So first things I’ve noticed that is different to diatonic, I’ve bought a New East Top Forerunner mark 1 in C as I thought it would be easier to learn on and transpose to other chromatics. In the lesson on Line the first thing I noticed was the Harmonica is in C but the tune is in D? I thought oh boy this is going to be harder than I thought but no I actually found it easier I seemed to know exactly where I was going. I realized that if you stayed on the draw notes (and he actually said this in the vid) use the blow notes as incidental notes it begins to make sense pretty quickly. What I did notice to you really have to open your mouth and get that thing in there to get a decent Bluesy sound. Also after my cold and the fact I only have one lung I was finding I had to use a lot of breath in fact I didn’t get to the end of vid one as I was finding breathing hard going so this will be great exercise for my lung. Another thing I noticed sore lips I guess it’s because it’s all metal but I put some lipsyl on after playing and that worked. The fact I was short of breath was echoed by the guy in the vid as he said he was experiencing the same thing. He also stated that he wasn’t great at creating licks so to bear with him, however coming up with licks is one of my strengths, so I found I was able to extrapolate on what he was saying and create licks and fit in with him at the same time.
Time to fly solo.
By lesson six I’ve got a pretty good basic knowledge of how this puppy works. So I found some backing tracks in D and away I went, after awhile I began to use the slide discovering where and when to use it. What I noticed is you can do this in some places and it works great and in others it didn’t, then I discovered some of these work better blown and others work better drawn when I sus this out I’ll add to this thread. I’m a very instinctive player and I’m also good at picking up a tune quickly so I’m thinking it won’t be long before I suss out how this works exactly. I also noted that this instrument is absolutely a monster for chords I’ve never had so much fun playing chords using my new vamping and SuperVamping skills I learned from @davidkachalon It really can give a feeling of being your own horn section. To be honest because I’m learning I played and over played on the backing tracks a no, no, live but I wanted to see what I could do with this beast. Anyway the wife’s calling she’s decorating and wants me to have a look, thank God I’m allergic to paint!
Andy, I’ve tried to tell people for years that chromatic is not something to be hidden away in the socks draw. I’ll have a look at the YouTube as I’m always interested in how others teach. Forerunner 1 is pretty airtight as chroms go but when you’ve time a bit of TLC, especially around the mouthpiece, slide and the comb behind the slide will undoubtedly help. This post should be a real help to those starting out with chroms, well done for starting it. Jay1
Right. I keep mine with my T-shirts … 
– Slim 
@Slim 
@Andy2 Andy are you tongue blocking? That’s something I can’t do it always makes me retch 
I note you ‘really have to open your mouth and get that thing in there to get a decent Bluesy sound’ I’ve tried it and see what you mean but for non Bluesy music my lips don’t go on to the cover plates, staying on the mouthpiece, (to my mind the Forerunner mouthpiece is really comfortable) could that be why you’re getting sore lips?
Blues aficionados will correct me if I’m wrong but the majority of Blues played on chromatic seems to be in D (-1; -5’ & -9) but it doesn’t seem to matter what key chrom you use almost all Bluesy music is mainly on the draw notes, For slide draw/blow I’d suggest you have a look at the Blues and Pentatonic scales, for playing in D the only Blues scale slide note is Ab(<+3 & <+7) the Blues note; for the Pentatonic D minor scale there’s no slide work and for the Pentatonic D Major scale there is only F# (<-2) and the only blow note is E (+2 & +6). Andy I know you don’t use hole numbers but I’ve put them in if others use them.
Have you looked at Pat Missin’s site where there’s a lot of chromatic info including Blues? BASIC CHROMATIC HARMONICA BLUES
From what I’ve seen you’ve already broken the chromatic myths so now you’re heading towards being the only chrom player in your patch, well done mate 
Jay1
Yes @Jay1 I am ( trying to) tongue block on it, getting the thing in the mouth, it’s the bottoms of my Lips and the corners of my mouth that a bit sore but I am getting a fantastic sound really bombastic, I haven’t tried it through my bullet yet though due to our neighbor being on late shift I don’t like to disturb him. But I really think this would be like a whole brass section it’s that cool. I am playing in D on a C harp, from the first hole up to 7th so far ( so good) and I’ve been experimenting with the slide with mixed results but I think I’m using that out now. But unfortunately life is interfering as I’ve got a few things to do over the next few days so I don’t know when I’ll have chance to practice which is annoying.
Would like to know what you do this to make it a bit better that would be useful thanks
Andy, It’s detailed in I need help choosing a beginner's chromatic harmonica (Easttop Forerunner 1.0) - #7 by Jay1. A few words of warning, some you may already know: (a) when removing the mouthpiece and slide there are two small clear plastic buffers on the screws, try not to drop them but if they are lost similar plastic tube can be obtained from fishing tackle shops; (b) the mouthpiece screws are in my view too short and can easily be damaged at the ends, treat them with care, I’m trying to locate suitable longer screws: (c) be careful with the slide spring it can fly 
I hold mine with long nose pliers when removing/refitting it.
I’ve quite a case listing over the next few weeks including some overseas so might not be able to do much on the forum. Jay1
Thanks @Jay1 I’ll check it out
Chromatic is a fantastic instrument. Once you learn how to take care of it and get used to the slide, it is much, much easier to play than the diatonic. It can easily play things that are very difficult on the diatonic.
And it is symmetrical, every octave has the same note layout.
As for breath, depends on the model. Valveless harps like Forerunner take more air.
Phil Duncan has great books that are easy starting points, good for learning to read music too.
Hi @Hogie.Harmonica , I’ve tried reading music, I just can’t I believe it has something to do with my autism as I’ve got older Numbers have also become more difficult it’s something I don’t understand as When I was younger I was pretty good with numbers. Oddly enough when my wife shows me a calculation on paper I can’t see it, it’s a jumble but when she give me the numbers I can do them in my head. Sheet music is the same can’t look at it with out getting confused. I can make up a tune in my head and remember it, but I can’t write it down or read music
Further observations I need to practice exactly what I’ve learned in small chunks otherwise I forget what I’m doing and have to go over the video lesson again. Also making notes as I go along now. And getting used to the big round holes has also been difficult whilst trying to tongue block if you are not accurate you only get a faint note, so I’ve got to improve my accuracy on this, but I am getting better with the slide, and I’m getting to know where it works and where it doesn’t I found a couple of mid paced jump blues tracks and I’m playing along with them quite well, noting my mistakes as I go. I love playing chords on these things, can’t wait to try it through my Amp but have to wait for our neighbors shift to change.