Five common questions regarding chromatic harmonica - part one

00:00 - Intro and start
00:28 - Should I play pucker or tongue block? What do you play?
03:50 - What are the most important scales to use when playing jazz?
06:58 - How many harmonicas do you bring to a concert?
09:27 - Should I buy a 12 hole or 16 hole chromatic harmonica? What do you use?
13:50 - How to get a soft vibrato on the chromatic? Do you use throat vibrato?
Interested in harmonica lessons?
Welcome to check out: / filipjersharmonica
Hello!
In this video I am answering five common questions I get regarding the chromatic harmonica.
I hope you enjoy this video,
Cheers,
Filip

[@Banjoznbugz]

I love watching the moustache dance when he plays

[@greasylimpet3323]

That's one thing about playing harmonica - you have to keep it trimmed. It's not very comfortable when a hair gets caught in the slide!

[@matija13579]

Please do more videos like this, this what harmonica community needs. In my opinion, relaxed videos just generally speaking about harmonica 😊

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks! Haha yes, that was my idea! Part three coming up today.

[@Booneface]

"Things can always happen when you play harmonica" Alright, I'm getting a harmonica now!

[@BoazKimMusic]

Excellent video and playing examples, Filip! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on all of the topics! I’m looking forward to part two!

[@FilipJersMusic]

My pleasure! It is online, just search here on my KZbin page. Recording part three next week :-)

[@thesingmonicats1122]

Thanks for the insights!

[@fulviovalsecchi3420]

Thank You Filip

[@LeRequinBlue]

Bonjour. Very nice. I liked the presentation. Your technique is sublime.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thank you very much!

[@TheJillyrabbit]

I taught myself when I was little by blocking with my thumb...hard not to use old habits...

[@swedenharmonica2076]

Så himla duktig 🎉🎉🎉🎉👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@HarmonicaShala]

Vibrato is the most fascinating thing ever. Loved every bit of the vibrato part and you make it look so effortless !!!

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks!

[@lazydazs]

Thank you ,great to get pointers from a master of the harmonica.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ronesharmonica]

Thanks! Very useful 👍

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks Rone!

[@garykuzminski7969]

Greetings from Chicago. This was incredibly helpful in demystifying and clearing up some of the clouds, as to the nature of this wonderful instrument. THANK YOU for taking the time and for being so generous in sharing your knowledge! SUBSCRIBED :)

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks for your very kind words Gary! Be to check the other videos, there are three parts in the series! Best, Filip

[@85481]

16 hole A sounds like "ehhhhhh" Vs "waaaaah" on the 12 hole to me. Super scientific description I know.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Haha, yes very good!

[@pmchamlee]

You;re a fascinating chap! Many thanks for your efforts. I'll see you soon on Patreon. ( I'm a 77 yr old Texan who has enjoyed 'playing amateur' harmonica [both diatonic and chromatic]}

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks for watching! And welcome to the Patreon club - lots of material there now!

[@Harp_Maniac]

Great , many thanks 🎉🎉🎉

[@FilipJersMusic]

🎶🙏🎶

[@GraffitiLA1]

As a chromatic player of extended blues (ala Robben Ford, say) and someone that really likes that sharp attack of guitar players, using pucker with a "tongue stop" where you create a sharp cutoff to the note is something I like. I have been playing with different ways to get the vibrato and am glad to see your presentation which confirms I have been on the right path. I also work on keeping the rate of vibrato the same as my tremelo when switching. Thanks for your insight!

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks for your good words!

[@Klaus01neraktraining]

I love your instructional videos. They are very informative. I have several chromatic and some times have problems with sticking breath savers..this creates problems when playing at live venues. I try warming up the chromatic in my pocket but this does not always work. Any suggestions to help are much appreciated.. your fan from 🇨🇦🎼🎶🎶👍 please keep posting..

[@jantonisito]

My natural embochure is "U-blocking" - had to learn to pucker to bend notes on diatonic. But U blocking makes clean single notes super easy

[@FilipJersMusic]

Cool! I never got U block to feel good, I get tension in the tongue.

[@jantonisito]

@@FilipJersMusic Could be that genetic divide between people who can roll their tongues and those who can’t.

[@MrSpacconi]

On concert. I use two chromatics one C for tunes flat, and one A for tunes sharps. It's easier to play different styles like ,blues, country rock or jazz.And i have also a Bb a G and a F, only for accompagniment of singers when they use different keys.I had a jame session one time with WILL GALLISON and i saw that he used sometimes a B for transpose a half tune

[@danagreen6518]

wonderful teaching video, really enjoyed this, I have watched it several times…would you consider teaching a video on Misty or a sinatra song…your the best, dana in maine, usa

[@FilipJersMusic]

Great suggestion!

[@CPerreault]

Hi Filip, you are a great teacher, thank you. I agree with you, tongue block does sound softer. I wasn't aware of the tongue vibrato and did know about the jaw vibrato but don't use it much on the diatonic. Charlie Musselwhite uses the jaw vibrato on "Christo Redemptor" and that is how I got familiar with that technique. I am new to the chromatic but more familiar with the diatonic and already use the throat vibrato a lot. I am finding that learning how to play the chromatic harmonica is changing the way I play the diatonic. It seems to be training me to pay attention to subtleties. Does that make sense?

[@mikrobspen]

I have a Seydel Saxony Orchestra, a Hohner CX12 & two Charlie Musselwhites Baritone Chromatics. I love them all but get frustrated with dealing with windsavers & stuck slides. I recently bought a Seydel Non_Slider Chromatic which eliminates both windsavers & slides. I like all my other harps but I love the durability of the Non-Slider. It only takes a few weeks to get used to tilting to the second mouthpiece, instead of pushing a button.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Ah cool to hear about the Non-Slider! Would love to hear how it sounds. Sorry to hear about your other chromatics. Make sure the harmonica is warm and you don't have eaten anything sugarlike before playing, that often helps valves and slider.

[@gastonpiget1034]

@@FilipJersMusic I also have a non-slider. You pick it up at will and just start playing. Nice, clear Seydel sound., No fuss no bother. There are videos on the web.The same carefree playing applies to the Easttoop Forerunner - very very inexpensive too. It has a slider but no valves. If the slider sticks, you just give the whole instrument a warm bath. Same applies to the non slider, should it need a cleaning. Still, I also like the rich tone of my Seydel Symphony 48. Not as temperamental as other chromatic harmonicas, but like them, it likes to be pampered for 10 minutes under a warm armpit. But why not?

[@martinantezana1741]

Woow man thank you for your videos. I fall in love with the instrument listening to Franco luciani I don't know if you have heard him

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks for watching! Yes Luciani is amazing, I love his style!

[@RosarioDiRubbo]

Hello Mr. Jers, I am considering to buy an Scx 64, to have a wider range of playing but, if I look into some videos here on KZbin, you seem to be the only one never having troubles with these harmonicas. Can you tell me if the first or the version two really have a difference? They say that version two has been made to perform better and without slider problems like the first version, according to some reviews, is that true? If I listen to your video about your 11 years old first version, apparently not everyone had the same troubles with the slider. Last question, do you think that choosing for the 64 for a beginner, is that too challenging? Greetings from Belgium! You are simply great!

[@AduminHyun]

Wow! This is helpful. Thank you for making this video. I'm a Harmonica beginner and I'm learning harmonica listening to Monica J's youtube performance. Recently, I'm watching your harmonica videos. (The carol one was really fun!) When I listened to your nice music, I wanted to know if you play pucker on a harmonica. The other questions were also what I wanted to know~ ^^ Are there any tips to play music smoothly and fast like you? I've been practicing a chromatic scale every day but I wanna know if there's a better way to practice. Hope my question will be included in your next video. :)

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks! I mainly use pucker. For playing smoothly - just keep on practicing and it will come. Also try to "hear it" in your head before playing, listen to a lot of other legato instruments.

[@AduminHyun]

@@FilipJersMusic Wow. You answered my comment! Thank you! I'm learning a lot watching you video!

[@mervitirkkonen7443]

Thank you for this video! a) Do I understand right, if I suppose my tenor 12 hole chromatic harmonica is tuned like the 3 lowest octaves of 16 hole model? Anyway, after listening to the sound examples given in the Thomann store of different harmonicas they are selling, I liked this one most, and now I understand why ;) Sofar I don´t miss the higher and punchier sounds (so I only sort of play everything that is meant for 12 hole harmonica just one octave down) - and in desperate need can use diatonic C for those ;) b) Of vibratos: My main instrument is recorder, and sort of fear the throat vibrato and it seems to me that also the "just make it by changing the speed of air", that is "from the diaphragm" seems to work on harmonica too - without need to use jaw. I suppose, anything - or everything - goes ok?

[@FilipJersMusic]

Yes you are correct on the tenor range! Vibrato - yes anything goes, just go for the sound you like and hear inside of you.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks!

[@etaborya]

Fun, but I play chromatic mostly tongue blocking, while for diatonic I mostly play lip blocking.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Aha interesting!

[@rafatzintzun8]

❤😊

[@Amper-o-mat]

Very nice,thank you...First,I realy like your approach to chromatic,and I have one question...I play diatonic mostly,and now i bought my first chromatic in G(Chromonica from Hohner),it plays very good,but on the lower octave there is some tiny resonating buzz appearing when I play more silently,but when I increase the airflow to normal,the note becomes clear again..What that could be and is it normal?

[@FilipJersMusic]

Hi! It can be that valves need to settle in the low octave. Give it one month of play time otherwise you might need to replace the valves. Make sure also that the harmonica is warm up before you play it. And yes - the valves can buzz a bit more if you play silent, it is physics - it just happens, I can not really explain why really. Best, Filip

[@Amper-o-mat]

@@FilipJersMusic Thank you very much,Filip,stay cool!

[@etaborya]

For recording I prefer 64, sounds fuller even in the middle range. However I am always more nervous to play 64 onstage, a bit easier to get lost.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Yes, I also got lost on the 64 in the beginning. It just hard work, do it a lot and it will settle.

[@etaborya]

@@FilipJersMusic my first chromatic was Hering 1664, far in 2003. In some years some reeds failed and I moved to 48 and since then mostly play 48 until I got Symphony 64.

[@FilipJersMusic]

@@etaborya My first chromatic was also Hering, Velvet Voice model. It played great for many years. Then I played some Hohner 270s and Toots models, but got more in 64s and back then (2005-ish) Herings 64s were amazing. But since 10 years now, I am only playing Suzukis. Amazing instruments.

[@nudulgunu]

cool video man! but can you explain how to do throat vibrato shortly? thank you!

[@FilipJersMusic]

Hard to explain in words, best I can say: try saying ha-ha-ha or ho-ho-ho inwards (not joking) it is like a coughing sound, and you catch the air stream there and it grabs the note to make it pulse.

[@nudulgunu]

@@FilipJersMusic oh, i think i get it. thanks for the reply and the video!

[@9um9um9um]

Are there any chromatics that don’t have the tonic note repeat in holes 4 and 5 ? I think it’s also on holes 8 and 9. Is there a harmonica where this does not occur? If so, that’s the one I want to try.

[@GalenWillettMusic]

I guess that would mean the middle octave is reversed, so C would be a draw and D would be a blow. I doubt that would help you. I think we just need to get used to two Cs in a row and get better at changing holes accurately.

[@etaborya]

Do you know how many harmonicas Toots brought to the gigs?

[@FilipJersMusic]

No, I don't know the exact number. When I met him he had a few backstage. When he went on stage he always had at least one backup.

[@nadlerus88]

Toots had three on stage. His manager, Dirk had a few more available. In the three times I saw him, I new saw him change.

[@FilipJersMusic]

@@nadlerus88 There is lots of clips on KZbin to check out too, often two spares on stage, yes. I rememberd Dirk also checked so they worked, cleaned the slider and checked the valves.

[@fastscales]

Thanks for the video! Could you comment on vibrato on a cheap chromatic harmonica? I bought one for $30. :)

[@FilipJersMusic]

Vibrato is the same for all harmonicas, no matter the cost. Use either you throat, make the sound ho-ho-ho inwards. Or use the tongue like saying koj-koj-koj.

[@vishnukanthsharma]

Ever you tried Indian movie song on chromatic? If not than try for ones...i am sure you would love it❤

[@FilipJersMusic]

Oh, I have not, would love to try!

[@vishnukanthsharma]

Bro..I could suggest you the most beautiful movie song...and can send you the song track also.... We whole Harmonica fraternity will jump with happiness if such Happen.😊

[@canadabluesnation]

Nice 🩵

[@joaoguilhermedalmolin4630]

Great video! Thank you very much for sharing with us. Could you help me with a query I have? When I hear you (and some other players) playing the chromatic, I feel like your sound is fuller and smoother (lile a clarinet). I have a good sound on diatonic. I move my jaw down a little bit, relax the muscles, use hot air, but it still doesn't sound as beautiful. I don't know if it's my harmonica or if I should practice some especific exercise. I have a Heing's 64.

[@joaoguilhermedalmolin4630]

I love your videos and the music you make! You sound amazing and your music really inspires me! :)

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks Joao! This is a big and very good question. I will keep it and think about it for the future.

[@joaoguilhermedalmolin4630]

@@FilipJersMusic Really thank you, Filip! :D

[@pierrepineau5988]

What about playing on a 14 hole harmonica ?

[@FilipJersMusic]

They are awesome!

[@vishnukanthsharma]

Brother never you tried any Indian song?

[@J.L.123]

F I L I P - Hi, Filip, do you play the chromatic harmonicas OUT OF THE BOX without any tweaking? What percentage of the harmonicas do you have to re-adjust the reeds before you are completely satisfied with their playability and tone, etc.? Do you believe in some harmonica players' belief in "breaking in" a chromatic (even diatonic) harmonica out of the box and that it will optimize by means of "breaking in," rather than upon buying it disassembling the instrument and adjusting reeds and/or valves that are short of perfection? Thanks a lot for your videos on KZbin and your response to my queries.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Hi J.L., My chromatics are mostly out of the box. Just last year I have been experimenting (on some chromatics) chamfering the reeds and flat sanding the body on different areas. But I have not done it on all my instruments. I dont do any gapping on the chromatics, I play them and learn how they behave, adapt my playing style and learn how to master them. It is a lot better to spend time practicing than customizing the instrument. All my diatonics are fully customized. They are different instruments than the chromatics (because of all the advanced bending techniques) so I need to set them up.

[@FilipJersMusic]

And I think it is not the harmonica breaking in, it is the player learning how to play that specific instrument. Valves will wear out of time (or the glue that holds them) after 5-10 years they will need a check up.

[@J.L.123]

​@@FilipJersMusic Thank you so very much for your most interesting and enlightening response to my queries. I had almost always been under the impression that virtually all professional chromatic harmonica players were almost never happy with OUT-OF-THE-BOX chromatics and had to obsessively and habitually readjust the reeds (and, of course, understandably, improve a noisy slide) of virtually EVERY brand-new, off-the-shelf stock harmonica. Thanks, again, for the most informative and elucidating reply to my questions.

[@Swing604]

Hi Filip. I really enjoy and appreciate your channel! I was inspired by your camera case and I bought something very similar that fits 3 of my chromatics. I noticed the deterioration shown in your video of the “pick and pluck” foam and found a video that shows how to repair and seal pick and pluck foam so it will look and act like a solid piece of foam and not fall apart. I applied this to the foam in my case and it works really, really well! 😊 My harmonicas slide in and out easily and the odor of the “plastidip” sealant dissipates after a few days. Anyways, thought you might find the info useful… kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWXRi6OIba6Wn68

[@etaborya]

Thanks for video! Do you understand how does he doing it? kzbin.info/www/bejne/amTPhJaspqufiNE 1:42. It is Bm. I never heard anything similar on chromatic harmonica. It is definitely tongue switching, but something very complex, have to try transcribe it.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks, happy you like it Boris! I will have a listen to the link.

[@hazmatite]

not sure if it has an effect, but Bill does play Bebop tuning (his hole 4 C is an A, I believe, and so on up the harp).

[@etaborya]

@@hazmatite i transcribed first bar and I hardly can play it half tempo

[@hazmatite]

@@etaborya wet yeah, he’s been working on tongue switching for a LOOONG time.

[@hazmatite]

i meant “well” of course. not wet. 🙄

[@lucasanfilippo5370]

Stop playing that way man, or we will all get depressed... ;)

[@TonyTricaricoMagic]

Why when i play and i am looking for a particular note its no there why they should be there every notes

[@danagreen6518]

wonderful teaching video, really enjoyed this, I have watched it several times…would you consider teaching a video on Misty or a sinatra song…such as Moonlight serenade, your the best, dana in maine, usa

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks!