Which lower key chromatic harmonica is right for me?

I shall purchase my first harmonica (an Easttop Forerunner 2.0, chromatic) very soon, but I have difficulties on deciding a key. I find the last octave of the middle C harmonica far too shrill, and I am more than willing to put more effort into learning if that means I can get those beautiful deeper tones.

  • I can’t get a C tenor or a 16 hole chromatic as that is out of my price range. I also like that the Easttop 2.0 is valveless, since I’ve heard it has a lower volume and can make effects close to that of a diatonic, while still having all the notes.

  • I’d like to play primarily classical (e.g. solo violin), a bit of fiddle tunes and folk songs, and even a little bit of pop or game music.

  • I am also concerned about getting a key where using intervals/chords/double stops/droning sounds good.

  • Another thing to note is that for the vast majority of the time, I will play solo.

So, what is the deepest key in a chromatic harmonica that best matches my preferences? I have tried researching this on my own, (I am thinking of perhaps the key of D, or maybe G?) but it is difficult to reach a conclusion. Thank you in advance!

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I’ve got one in A that’s fairly deep and anything you learn in C transposes nicely to the A, ( obviously in a different key) As soon as my cough calms down and disappears I’ll be able to get back to learning it

Well, I think the answer is axiomatic! The answer is - musically - C major. Because most starter instruments start with C - and is technically the equivalent of all the white notes on the piano, for example.

As you progress you build a ‘library’ in your head of all the other ‘accidentals’ - the equivalent of the black keys - which form the sharps and flats in the other keys, both major and minor.

By learning the C Major notes - you are also subconsciously playing the seven 'modal keys starting on C - The seven modes are named: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian.

You must now try and pick yourself up from the floor!

But you don’t need to know this - but playing in C everything fits in other modes later, for example mixolydian is used in Rock and Roll - Dorian for Jazz, with Irish music using Ionian, Aeolian, Dorian, and Mixolydian!

I’m only telling you this because your understanding will be much easier if you begin in a non-complicated key that C major is, with its equivalent minor - A minor

Yes - others will tell you that all these modes exist using other keys as starting points. But many music teachers will tell you that a C Major starting point is the best uncluttered start - and believe me - I’m no teacher!

Starting on C Major will inform your learning if ever you want to play other instruments - and you will! As your base knowledge and tune ‘library’ will be transferable to another instrument - making your learning faculty faster and faster as you progress.

Remember music is only a code - like computer coding. You just get to know it as you use it. And it will become obvious and understandable - as you practice and play and develop muscle memory. Much of it subconsciously.

Music will grab your soul and emotions when you are seized with the sheer joy of converting black dots into music!

It will provide you with more spiritual calmness and pleasure than, say, football can!!!

Start off on a C Major Chromatic - you’ll be able to play any key - just initially remember: tone tone semitone, tone tone tone semitone.

And you’ll soon find out that that is the code for any key signature. If you don’t already. Just chill - and the penny will soon drop!

The important thing at the moment is getting the best fluency with the harmonica - you’ll develop the sound - and pitch - later. You’ll also have the best range for bending notes of the Chromatic. Andy will tell you that the lower the range - the more difficult it is to bend the notes. The middle range of C will develop the most flexible strategy for bending anything later! Tell him Andy!

Best of luck!

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If I’m honest, I don’t find bending the notes on an A low harp anymore difficult than the C but I have been playing an extremely long time. One thing I will say is go very gently these low reeds are not as robust as the higher reeds so be careful not to bend em out of tune.

Andy - that’s very sage advice that could only come from someone as experienced as you - thanks.

As you bend the lower, deeper notes, you can feel the ‘spring’ - and how it might translate into ‘damage’ taking the reeds lower and more ‘robustly’ - because you can! Yes caution required here. Thanks again!

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I’ve got a few of the East Top Lucky 13 harps designed by Brendan Power. Initially they were valved, but I really don’t like valves in something that bassy as you correctly said the reeds are a lot more springy, the reason for the valves is to make the reeds less springy but I found even when playing really gently you got this awful clacking sound so I removed them. I use these harps for doing Sonny Boy Williamson style vamps which the are brilliant for. I just don’t use much force when playing them (mainly because once the valves where removed the bass notes automatically became louder!) so far less force was needed. Plus I had a good harmonica mate a few years ago who bought a low tuned harp when they were quite new in the UK and he blew the hell out of his first one and he ruined it, he warned me that if I was going to buy any low tuned harps to go very gently. Which later on was very useful advice.

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