Howdy from another Canadian (Learning chromatic)

[Freddie]

#25919

Howdy

I have played trumpet/cornet as a hobby for about 50 years, however, I have Essential Tremor which has made it impossible for me to play anymore. Over the years I have tinkered with other instruments, including harmonicas—several diatonics and even a Hohrner Chromonica Deluxe II I bought in Germany in 1970. The chromatic needs a lot of work to get it in good shape. I have had it dismantled a few times, however, I am not good with my hand due to the tremors.

I have been missing the ability to play music for some time now and have spent many hours watching various harmonica videos. It is time to get more serious about this, thus, I am doing more in-depth research. I think a chromatic would be a good choice, since it might be more like playing my horn and because I want to play tunes, such as Southern Gospel music. I used to play in church and because I have played a lot of vintage styles of jazz by ear and by music, I just needed to get the key and some familiarity with the tune and I can make up some accompaniment.

I expect that there will need to be a lot of practice exercises. I am used to this from studying trumpet.

I need to get started and should probably get a decent instrument and a place to begin getting some instruction. I have always recommenced to beginners to get something that is not so cheap that you have to fight it to learn to play. I also like a warm sound and figure I should get something that is easy to maintain, since dismantling it will be a task and a half for my shaky hands. Is there something that is melodic and warm sounding? Would I be making a mistake if I opt for a 64 hole?

I have a strong feeling that this is the way for me to go, however, I realize that it is a major undertaking of an instrument that is underrated as a serious complex instrument. I heard Howard Levy say that it is the only instrument that it’s invisible while being played. It occurred to me that this is also part of what makes it a very intimate instrument to play—like kissing, I suppose.

Sorry for being a bit lengthy here. I’m sure much of this needs to be separated into several posts. I am hoping to get, not only good advice, but also some direction as to how to how to get the advice here in the forums.

Thank you for helping me to get started on a new journey.

[Mitch Grainger]

#25922

Hi Bob,

Welcome to the forum! It’s fantastic to see you diving back into music, and I think the harmonica is a wonderful choice for your journey. Given your Essential Tremor, I recommend starting with a smaller instrument, like a diatonic harmonica, before moving on to a 12-hole chromatic. This way, you can build your confidence and comfort level without the pressure of a larger, more complex instrument right away. A 16-hole chromatic (64 hole) can be quite an investment, and it would be a shame to start there if you’re not fully comfortable.

For warmer-sounding chromatics, the 12 hole Hohner 270 Standard has a nice mellow tone, while the Suzuki Sirius offers a rich, warm sound as well. If you decide to go the diatonic route first, a Hohner Special 20 is an excellent choice; it’s easy to play and has a great sound.

You’re in the right place to get all the advice you need—feel free to post anywhere in the forum! And on that note, I’m currently working on a chromatic lesson series, and I’ll keep you updated once I have a delivery date.

Looking forward to hearing about your progress and any tunes you choose to play!

Mitch

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