Chromatic Harmonica and ear training

[rpjazzguitar]

This is a post to recommend taking up Chromatic Harmonica as a means
of ear training.

The key is the geometry of the instrument. There are 4 holes to an
octave, but only two of them work the same way. The button usually
raises the pitch a half step, but not quite always. Drawing rather
than blowing usually makes a note a half step higher, but there are
exceptions. Moving a hole to the right usually results in a higher
note, but not on every fourth hole.

In fact, the geometry is so twisted that the only way you can navigate
is to know exactly where you are and exactly which note you need to
play next. And that's what makes it great for ear training. There's
nothing to see, nothing to feel and no useful geometric relationships
to rely on.

On guitar something that works in one position is going to work in
another, open strings excepted. Not true on chromatic harmonica.

If you can't identify the intervals in your mind, you aren't likely to
hit the next note correctly.

[TD]

Post by rpjazzguitar
This is a post to recommend taking up Chromatic Harmonica as a means
of ear training.
The key is the geometry of the instrument. There are 4 holes to an
octave, but only two of them work the same way.  The button usually
raises the pitch a half step, but not quite always. Drawing rather
than blowing usually makes a note a half step higher, but there are
exceptions. Moving a hole to the right usually results in a higher
note, but not on every fourth hole.
In fact, the geometry is so twisted that the only way you can navigate
is to know exactly where you are and exactly which note you need to
play next. And that's what makes it great for ear training.  There's
nothing to see, nothing to feel and no useful geometric relationships
to rely on.
On guitar something that works in one position is going to work in
another, open strings excepted. Not true on chromatic harmonica.
If you can't identify the intervals in your mind, you aren't likely to
hit the next note correctly.

Another useful idea is to never put down the guitar and only pretend
that you are playing harmonica.

-TD

[Graham]

Post by TD
Another useful idea is to never put down the guitar and only pretend
that you are playing harmonica.

Or you can pretend to be Toots Thielemans and do both.

I've often thought it would be cool to be able to play the chromatic
harmonica to virtuoso level, then you could always carry one in your
pocket and whip it out for a few blazing choruses of 'Anthropology' or
something, whenever you felt like it.

[Gerry]

Post by Graham

Post by TD
Another useful idea is to never put down the guitar and only pretend
that you are playing harmonica.

Or you can pretend to be Toots Thielemans and do both.
I've often thought it would be cool to be able to play the chromatic
harmonica to virtuoso level, then you could always carry one in your
pocket and whip it out for a few blazing choruses of 'Anthropology' or
something, whenever you felt like it.

It's just a matter of time. I started getting into chromatic harmonica
in the early 90's. I loved a line I read by Stevie Wonder in the early
70's "It's like a mini saxophone in my pocket." A number of years
later I find myself in a communte through a choked two-lane Laguna
Canyon each morning and began playing for at least 30 minutes each
morning. Eventually working on arpeggios, which can really be a bitch
to get right in your mind.

It was fun. I love the chromatic harp.

[TD]

Post by Graham

Post by TD
Another useful idea is to never put down the guitar and only pretend
that you are playing harmonica.

Or you can pretend to be Toots Thielemans and do both.
I've often thought it would be cool to be able to play the chromatic
harmonica to virtuoso level, then you could always carry one in your
pocket and whip it out for a few blazing choruses of 'Anthropology' or
something, whenever you felt like it.

Point is, it can all be done with the player and his/her guitar, if
approached in the right manner (looking at additional dimensions
without always automatically presuming that there is only one). All
else is ancillary, and that is fine too.

-TD

[Joe Finn]

Post by rpjazzguitar
This is a post to recommend taking up Chromatic Harmonica as a means
of ear training.
The key is the geometry of the instrument. There are 4 holes to an
octave, but only two of them work the same way. The button usually
raises the pitch a half step, but not quite always. Drawing rather
than blowing usually makes a note a half step higher, but there are
exceptions. Moving a hole to the right usually results in a higher
note, but not on every fourth hole.
In fact, the geometry is so twisted that the only way you can navigate
is to know exactly where you are and exactly which note you need to
play next. And that's what makes it great for ear training. There's
nothing to see, nothing to feel and no useful geometric relationships
to rely on.
On guitar something that works in one position is going to work in
another, open strings excepted. Not true on chromatic harmonica.
If you can't identify the intervals in your mind, you aren't likely to
hit the next note correctly.

I think it would be difficult to identify a musical activity that would not
result in at least some benefit in terms of ear training. ....joe

[unknownguitarplayer]

Post by rpjazzguitar
This is a post to recommend taking up Chromatic Harmonica as a means
of ear training.
The key is the geometry of the instrument. There are 4 holes to an
octave, but only two of them work the same way.  The button usually
raises the pitch a half step, but not quite always. Drawing rather
than blowing usually makes a note a half step higher, but there are
exceptions. Moving a hole to the right usually results in a higher
note, but not on every fourth hole.
In fact, the geometry is so twisted that the only way you can navigate
is to know exactly where you are and exactly which note you need to
play next. And that's what makes it great for ear training.  There's
nothing to see, nothing to feel and no useful geometric relationships
to rely on.
On guitar something that works in one position is going to work in
another, open strings excepted. Not true on chromatic harmonica.
If you can't identify the intervals in your mind, you aren't likely to
hit the next note correctly.

Interview with a guy who made the switch from guitar to harmonica and
back to guitar again.

http://www.bassharp.com/joemessbio.htm

[Dallas Selman]

I had one made in diminished tuning - its completely symmetrical. When you
blow across any 4 holes you get diminished chord. Any two holes are a minor
third apart.

Post by unknownguitarplayer

Post by rpjazzguitar
This is a post to recommend taking up Chromatic Harmonica as a means
of ear training.
The key is the geometry of the instrument. There are 4 holes to an
octave, but only two of them work the same way. The button usually
raises the pitch a half step, but not quite always. Drawing rather
than blowing usually makes a note a half step higher, but there are
exceptions. Moving a hole to the right usually results in a higher
note, but not on every fourth hole.
In fact, the geometry is so twisted that the only way you can navigate
is to know exactly where you are and exactly which note you need to
play next. And that's what makes it great for ear training. There's
nothing to see, nothing to feel and no useful geometric relationships
to rely on.
On guitar something that works in one position is going to work in
another, open strings excepted. Not true on chromatic harmonica.
If you can't identify the intervals in your mind, you aren't likely to
hit the next note correctly.

Interview with a guy who made the switch from guitar to harmonica and
back to guitar again.
http://www.bassharp.com/joemessbio.htm

[rpjazzguitar]

I read about diminished tuning, but I couldn't find one. More of a
custom item.

I wondered why it wasn't more popular. The answer may have something
to do with blowing chord fragments, but I'm not sure.

For me, the harmonica allows me to work on certain things more
efficiently than I can on guitar. For one thing, I can do it while
stuck in traffic.

For another, on guitar, my fingers can find intervals that I can't
name. It's as if the linguistic part of my brain is bypassed from
years of doing it. Harmonica avoids that and I can see the improvement
in my ability to think, okay, the next note is going to be X.

[Gerry]

Post by rpjazzguitar
I read about diminished tuning, but I couldn't find one. More of a
custom item.
I wondered why it wasn't more popular. The answer may have something
to do with blowing chord fragments, but I'm not sure.

That's my guess. It's nice to play a tonic and dominant chord: it
requiring only the ability to breath.

[Dallas Selman]

Not really, Seydel makes you a chrome deluxe in almost any tuning. There is
an app on their website for configuring one. Not much more than the stock
tuning.

Post by rpjazzguitar
I read about diminished tuning, but I couldn't find one. More of a
custom item.
I wondered why it wasn't more popular. The answer may have something
to do with blowing chord fragments, but I'm not sure.
For me, the harmonica allows me to work on certain things more
efficiently than I can on guitar. For one thing, I can do it while
stuck in traffic.
For another, on guitar, my fingers can find intervals that I can't
name. It's as if the linguistic part of my brain is bypassed from
years of doing it. Harmonica avoids that and I can see the improvement
in my ability to think, okay, the next note is going to be X.

[ecj]

Post by rpjazzguitar
This is a post to recommend taking up Chromatic Harmonica as a means
of ear training.
The key is the geometry of the instrument. There are 4 holes to an
octave, but only two of them work the same way.  The button usually
raises the pitch a half step, but not quite always. Drawing rather
than blowing usually makes a note a half step higher, but there are
exceptions. Moving a hole to the right usually results in a higher
note, but not on every fourth hole.
In fact, the geometry is so twisted that the only way you can navigate
is to know exactly where you are and exactly which note you need to
play next. And that's what makes it great for ear training.  There's
nothing to see, nothing to feel and no useful geometric relationships
to rely on.
On guitar something that works in one position is going to work in
another, open strings excepted. Not true on chromatic harmonica.
If you can't identify the intervals in your mind, you aren't likely to
hit the next note correctly.

I feel like my ear didn't really start improving until I started
singing everything. IMO there's no comparison to singing on any
instrument. Even on a fretless neck like a violin you know roughly
where to finger middle C. When you're singing the only thing you can
rely on is your ear.

[rpjazzguitar]

I think that singing everything is a great idea. There are a number of
things that one can do to improve one's ear.

But, it's one thing to sing a melody you know -- it's another thing to
start on an arbitrary note and name every note before you sing it.
Sort of sight singing in reverse, Chromatic harmonica forces you to
think that way more than guitar, IMO.

[ecj]

Post by rpjazzguitar
I think that singing everything is a great idea. There are a number of
things that one can do to improve one's ear.
But, it's one thing to sing a melody you know -- it's another thing to
start on an arbitrary note and name every note before you sing it.
Sort of sight singing in reverse, Chromatic harmonica forces you to
think that way more than guitar, IMO.

That's what solfege is for.

[rpjazzguitar]

Post by ecj

Post by rpjazzguitar
I think that singing everything is a great idea. There are a number of
things that one can do to improve one's ear.
But, it's one thing to sing a melody you know -- it's another thing to
start on an arbitrary note and name every note before you sing it.
Sort of sight singing in reverse, Chromatic harmonica forces you to
think that way more than guitar, IMO.

That's what solfege is for.

Exactly. My thought is that chromatic harmonica accesses some of the
same material a slightly different way. It doesn't force you to create
the note yourself (with your voice), but it does do two other things:
it gives you the right pitch and, after you've done it for awhile, you
can play chromatic harmonica, which is a great sounding instrument.