You learn more by playing other harps. Though I understand why people stick to just one. It is hard to learn a second instrument, especially the first time you do it.
I am currently procrastinating on learning to play my Bass harmonica.
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I’m sure you’re right about playing other harps or other instruments (over the years I’ve played drums and double bass) but I have no ambitions to be more than an adequately competent player; for me it’s mental relaxation from the day job. I’d suggest that if you want to play Bass harmonica don’t procrastinate just get on and do it, you’re probably 90% there anyway. What Bass harmonica do you have? Is it blow only? I understand that Suzuki have now added a Bass Chromatic to the Sirius range with the same style and size as the standard 12-hole chromatic harmonica. Now a chromatic bass, that could take some puff. Jay1
It’s a 265 Hohner double bass. Bought it a year or two ago. I was pretty excited to learn it, but it was airy. So I gave it to Bill to repair, and it’s a good bit better now. But I have so much to learn on Chromatic.
It’s blow only, big bass sound. Maybe I start giving it 5 min a day and see how that goes.
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When I said I’d played double bass it was the stand-up bass used in a trad jazz band and seriously damaged fingers not a harmonica. If you’re going to play that 265, to pinch a line from Kipling “You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din”. Jay1
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A great reason to play bass harmonica is the social scene. You can’t have a trio without a chord and a bass, and there’s not too many chord or bass players out there.
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Hey guys - Yeah I’m continuing to play my chromatic a little bit, almost every day. Still mostly just playing Manha de Carnival, though I also realized that I’d actually bought the Max de Aloe book several years ago when I’d considered taking up the intstrument - found the book on my bookcase, and have enjoyably made my way through the first 2 chapters. It’s fun reading music. Exercises a part of the brain that nothing else does, and kind of like reading a book, I just feel better after I do it.
Rob Paparozzi’s comment that playing the chromatic has made him a smoother player on the diatonic is what got me over the opportunity cost issue of taking time away from practicing the diatonic which had been stopping me from picking up the chromatic for the last couple years.
I’m glad I picked it up. Having a ball!
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