All (?) tutors prescribe using a method holding the chromatic harmonica and working the slider with index finger basically like Larry Adler did and many other proficient artists do. But why? It is an ergonomic nightmare,..is that necessary?
Holding symmetrically with both hands (common with blues harp playing) is more relaxed and when doing so the thumb gets into a nice comfortable position for operating the slider. Some cupping can be practised more easily too.
So why not? And why not recommended as a standard method?
Full disclosure: I have no formal training with Chromatic harmonica.
I typically play by pushing the button with the palm of my hand, holding the Chromatic much like a diatonic. When playing Jazz, I feel like I can smoothly engage the next note, if that makes sense. I canāt speak for other artists, but my suggestion is just play in a way where you make a good sound and you are comfortable.
Dk360 , your last remark makes sense of course. If it works and feels ok. Your own method I have seen with others too. I am just a little surprised about the lost contact with the instrument by the right hand? If you want to play fast chromatic runs or ornaments control is essentialā¦or what do you say, isnt that a sort of restriction?
My point rather is why teaching people a generally dubious methodā¦since it simply can hardly be well practised by the majority due to common anatomical limitations ? If that is soā¦ the common instructions ought to be revised I think.
I am not sure I follow your previous comment. For faster runs I typically would alternate between my palm and the base of my index finger to press the button.
Honestly Chromatic harp isnāt my strong suit. I really like it, but my harp (Discovery 48) seems to have a slow response time, and the time commitment to learn the instrument is substantial. There is something freeing when you are locked into a scale on diatonic, and there really isnāt any āwrongā notes. Maybe I simply just have more experience - your mileage may vary here.
āMileageāā¦you are certainly right! ā¦I am not even a musician and a lousy player. On the other hand I am a physician and ex pro ergonomist which may give some ( unfair) perspective also.
The common diatonic bluesharp can be ergonomically ideal. The common chromatic hardly can and the most frequently recommended method to hold and play it is very dubious.
If I understand you the method You use is rather ādiatonic-wiseā however since you partly use the palm of the hand for the button.(This IS unorthodox!) Then I guess you are ok on holes about 1-8 on a 12 hole but the thumb is expected getting in the way for the mouth on holes 9-12. Right?
When using the palm the button can be much larger for comfort. I have tried up to 35 mm buttons !
Since you alternate with base of index finger you have probably noticed that using this may be faster for āfast chromatic runsā like I said than using the palm? And handier for holes 9-12 or so?
Now the tricky bitā¦how do you hold the instrument when using the index for the button? This is the crucial point which determines what method can be seen as the optimal oneā¦.orā¦rather which method(s) that cause awkward tension and even risks for health issues in the long run
If you put time in on the instrument, these āproblemsā, absent strong physical limitations on your part, will simply go away as your body adapts.
Get a CX 12, ET 12, or KB 12, hold it like half the harp players do (not cupped), and call it done. Or get a hands-free chromatic. No button to push then.
Hmmā¦Iām afraid you misunderstood the title of the topic - or maybe you escaped the question?ā¦I dont know. Please tell !
Your advice may be well meant and may partly āsolveā some other problems but hardly the announced one, namely that the thumb mostly is more suited to operate the slider than the index finger - despite tutor books and video instructions prescribe the later and students taking the word for it will suffer, assuming that being the ācorrectā way.
āā¦I am not even a musician and a lousy player.ā
Why do you feel you can argue the point with @Hogie.Harmonica who absolutely is? I find your combative aggressive style really unwarranted on a subject you admit you have no actual experience in? The fact that you say you studied ergonomics hardly gives you expertise playing a musical instrument. It might help you design one that musicians request as a solution to a problem, but the musicians, and tutors, as you admit in you topic, say there isnāt one.
Fascinatingā¦can you please explain why you found it āaggressiveā putting the question that the thumb might be as well suited - or even more so - than the index finger for operating the slider ??
You said āthe musicians, and tutorsā¦.say there isnt oneā (problem). Really? Some seemingly do however since they factually are using the thumb, or the palm, as Dk360 said. Why they do so we cant know unless they tell, but all tutors I have come across do say that using the index finger is the ācorrectā way. But why ? Can You possibly tell?
I dont āargueā about it - I am just curious to know.