In keeping witht he current fashion for instrument based threads, who out there plays harmonica? What instrument do you prefer, and what do you play?
I play diatonic in the straight style - folk and Morris tunes, with a few others that fit. I have a problem in that many Morris tunes have to be played on the top octave because they use the “missing notes” and then the B music diappears off the top of the scale altogether. This means I need 12 or 14 hole harps, and the only ones available are Marine Band with a wooden comb and lousy reeds.
I like the Hering (one r) vintage harmonicas as ordinary 10 hole diatonics.
I don’t play the harmonica but am into folk music. Me and the hubby go to the Rhyl Folk club if we are ever let out to play on a friday night. We particularly like a guy from Ireland called Kieran Halpin. Ever heard of him?
Only as a name. I’m about the least folky folky in Britain. I enjoy playing or singing in a session with mates, or an occasional foray to a singaround, but hardly ever go to see professional performers or buy folk CDs.
Years ago, I used to go regularly to a folk club and go to all the guest nights, but even then I preferred the singers’ nights.
The only semi-pro or pro folk harmonica player I ever saw was Willie Atkinson, one of the “three shepherds” - blokes from Northumberland who had a combined age of about 240, who used to perform with Alastair Anderson. I played one of my own tunes in front of Willie Atkinson, but I doubt he was impressed.
I play mostly diatonic harps, cross styles for blues stuff. I used to play a lot more, I’m kind of getting back into it now. I have one chromatic harp, but I’m not very good at it.
I can do that. To be fair, assuming an equal level of technical ability, the harmonica has to be the easiest instrument to play on a unicycle. I have also played melodian on a unicycle, but not very well. I guess church organ has to be the hardest instrument to play on a unicycle.
If you have a very small harmonica (Hohner Piccolo, previously known as the Vest Pocket Harp) it is possible to play quite complex tunes gripping the harmonica with lips or teeth, and leaving both hands free. I do that, and can perform several Morris solo dances (jigs).
I recently aquired a chromatic harmonica from my old piano teachers house we cleared out. (she moved into a home). I have no idea how to play, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to be able to play.
I’ve just found it and it’s a KOCH. It says that along with chromatic and made in germany. It’s in C, and the spring slider bit is in good condition too.
I’ve not got a clue about it, so maybe someone can tell me anything about it?
There are two good things about the Koch harmonica. One is all the crude double entendres the name brings to mind.
The other is that it is easier to play than a normal chromatic.
A simple diatonic harmonica (blues harp) in C has the following notes on the blow:
C E G C E G C E G etc.
A Koch harmonica has that same arrangement. If you push the slide in, you then get exactly the same pattern but a semitone higher.
In effect, therefore, a Koch harmonica is a C harp and a C# harp, selectable with the slide button. If you can play a normal diatonic, you can play a Koch.
A normal chromatic harmonica (Chromonica) has this pattern on the blow:
CEGCCEGCCEGC
Notice the two C notes together every four holes? They make it much harder to play simple folk and country melodies, Irish jigs, popular songs etc. by ear. You lose a lot of your vamping chords too. On the other hand, you get more versatility as a pure melody instrument.
Only Hohner make the Koch tuned harmonica. It’s a useful tool. I should practise mine more often.
I found one a few month ago and practice a bit. It’s a (cheap) “hohner bluesband” (I’ve no idea of the diffferences between diatonic and chromatic:o ).
I play some really easy tunes or try and play some blues solos (my 21 month old son seems to appreciate… not his mother:o )
I’ll bring it to Unicon so that the “galoupiot gang” can enjoy my music during the 12 hours trip:p