Are For' Eb, start Bb: 7 hole: draw, slide in.
I have that harmonica. l thought I was just bad at bending but I might get a diatonic for that. I'm going to be learning scales soon, aswell as blues scales.
how did it go ?
@@zelbm Well I learned to play pretty well over the years. Still have my chromatic but don't use it much. I was actually in many shows as a harmonica player among other things over the years. Haven't had a lot of time for it this year, but that won't stop me in the future. Thanks for asking (:
@@yuridanylko Nice, Im learning the diatonic for 3 months now, bought my first chromatic yesterday. Cheers from Brazil.
@@zelbm Good luck mate. When I just began like you, I would spend hours just staring at the ceiling going sort of up and down the intruments, or trying little tricks. What separates the pro's from the intermediates though is theory. I wish you the best (:
I have bought tower 24 holes chromatic harmonica very limited lessons on them and also there are no lessons on about scales what is c c# f g etc can u please make a lessons on them.
C Major:
C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C
C# Major:
C#-D#-E# (F)-F#-G#-A#-B#(C)-C#
F Major:
F-G-A-Bb(A#)-C-D-E-F
G Major:
G-A-B-C-D-E-F#-G
This information is very easy to find in a Google search of the notes in the keys. If you know the respective notes on harmonica, you should be totally fine.
Chromatic harmonica which reeds are the whole tones and which the semitones
Upper voice plate?
Lower voice plate?
You can not read this in the manual
greetings from Germany
Thank you.
Chromatic harmonica which reeds are the whole tones and which the semitones
Upper voice plate?
Lower voice plate?
You can not read this in the manual
greetings from Germany
Its nice sir..i want to learn about it..thank you..
Do y have buy a chromatic harmonica? The best what I play is the suzuki scx. It's a wonderful harmonica, my first chromatic was a Thomann 64x. It's a great beginner harmonica.
Greats from Germany Manuel
Thank you for sharing, I see I am the first to post in a few years....wow youtube is great.
Hello, is there any rule to play scale in different keys, such as C, D, E flat, F, G, A , B flat?
Or there is no rule but we need to read the music sheet accordingly when play songs in different keys.
well, there's more to cleaning windsavers than that. Tear off a piece of paper (brown paper bag is good), dampen it, draw slightly across a bar of soap and then slide between the 2 layers of the windsaver..use a separate clean piece of dampened paper to 'rinse'. Keep going until the saliva salts (usual cause of sticking) is gone. Allow to air dry. Of course the covers have to be removed for this. Some of his valves could be curled-one can always replace a valve too. They're sold in packets.
I like it very much
I'm using Hohner Chromonica 64 280 c Chromatic and Meisterklasse 7565 14 Hole's Chromatic.. ➕ in Diatonic I began with Hohner Golden Melody in C and A Key's in the early 1980s..I'm not a professional like you..But I can play 3 music instrument by my ear 👂.. I'm also play Meisterklasse Diatonic, Pro Harp, Seydel Blue's Session,Marine Band Nailed Comb and also Crossover & I have 28 year's old Tower 24 Hole's Chromatic.. I've tried Hohner Super 64 X But finally settled down for Chromonica 64 280 c Chromatic due to it's design authenticity and Sound.. I can notice that you're playing the same type.. So I wrote..
Harmonica is an interesting instrument. Anyone with musical experience and a good ear can pretend they know how to play a diatonic harmonica (as he refers) but I've met few who are actually proficiant
Does chromatic harmonica has different keys also like the diatonic harp? What is the key of chromatic harmonica is the best to start with? Thanks sir for your very educational videos. I'm a guitarist but I suffered from stroke last January,my fingers became stiff so I find it hard to go back to playing the guitar. Since I miss playing music, I decided to switch instrument and harmonica is what interest me most next to guitar. I hope you can help me with enough infos to start with. Your videos I'm sure will help so I subbed. Thank you very much. God bless you!
I hope you figured it out but I’ll leave this here:
The chromatic harmonica is not built in any key, rather it is built in all keys. Mine looks like a “C” harmonica, but it can play in the key of C, or A flat or F# equally(although some keys are harder than others).
Just as a piano can play in any key, because it can play every note, the same is true of the harmonica.
I hope this note finds you in good health. 😊
I like this harmonica better. Has more of a stevie wonder sound to it.
Thanks men
@dcalstring
for starting out on Chromatic i think that the C/G harp would be the best.
thank u friend ♥
it would be great to be able to buy a separate slide that can be used on any standard hohner harmonica. also instead of pushing the button horizontally, better to be able to push vertically, like on a piano. i've been buying a pack of used hohner harmonicas for 50 bucks on ebay, now i have like 8 amazing harmonicas but still cant play the harp intro to "tes tendres annees", live version by johnny halliday, on any of them. and no, i'm not gonna practice for days on end. LOL
Looking to get one this weekend, and a marine band crossover C
I see this is an old post but if anyone can give me some advice I would appreciate it very much. I am a little confused and want to know which key is the best all around for a Chromonica can anyone advise me? I have seen both Key C and Key G.
Hi. Where can I find valves for my chromatic harmonica in the USA? I can't find any online store that sells them. Hohner's website ran out of stock for a long time by now.
Question... is it normal for beginners to blow through the holes on chromatic harmonica causing it to sound like diatonic? I'm having a hard time trying to blow through only one note/hole.
are chromatic harmonics supposed to have a double note ?? Im just trying to see if mine is defective , the 5th note is a double note , both holes are the same note i mean
Bending on the chromatic was definitely cooler than i expected.
I have a question? Is it easier to play single notes on a chromatic Harmonica than a diatonic Harmonica
It must be a bit more difficult to play chords on a chromatic.
My name is Rainy Smith. I am 15 and now progressing to a Hohner Super Chromatic. It is harder then a Diatonic. Does anyone know good knowledge videos that will help me? Please.
did you find any?
i have the bandmaster de luxe chromatic (seydel's system) with 10 holes (2 in 1 hole) and it sounds like an accordion and like a french horn at the lowest pitch
Hay bro I play classical on a Diatomic harmonica bring it nice harmonica
@Bynum4life
If it is a Hohner, I have sent to them and had it repaired no charge and returned.
Do you know anything about the Hohner Educator 1. It's a twelve hole diatonic, but I believe it's tuned differently. I have one in the key if C, first position G. It's a bit if an odd one. Any info would be great. I searched the internet for info but got very little. Thanks.
Have you ever play larry adler pro 16 harmonica chromatic so I practice like a week and can you play those like that.
Thanks
ordinarily when u say cromatic harp do you mean c cromatic? I i had to buy one would there be a cromatic harp for each key ? Which one should i buy?
Could you say blowing is easier using a. chromatic harmonica? I always wonder why people say its harder, i mean the holes are bigger.....
can u show me the tab of that blues please?
Do chromatic harmonicas come in different keys, like the diatonic?
Yes, but c is the most common
cool stuff :)
Fantastic. Tried tabs for War of the worlds it's got 6*6* etc is this chromatic? Thanks
Marc Gallagher No you can play in any key on this
What brand/model chromatic harmonica are you using in this video?
Thanks for the info. Now I know the difference between diatonic and chromatic.
Danny Herrera Marcus is using a Hohner 280C chromatic in this video.
I just bought a brand new Seydel chromatic harmonica but the reads are rattling should I send it back
How long does it take to learn it?
what harmonica would I have to use to play love me do?
John always played diatonic. I’d say start with “I should have known better”. Much easier to start with while playing guitar and harmonica together
That's awesome! Does anyone have an entry chromatic harmonica they'd recommend? I'm considering either the Honer Super Chromonica, or the Suzuki Chromonix.
i have a question wich harmonica is the common use on blues the chromatic harmonica or the diatonic harmonica?
The diatonic.
Awesome
I have a same harmonica with you😌👏🏼
Hello. Is it possible to play Tango on this type of harmonica? Thanks!
you can play anything you want. but the timbre you will not change it.
What does he use
Hi great artist.
Can you tell me what kind of microphone do you use in videos?
And for the midi bases, what do you use?
Thank you very much
Alessio
Italy
I guess I'm out of luck. I've played on a diatonic harmonica in the key of A for most of my bluegrass fiddle songs. I bought a 10 hole chromatic and couldn't find the key of A on it to play my songs. That just doesn't make sens to me, so I guess, as the saying goes, SOL.
Key of A is one of the hardest on the chromatic.
For fiddle tunes in A a diatonic in D in second position would be easier.
Or learn the actual A scale and stuff but E A and B are the hardests IMO
How do you bend?
Is this the instrument used on Shape of My Heart by Sting?
Yes
what's in YOUR head?
experiment0003 A brain I think.
This video should be titled "what is a chromatic harmonica" since it doesn't teach anyone how to play a chromatic harmonica.
Agreed.
What harmonica was that? what brand? and us there a buyers guide.
It's a thomann chromatic .40. I have it I can send you a link to it if you want?
+Yuri Danylko please I want to learn and need a good harmonica for that.
What sucks about the chromatic harp is it doesn't fit into a harness.That means you need a dialtonic harp to play guitar and harmonica at the same time.
But if you're playing guitar you wouldn't have a free hand to push the little button. So there's that.
@@johnrodriguez9056 I know.
Imagine having a degree in harmonica.
i own a 10 hole chromatic harp
So yeah I've just learned litteraly nothing.
That harmonica looks very big
t God, .
Generic insult alert
Learn to play harmonica in 2-minutes video. LoL.;)
Great demo, but this is a MUSIC demo with obnoxious background music blurring the sound. Seriously? Putting music on every video is like putting sugar in every recipe. Stop!
This video was made when u was born
i have the exact same harmonica as you😂😂😂😂😂😂😇
geetha lakshmi what harmonica is it?
Brand/model/style....
I want to buy it....
I SEEK POLE SHIFT SURVIVAL GROUP
Just wanna say mid90s is a ripoff of Kids
Nice Video buuuuut the background music is absolutely unnecessary and distracting.
Yep
its the hat isnt it, because squidward has a big head
Play isnt she lovely
the only reason he's wearing that stupid hat is because he's balding underneath
title says : "how to play a Cromatic harmonica" .........really? ............... taking people for fools more like it
I don't know about that hat, man :(
this guy reminds me of squidward off of spongbob
Hipster alert
You have a Bachelor's in music and you say: "Sharps up any note up a half step" REALLY?!
J. R. specking in lamens term
speaking
That's what a sharp is dude. A semitone up.
Sharps up any note up a half step up really up
Raises a half step or semitone would be the more appropriate term, but it did make sense what he was implying though any first year theory student would know better.