12, 14, and 16 Hole Chromatic Harmonicas

I discuss the ranges of these instruments. I said a couple things incorrectly; I said C-foot when my flute is actually a B-foot. Also I said "harmonicas" toward the end about 12:48 when I meant to say "harmonica players". "A lot of harmonica players find this range to be everything they need." I play a little flute in this video also.
Volume 1 of my harmonica method can get you started jamming in the keys of F, C, D, G on a C chromatic harmonica: chromaticlessons.com/course/i...
Volume 1 DVD is on sale! Same content as the streaming version. USA orders only for the DVD: playcoolrecords.bigcartel.com...
Have you started Volume 2 of my harmonica method? Learn some new keys!: chromaticlessons.com/course/i...

[@ross-harmonica]

I have an update regarding available keys for 12-hole chromatic harmonicas: The Easttop Forerunner 2.0 is now available in all 12 keys! As far as I know, this is the only harmonica manufacturer that offers this. The Forerunner model, however, has no valves. Brendan Power sells an easy-to-install gasket valve system that is designed for the Forerunner although I'm not sure if it will fit the 2.0 update brendan-power.com/GasketValves.php

[@milevasiljevic9312]

Jeste li sigurni da Easttop chromatic Foreruner nema ventile.Ako nema to je super, meni su ventili upropastili tri Hohner Super chromonike 12/ 48 vith 12 holes.

[@ross-harmonica]

@@milevasiljevic9312 The Forerunner 2.0 doesn't have valves and is inexpensive. I havent tried it yet. Forerunner 2.0 nema ventile i nije skup. Nisam ga još probao.

[@cstuartcook9390]

The gasket valves from BP are no longer available.

[@38scsharma]

Very informative-very nice video. Great help.

[@lenmcwilliams1058]

Great explanation. Thanks!

[@stevepethel6843]

Thanks for the. Explanations and interesting stories...thank you God bless you for giving us your ideas...

[@meradu2]

Nice collection 👍

[@apoorvabhatt7998]

Good info

[@agriciobrazil2391]

Thanks!

I noticed your SCX-56. I myself own all three Suzukis. But the top cover plate on yours just has two markings indicating the lower g&c. My Suzuki, both the 14 & 16 hole models, on the lower octave is labeled 1-2, & 1-4, then proceeds with the standard 1-12. I have yet to play any of them since I actually purchased several different brands and models. Up to this time I was using the Hohner Discovery 48, which is like a 21st century version of the 270 (they are almost the same since the parts are actually interchangeable), & using the Buckeye Soul's Voice Standard Chromatic. Otherwise, informative video for anyone new to the chromatic harmonica scene.

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

I have a CX12 (C) purchased in 92, a Meisterklasse, and a Hohner 64x. The elusive B below middle C. I feel your conflict!

[@ramblin_harp]

I started your course with a 14 hole and then went to a 12 hole. When I got the 12 hole I realized why to start with a 12. It took me a couple weeks to get used to starting my low octave C scale on hole 1 instead of the 3rd hole in on the 14. I tongue block 98% of the time, so the 12 hole was a little tricky at 1st. I was taking my G Major scale all the way down on the 14, but it was still different on the 12... Anyway good advice!

[@inderneilboseroychowdhury]

I'm playing ▶ Harmonica's Since 1977.. I Play Blue's & Western Classical.. I'm using for Chromatic Hohner Chromonica 280 c 64 16 Hole's & Meisterklasse 7565 14 Hole's & for Blue's I've Diatonic Hohner Meisterklasse, Crossover,Thunderbird,Pro Harp & Blue's Harp + Suzuki Overdrive, Bluesmaster & Manji...I love the vintage Design of Chromonica 280 c 64 & Meisterklasse deal fairly well with Classical..Informative video 📹 indeed.. Greeting from Lohbrügge, Hamburg. Germany..

[@inderneilboseroychowdhury]

@ Well! Thank You Sir.. It's more of Fixity since 1977 😂 I've also been Tinkering around with Drum's & Piano.. Harmonica's & Recorders are compact including Bamboo Flutes.. So these three instrument's are very Dear to me.. I can easily carry them to the Deep Forest near my Home 🏡 in a very old Countryside in the border 🛂 of Hamburg in Lohbrügge area..☺ With Regards Roy

[@ross-harmonica]

Greetings from Music City USA! Thanks for your comment. I also started playing in 1977. That's a real nice set of instruments you have there.

[@inderneilboseroychowdhury]

@@ross-harmonica Greetings Back from Hamburg, Lohbrügge.. Germany...That's a pleasant coincidence that we began in 1977.. Thank You very much.. I frequent U.S A. My wife is American residing in Long Island N.Y.. I'm hoping to move out of Germany in coming 2 year's in America..

[@or1227]

Have you tried the chrometta by hohner? I'm interested with your opinion

[@hmrabenberg]

Hi, great video and well explaind. BTW the accent in the name SEYDEL in german is on the Y!

[@douglasj.arcuri1370]

The 16 hole has a deeper tone.hIt has gravitas.Like a Grand piano. However not needed in every song played. I use the 64 hole on serious compositions at slower tempos.I use the 12 hole for fast and lighter pieces.

[@Aaron-Qman]

I just got a 16 hole Harmo Angel 16 Chromatic & two days later the high D (draw #9) went sharp. Any advice when fixing /tuning harps going out of tune? Fusturating that it's not as easy to go to a rapairman like guitar or sax when the instrument malfunctions etc. Thanks I enjoy your videos. I myself play Saxophone, Piano, Doubles. I also play Brass instruments.

[@ross-harmonica]

That's interesting I've never heard of Harmo and I found their website. These are maybe customized Hohners? I couldn't tell. Anyway I do know a couple guys you can mail repair jobs to if you are in the States. You might check out @UCixX7fs2jNWV4IS59M3HA5w here on youtube. I used to tune diatonics. The chromatics you have to take the valve off first. I'm a terrible repair/maintenance guy. Thanks for the kinds words. You play a lot of axes!

[@TradIrishHarper]

I ended up with a Seydel Symphony and really love the tone….the weight though can be a bit much though. I think most of that harps weight comes from the covers, which could probably be made out of a lighter material like their diatonics and still achieve the rich sound.

[@ross-harmonica]

I'm interested in that model for sure.

[@vikasupadhyay1398]

Very informative .. please also let me know which key will be lower pitch in a 12 hole harmonica . Because like you I too like the mellower tone of low pitch yet in a small size unlike buying a 16 hole

[@ross-harmonica]

Any key other than C will be lower in pitch than a C 12-hole. Bb would be a whole step down. G would be a 5th down. The standard tuned 12-hole is the highest pitched one.

[@vikasupadhyay1398]

Thank you so much ..so a key of G will be the lowest ? Does the blow draw pattern also change with different keys ? because I worry if I have to re learn the pattern if I chose a different key chromatic harmonica..I also appreciate your suggestion of buying a tenor version of a c harmonica for lower pitch.

[@ross-harmonica]

Blow draw pattern stays exactly the same. G is exactly in the middle between a standard range C and a tenor C. The D harp would be the lowest alternate key you could find I would say. The D harp being a whole step above a tenor tuned C chromatic.

[@vikasupadhyay1398]

Thanks ! ..you have given me most informed and clearest answer to my query ! Appreciate your knowledge and helping me

[@ross-harmonica]

My answer to your question was 5 years ago. I have since heard that you can sometimes find a D chromatic that is a whole step higher than the standard C. They call it a high D. I can't imagine how squeaky the top holes would be!

[@pradyumndixit347]

thanks very helpful LIKED

[@l1mmg0t]

good clip. just to make sure there is no other keys available for the 16 holes, why is that ? thank you for the answer.

[@ross-harmonica]

I heard a story that Norton Buffalo had a custom made 16-hole chromatic tuned up a half step. Other than that other keys would be unfeasible because of the extensive high and low range of the instrument. Manufacturers wouldn't want to deal with reeds lower or higher pitched than the top and bottom octaves of the C harmonica.

[@ross-harmonica]

There's a guy in Portugal who has been custom tuning C 16-hole chromatics down a whole step to Bb. He takes custom orders like this.

[@carmelom269]

What’s the button mechanical profusion on the right side used for. Also, I want that Stevie Wonder sound. Can you tell me what type of model harmonica does Stevie Wonder Play? And do you have any videos explaining the button protrusion on the right end?

[@ross-harmonica]

The button raises the pitch a half step. I have seen lots of older photos showing Stevie playing a Hohner Chromonica 280/64. The internet is telling me he currently plays a custom Huang and sometimes the Hohner Super 64. I think he can pick anything up and make it sound good but his basic preference is a 16 hole instrument.

[@carmelom269]

Chromatic Lessons Dot Com Thanks for the insight.

[@kerolvaghela7742]

Hi, Thank you for the video, I got 10 hole diatonic harmonica. But I am not great at bending. Just want to ask will 16hole harmonica have missing notes. And how many octave will it have. I mainly play guitar just want to play melody on harmonica and play guitat along with it. Can you help.

[@ross-harmonica]

You're a very talented guitar player I'm sure you can learn harmonica and make great progress. If you want to play harmonica on a rack at the same time as guitar you will want to focus on the smaller 10 hole diatonic. If you want to try chromatic harmonica I recommend a 12-hole model. That will get you 3 octaves. The 16 hole is 4 octaves.

[@kerolvaghela7742]

@@ross-harmonica thank you so much for your help and kind words. I will definately get 12 holes harmonica. Thank you again

[@desk-kun2366]

What do you think of KAINE.Z and IRIN harmonica brands? I've been struggling to find a quality chromatic that is not too expensive. I wanna hear about them from you.

[@ross-harmonica]

I would be suspect of a chromatic harmonica that is cheaper than $100. Also I wouldn't buy an instrument that doesn't have valves.

[@desk-kun2366]

@@ross-harmonica I see. Thank you.

[@mdabrarabdullaharpon5459]

So which one shoukd I buy? 12/14 or 16 hole as a beginer???

[@ross-harmonica]

You can make a lot of music on a 12-hole!

[@dand7056]

I have an old M. Hohner 12 hole but all the instructional videos are for 10 holes. How can i learn on the 12 hole ? Can you explain the differences between 10 and 12 hole harmonicas. It doesn't have the button to change the tone. It sounds great but i cant figure out how to play anything .

[@ross-harmonica]

That 10-hole is not a chromatic harmonica. It's a diatonic harmonica. Those instruments are almost always 10 holes. It has basically the same range as a 12-hole chromatic so the top blow note is a C on both instruments (if the diatonic is in C). There is a whole blues tradition way of playing diatonics that involve bending notes. You can find tons of blues harmonica instruction here on KZbin. Occasionally I post blues harmonica content on my channel as well.

[@dand7056]

@chromaticlessonsdotcom mine is a 1940 s 12 hole. I don't see any youtube videos on 12 hole. Just 10 hole and I don't know enough to be able to transition between the 10 and 12 hole. Unless u have an easy way to explain it. The notes are different on a 12 hole c than a 10 hole c correct?

[@ross-harmonica]

@@dand7056 The chromatic and diatonics are just different. The number of holes doesnt really factor into that difference very much. My channel is full of 12 hole instruction but its sort of advanced. Check out Adam Gussow's channels for great blues harmonica training. Harmonicas are weird instruments but this is the information age there is tons of information all over the internet. Have fun!

[@akaylagreene3199]

Mine has nothing on it. It's just a blue harmonica with 16 holes. No numbers. No letters

[@akaylagreene3199]

@ I didnt purchase it. It was a gift and I decided to learn it. I know nothing much about harmonica

[@misterbean792]

@@akaylagreene3199 I know I'm a bit late but SAME. Mine says parrot harmonica on it in gold writing? No letters or numbers but 16 holes.

[@Marilynschannel]

Same here .

[@pengbarny4033]

Too

[@JohnDoe-cx3gu]

Do I play the 16 hole harmonica the same as a ten hole one

[@ross-harmonica]

Only if its a 10-hole chromatic harmonica. Otherwise the standard 10 hole diatonic harmonica is played a bit differently.

[@dptmusic579]

which harmonica is better sound according you?

[@ross-harmonica]

I don't know. I'm still trying to figure these things out. I asked the same question to Filip Jers and he says the bigger harmonicas have a rounder more mellow sound. To him. He played an A on both instruments and said yes its the exact same note but it sounds a little different on the bigger harmonica.

[@dptmusic579]

@@ross-harmonica, ok. 👍

[@hemantpawar2526]

Where you got for Rs.3000/_

[@Kyle-vb3fz]

I never learned chromatic harp note placement from a teacher, and I already read music from playing classic piano. That being said, I wouldn’t want to learn the new placement of notes from scratch on a different key chromatic harp. It’s logical the way the notes are set up on a C chromatic harp. I just wish my 12 hole had the lower octave.

[@danigonzalez-dotti2540]

Kyle this is a harmonica not a harp

[@ross-harmonica]

It's both! Harp is a very common synonym for harmonica.@@danigonzalez-dotti2540

[@abhijitroychoudhury386]

Wts the point are making a 14hole Harp Out of t way

[@nothankyou8365]

How nicely explained . Thank you . I am a beginner and I want to choose one of these : Chromonica270 M27001 or CX-12 Black M7545 or Chromonica 270 Deluxe can you recommend please ? thanks a lot