My Harmonica Christmas Challenge

[Bob.G]

I have been wondering how I can get beyond the tinkering stage and actually learn to play. The other day the notion of a personal challenge came to mind.

I posted my story here in Introduce yourself a while back (I hope the link works, I’m still learning this platform).

Learning to play chromatic

Christmas challenge:
Learn to play 12 songs of Christmas in the correct keys.
Beginner—Melody played by ear and/or reading music.
Advanced—Accompaniment to a track or any performance with a solo.

Reward:
Buy a new chromatic Harmonica (Suzuki SCX-64?)

List: Key Page
- Silent Night Bb
- O come All Ye Faithful G
- Away In A Manger (both versions) F RB 15 & 16
- Hark, the Herald Angels Sing G
- O Holy Night D
- Angels We Have Heard On High G RB 11
- The First Noel D
- Joy To The World D
- It Came Upon A Midnight Clear C
- O Little Town of Bethlehem F
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentelmen G
- Little Drummer Boy F
- Angels From the Realms of Glory C RB 10
- Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming G
- What Child Is This? G
- Good Christian Men, Rejoice F
- Once In Royal David’s City G
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel G
- While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night C
- The Coventry Carol C
- Pat-A-Pan C
- Go Tell It On the Mountain G
- I Wonder As I Wander C
- Children, Go Where I Send Thee F
- Mary’s Little Boy Child C
- A Cradle In Bethlehem

Discussion:
* I’ve chosen this list because the songs reflect the real reason for the season of Christmas. Other participants, if any, may want to learn other songs such as Blue Christmas, Sleigh Ride, or even The Nutcracker. Almost all of these came from The Real Christmas Book and/or a Reader’s Digest book.
* While I have played most of these by ear on my cornet for decades, I expect to use a combination of ear and reading music. Dave Kettlewell says this is rare in his experience. I just figure reading will be the best way to learn when to use the slide. I have yet to find online lessons that teach how to actually learn to play melodies.
* I have to get used to notes being closer together than they look on the page. In other words, sometime I move my mouth too far. Unlike a piano, each hold can play several notes.
* I am also finding that if I play many draw notes in a row, I can run out of room to inhale more breath, and I am playing softly.
* I have some exercises in my Arbans book I used when I was studying trumpet. Is has scales and arpeggios. I have always liked one particular exercise consisting of arpeggios that move through all the keys and has a modulation to introduce the next key. I tried a few, exercises, but found them hard and, of course, boring. It’s much more fun to play tunes.
* I expect to stick to the beginner challenge and do the advanced version next year.
* The ones in C, of course, are easy, however, I have managed to play in F and G.
* My Hohner Chromonica isn’t easy to play because it is in poor shape. Several notes don’t play properly. The slide often refuses to fully close the holes when the button is released. If I am playing mostly at one end of the harmonica, I guess the other end get cold and I need to warm it again with my breath and get more condensation on the slide so it won’t stick.
* Overall, it has been two nights (a few hours at most) and I can see progress, so I am pleased. I can’t wait to earn my new harmonica.

So there it is. Sorry the tabs didn’t transfer properly from the Notes app on my Mac. Anyway, hopefully I can get some tips, advice, comments, and encouragement.

[Andy2]

I’m afraid I don’t celebrate Christmas as it’s a Christian holiday, I’m a Heathen and my wife is a pagan. We celebrate Yule which pre-dates the Christian worship a completely different way. However I am treating myself to a couple of Seydel Wilde tuned harps anyway. But I hope you enjoy your holiday. And I hope you manage your goals

[Bob.G]

A short update. I’ve quite a few songs I’m working, both by ear and from music.

My old Hohner Chromatica Deluxe II has not been easy to play. Quite a struggle impeding my learning. I think I can put up with a few notes at the bottom and top end that don’t play and a few others that don’t work well, but a sticky slide has been impossible to deal with. I was thinking that I might have to get my reward early. However, today I managed to remove the tiny screws with my shaky (Essential Tremor) hands and loosen the screws on the mouthpiece plate because they might have been too tight. Then I put a little trombone slide oil I had hanging around through the mouthpiece holes to. the slide. I was not too worried about get some soaking through to the wooden comb because it needs restoration—I guess I must have filled the crack with plastic wood a long time ago in my tinkering days of trying to play. After a further struggle to get everything back together, I found the the slide to be working really well. I wanted to take the cover plates off and pluck (is that the right term?) the reeds to see if they might work better. I don’t know if there is another way to do it. Alas, a problem—it is very leaky. I guess I got it too loose.

I just completed disassembly and reassembly again. This time, working at night because my tremors seem less, I managed to even take to cover plates of this time and just touch the reeds lightly with a screw driver. The slide still works and some reeds that weren’t great are a little better, as is the leaking. I don’t know how to fix the leaking. I tried reseating the mouthpiece plate and the covers, but, not a lot better.

Now to get back to learning the 12 songs.

There’s still a long way to go. I have to get used to breathing differently than playing trumpet. I have to work on phrasing and dynamics, just to name a couple of things. I guess I should do more scales and arpeggios, etc…

I am pretty confident that I will be able to play the 12 songs in time to order a new harmonica before Christmas.

Sorry, not quite a short update.

[Bob.G]

One last update for the night.

Yup, I took it apart again. The leaking was due to the mouthpiece plate not tight to the three-part slide assembly and the covers were not positioned properly. After a couple of hours of fiddly work, I got everything together. Now it plays pretty well. I don’t want to have to do all that again. I shall play to complete my personal challenge and win a new harmonica. Good night!

[Andy2]

You ought to treat yourself to an East Top Forerunner 1.0 in C, they are valve less, they play pretty well, I spray a bit WD 40 on the top of the slide the middle of the slide and the bottom of the slide jiggle it back and forth, spray with Isopropanol tap out leave for 20, minutes, run the whole thing under the cold tap to remove nasty tastes. Done. Half the price of a Hohner with half of the teething problems, that being said I’ve found a great Harmonica repair guy in the UK, I’ve got a vintage Hohner Super 20 that I wouldn’t mind getting restored back to former glory very cheaply so I’m probably going to do that after the Holidays.

[Bob.G]

You are probably right. I was considering this after you mentioned it in response to my intro post. I looked into it and figured the extra bucks for the 2.0 would be worth it—I think $72 CAD as opposed to $56. When I listened to videos I decided I didn’t like the tone. I may do it anyway.

When I found I could play my old Hohner Chromonica Deluxe II, I figured I would try to do my challenge without spending any money and give the old 12/48 I bought in Germany in 1970 a chance.

My Hohner is the one that is streamlined with end covers. Quite cool, but a chore to take apart—four screws on the end caps and a four piece mouthpiece/slide combination on a wood comb.

I guess if anything else goes wrong, I’ll have capitulate and do the East Top and then the Suzuki (or whatever) later.

[Andy2]

I found the tone fine, you can make it more airtight as @Jay1 has said, and I’ve no doubt this would improve the tone. For myself, I am loathe to take it apart for fear of losing tiny bits. I’m confident taking a diatonic apart there’s not that much to it. But a chromatic seems a lot more complex than I’d like to fiddle with.

[scott4]

Great list. You can get the tabs for What Child Is This on U Tube. It was written in the early 1,500s as Green Sleeves.

[Bob.G]

I got more tunes than I can manage to learn. I have lots of music.

I am hoping that, once get a little more used to the instrument, have one that plays better, and I guess once I get down learning scales and arpeggios, I will be able to play better by ear in more keys. For now, I just need to learn the 12 songs of Christmas.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I also need to learn how to articulate notes, manage dynamics and phrasing. When I played my cornet, I only had to blow out and then take a breath. With the harmonica, I also have to play while breathing in. That also makes note articulation and attack more difficult. I often run out of breath.

Any suggestions folks?

[Andy2]

I find on diatonic I am used to doing different techniques like snatching a breath out the side of my mouth or breathing through my nose whilst playing etc although since I took up the Chromonica I’ve realized it’s a bit of a beast when it comes to breathing. So back to basics I’ve been breaking down my phrases and runs into small chunks each chunk is where I’d time snatching a breath, or on a run breaking it down so I can figure out where my notes and breaths come in, the stuff I play is blues so it’s mostly draw notes with your blow notes being linking notes or grace notes. I think the breathing patterns on Chromonica is a whole different ball game as you definitely need more breath and you need to be able to control it. I’m getting there very, very, slowly. Whenever I mess up or get something wrong I start again slowing it down, only speeding up when I get what I’m after.

[Jay1]

@Andy2 Andy don’t be too bothered about opening up your Forerunner. Cover plates come off with no real problem, but sometimes a bit of a fiddle to line them up when re-assembling. Mouthpiece be careful not to drop the two small plastic buffers on the mouthpiece screws, they are to stop the slide moving or making a noise. Mouthpiece screws are imo a bit too short and made of softish metal, I’m trying to get some bit longer stainless steel screws. I’ve already described the process for some basic improvements but I’m sure with your skills in model building you’ll have no insurmountable difficulties. @Scott4 If you thought our roundabouts difficult how do you think I felt driving to the Hyatt Regency by the Katy Freeway? Jay1 PS @Andy2 If the plastic buffers are lost you can get suitable replacements by the yard from a fishing tackle shop. @scott4 Even worse I was on the opposite side of Katy Freeway to the Hyatt @Bob.G As Andy2 suggested an East Top Forerunner1 in C is a lot better than trying to play with some notes missing - I would drive me mad. I have a Forerunner1 in C and Forerunner2s in other keys but only because the Forerunner1 was only made in C. My personal opinion is that the Forerunner1 is as good as the 2, I’d certainly not change mine for the updated model. Jay1

[Bob.G]

Another late night update:

I have 7 songs I can play from memory and/or by ear and 8 more I am working on by reading the music.

I am pleased with my progress. I should do more exercises, however, I’m watching Dave Kettlewell’s series on breath.

I suppose I should decide on my reward harmonica. I posted elsewhere that I am thinking of the Suzuki SCX-64, however, for some reason, the Sirius is very cheap on Amazon—far less than our local music store sells it for. I chose the SCX because the mouthpiece has one less part. Can anyone confirm if the Sirius is the same? Also, any other suggestions for one in that price range?

[Jay1]

@Bob.G Hi again a couple of questions Q1 Do you need or really want a 16/64 they are big, heavy beasts? I have at least two and never play them, don’t even carry them in my gig bag and Q2 Do you really want a valved chromatic with all their usual issues? I have several valved chroms including CX12s that are relatively easy to service but again I just don’t use them. Nothing wrong with either the Suzuki SCX-64 or the Sirius but I’d not go back to valved chroms when I can wash valveless chroms under the warm tap and give them some time to dry after each session. A lot of people will only consider valved chroms so I expect it’s down to personal choice or possibly I’m just lazy Jay1

[scott4]

Only thing that has helped me is practice after listening to a song. Unless I can hear it can I come close to getting the rhythm down. Practice will cure your problem. Here is what really getting the few tunes I can play correct happened

1 Get the notes down even if its tough for another person to tell what tune your are playing.
2 Then play a line at a time until you can replicate it.
3 Then I had to clean up each not in terms of how long to hold it.
4 Play the tune over and over until you need no tabs, etc.
5 I had to listen several more times and spot what still needed to be cleaned up.
6 If I figure anything else out I’ll post it but with your experience the breathing will become easier, especially if you play with less pressure, especially the higher end draw notes.

I still have some breathing issues as I play to long. Try to start playing any music at 68 and you will know well about breathing, especially when you have a wife that sends you out to split up fire wood or do cement work on the drive way. I have no doubt you will get there with what you already know.

I went to a harp workshop last April and Buddy Greene and a couple of other instructors, all great players were there. About 15 players all were seasoned. I was about to celebrate my first year of picking up a harp. First day crack out at the start he told me to play a riff -3 -3 and the third note a -3 bend in G. I thought about asking him to convert his request in English but just did the best I could. I got my first bend 4 days before this all started. I was the first player to start on the first day and was intimidated to say the least. I had a C harp in hand and started with the tonic note. I did not do so well but everyone was so patient. I learned much during the three days. I played the one song I knew and inserted a -2, I think, to get to the requested position and then play the rest of the notes. This was my first experience playing in front of anyone.

What I learned was that harp players are willing to help anyone, no one cares if you are a surgeon or a construction worker. Never have I read a thread that was condescending or not supportive. Your have come to the right forum for help and will get to what to where you want to go be. Persistence is my only asset other than knowing when I have the harp in place upside down and the I grabbed my B flat when I wanted a C. I am good at putting harps back together as I now make sure then numbers are on top.

Never give up, especially with what you know about music.

[scott4]

If you want the tabs for what Child Is This let me know and I’ll post. Starts with a -4 so you may have to do some converting but its a great tune.

Scott

[Bob.G]

I guess I am thinking of a 64 because I like the sound of the lower register.

The only non-valved chromatics I know of are the Forerunners. I’m not sure I like the sound, although it is probably not fair to judge from YouTube videos. I think they are aimed at diatonic players, hence the 12 keys they come in. Are there other chromatics without valves.

[Bob.G]

I am planning to get iReal Pro cranked up. It will play a basic backing track and allow me to change the rhythm, tempo, transposition, etc… I want to get JJazzLab working so I can make arrangements, but, I can’t get the latest version to run and the version I used before had a bug with Java.

I have to get going on the scales and arpeggios and learn the 5 ways of creating a note. It’s still a very long journey, but I just need to meet my basic challenge criteria—actually I don’t have much criteria, so perhaps I should try to do the songs along with a backing track. Then I can get a new harp. Everyone is recommending the Forerunner, but I’ll see what other suggestion come in.

[Andy2]

My experience of the forerunner so far is that the more you improve playing and getting technique down, the better it begins to sound. I also have a Hohner Super chromatic and I’ve had a go on different ones of a couple of friends of mine ( suitably cleaned before and after) on many of them I’ve found the slide clicky and distracting. The forerunner slide ( especially if well maintained) is really quiet which was a surprise to me. The forerunner is a proper Chromatic harp. The reason they make them in different keys is to encourage diatonic players on to playing the Chromonica, many diatonic players have a favorite key, where they like a particular sound. I fell for this and bought an A harp, I realized that chromatic doesn’t exactly work like a diatonic quite quickly and Now I playing a C harp, 3rd position D but I am also figuring and experimenting with different scales it’s just working the buggers out! But thus far I’m getting some really cool Little Walter style Licks I’ve learned Greasy Gravy by William Clarke ( very slowly) and I’m progressing well. @Bob.G I have one lung saying that due to all my years of playing harp it’s quite a strong one. I’ve found that the breathing patterns on Chromonica are far more difficult than a diatonic, but it’s a big old beast. I cannot even begin to imagine the breath you’d need for one of those 64’s , especially for blues which is what I am mostly concentrating with everything almost a draw and the incidental notes blows. Although I’ve had a few happy accidents finding little tunes ( the woody woodpecker theme is my favorite) which once I get more skilled I will be inserting into a Jump Blues.

[Jay1]

@Bob.G Seydel have some non-valve[NV] models and some players have removed some or all valves from chromatic with varying degrees of success. I’ve had various communications with Dream at East:Top. Forerunner was aimed at filling a market gap for those who either live in cold climates where valved chroms need to be warmed before or even during playing and those who have tried removing valves for various reasons. Had Forerunner been aimed at the diatonic market it would not have been solo tuned but tuned as a slide diatonic (look at https://www.brendan-power.com/). You wrote that Everyone is recommending the Forerunner, but I’ll see what other suggestion come in. There’s a reason why everyone is recommending the Forerunner, it’s because it is designed to be NV, the comb chambers are different and East:Top has spent a lot of money and time developing a specific NV model that works well and does what the market wanted. Certainly there are solo tuned diatonics, a chrom is only two solo tuned diatonics linked by a slide button and can be played as such but I doubt many diatonic players choose solo tuning. If you want to change the tone learn how to customise and then play via a mic and amp or get a chrom in Low C see Chromatic Harmonica - A Guide from The Harmonica Company. Probably one of the most difficult decisions is deciding what you want and honestly analysing why you want it, The real question is 'what will fit most if not all your needs and wants? Jay1

[Andy2]

I wasn’t aware that it wasn’t aimed at diatonic players, I like @Bob.G thought the same that it was developed in different keys to encourage diatonic players to have a go. I stand corrected. I did have my eye on a Trochillus originally, I think that was designed for diatonic players but the price put me off. I’m still interested in it but I really want to get a couple of Wilde tuned Diatonics. To give them a go