Slidemeister (Chromatic & related only - no Diatonic discussion) > Visitors & Newbees Stop Here First!

Help with getting started please

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Bibab:
So I have finally decided to give the harmonica a real go. I have always loved the sound of the harp, its expressiveness and the fact that you can take it with you any where, but because of a lack of musical ability and lack of time I never really got around to learning it.

By way of back ground, I have no musical training and don't play any other instrument. I dabbled in the guitar a little while back, but stopped because of other commitments. I was also given a chrometta 14 some 10 years ago, but was never able to find any good learning material for it, and generally found it really difficult to get a handle on - the mouth piece seemed to make it very difficult to isolate notes.

bad start I know. But now I feel more committed than ever to learn it. So I guess my questions are, is it worthwhile for me to by another harmonica instead of sticking with the chrometta, which I didn't really enjoy. Would you recommend any particular harmonica? I don't kind paying for a decent one but don't want to go crazy. How is the seydel saxony? And what about learning material?
Btw, I an mostly interested in playing jazz, and some blues. And lie the sounds of the trumpet

vcleynes:
I learned to play chromatic only last November, or 6 months ago, shifting from a tremolo.  Before that,  the last time I played was about 55 years ago, I am now 70.  I started with a one-octave Hohner when I was 7 and the first songs I learned were short military bugle songs, most of which were blow notes.  And then the draw notes came as I tried simple folk songs, and soon I was playing more complicated music with a 24- hole tremolo my father bought me, all by ear, without help from tabs or similar codes.  Now, I play nothing but chromatics - cbh 2016, my favorite,  cx12, super 64x, 64-280 and several 270s in different keys using tabs available from many websites, including this site, and i enjoy it very much.  I hope you too will.  Keep harping, IMO, that's the only way.

Grizzly:
Don't play on what you don't enjoy. You'll never progress. Ditch the Chrometta (for now; they have a really sweet tone) and get one more suitable for a beginner. The Saxony is fine, but a little pricey. Also on your list should be CX 12, 270, by Hohner; SCX 48 by Suzuki; and Seydel's Chromatic Deluxe. One Asian brand seems to be improved a lot these days. A Swan with the thicker reedplates is really inexpensive, and may fill the bill. Certainly better than a Chrometta.

Tom

Bibab:
Thank you for the comments. I am naturally gifted enough to learn by ear, and no background in music. But happy to work hard at it and learn music theory, etc.

About the harps you suggested, are those harps alternatives to each other, or would some one have one once of each at some point in time? I don't mind paying for the saxony if it will last and is spackle for the job, and good for playing jazz. I have some conncerns about the 12 holes as there is done suggestion that it may not be enough. On the other hand, I have small hands....

Gene D:
If you get a Saxony, you might consider getting the Orchestra tuning.  This gives you a 3 octave range starting on the G below middle C.  Tkis is more than enough to play jazz or any other type of music.  Chris Bauer plays one and he is one of the better jazz harmonica players.  For that matter, Toots Theilemann (?) plays a 12 hole harmonica and he is considered the top jazz harmonicist.

Regards,
Gene Dodson

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