What is the best type of harmonica for playing blues....diatonic or chromatic?

Question

I have been playing a oskar diatonic for months, I'm getting pretty good and I can bend notes, but it still doesnt sound anything close to the pros. Should I switch to a chromatic, and what's the most useful key to have it in?

Answer 1

First of all, you chose a great harmonica! Lee Oskar harps are awesome. Blues is mostly played on diatonics. The main reason is probably that they're simpler to play, more affordable, and have been much more commonly available historically. So, a lot of the musicians who defined the blues were playing diatonics. If you want to master the blues, keep playing this kind of harp. Having said that, chromatics are used sometimes; none other than Little Walter played one on several records. Might be fun to buy one and experiment; you'd definately set yourself apart by playing chromatic. As for keys, you'll eventually want a selection of diatonics; C is very common and most teachers or instruction books will assume you have a C-harp. It's really great for folk and country, but you'll be playing blues in G with a C harp, and I find that sounds a little bright and happy. Blues in E is very common, so get yourself an A-harp. D is also good (blues in A). Finally, I'd make sure to get a B-flat harp so you can play F blues. With these four harps, you can play in 90% of all the settings you'll find yourself in. A chromatic in the key of C is probably the most versatile.

Answer 2

any variety is wonderful, I frequently propose Hohner Blues Harp, or Hohner particular 20. The question you want to have replied is what key do you pick. Harmonicas are diatonic gadgets and are in accordance with a key. A piano or a guitar that are chromatic gadgets and can want to play in any key, so if you're accompanying a particular track, you purchase the harp for the major that the track is in. There are extra issues in case you pick to play blues form or what I call Neil youthful/Bob Dylan form. in order that that you already know, harmonicas have become truly extreme priced those days, so anticipate to pay $30-50 for a sturdy one.