Celtic Chromatics

These are Chroms especially tuned for getting the nuances of Irish and other folk styles, where the trills and other decorations are important to the music. Using the slider for decorations on a standard chromatic doesn't sound great with traditional music, as the slide notes tend to clash. There are two ways of using a chromatic in Irish music where the slide notes sound harmonious: the Eddie Clarke style, where the slide lowers a semitone, or in my own style (as used on the album New Irish Harmonica), where I specially retune some slide notes to sound appropriate for the music. See details of both styles below.

There is a choice of four different chromatics for most key/tuning options. The Hering chroms are simply retuned, whereas substantial
extra work is done on the Hohner CX12/CX10, 270, 260 and Slide Harp models. This is reflected in the relative costs. See details of the Standard and Full Custom options for the Hohner classic chroms here.

TWO APPROACHES TO PLAYING CELTIC MUSIC ON CHROMATIC
The semitone-up format of a chromatic harmonica's slide action can make the slide ornaments
sound discordant in the context of the mostly modal scales of Irish and other Celtic music.
Therefore, it is useful to alter the slide notes from the standard format.

There are two ways in use today. The most common approach was pioneered by the brilliant stylist
Eddie Clarke; it involves the slider lowering each note a semitone, but the instrument remains fully chromatic.
This can be achieved by flipping the slide on a chrom, so is also known as Reversed Slide style.

The other approach is my own, and was used on the album New Irish Harmonica.
I retune the slide notes so they rise to the next note of the home scale. This removes the chromatic facility,
but makes cuts and triplets easier and gives alternate phrasing options for difficult passages.

Scales shown are for a 12 hole Solo tuned G chromatic, but the same principle applies for other keys and tunings.
Blow notes are on the left, Draw notes on the right, Slide-out on top, Slide-in on bottom.

SOLO TUNED (Same Basic Scale as Standard Chromatic)
All prices include the cost of the harmonica parts and extra setup work in addition to the reedplate conversion job and retuning.

G, LOW D, A, C, F
For traditional Irish music, the main harps you need are D & G, but A, C and F are also handy.
For Eddie Clarke style, the primary harps are G/F# and D/C#

PRICES & MODELS REDUCTION OF $40 IF YOU SUPPLY THE HARMONICA Must have Correct Key Reedplates for the Tuning You Want, and be in Good Condition. Email me to agree this option, and receive posting instructions. (If you want to see the price equivalent in your home currency, click here)
a. Eddie Clarke Style Slider always goes down a semitone. The instrument remains fully chromatic, so all key changes are still possible. Opposite slider movement compared to standard chromatics - requires practice to master, but works well for Irish music.	12 HOLE MODELS Hering 5148: £150 Hohner 270 Standard: £175 Hohner 270 Full Custom: £300 Hohner CX12: £225	10 HOLE MODELS Hohner 260 Standard: £175 Hohner 260 Full Custom: $300 Hohner CX10: £300
b. Brendan Power Style Slider moves up to notes of the home scale. The instrument becomes a Slide Diatonic with many alternate note choices, which makes difficult phrases easier to play. Home key and related modes only (eg. G, Am, Em, D on a G instrument).	12 HOLE MODELS Hering 5148: £150 Hohner 270 Standard: £175 Hohner 270 Full Custom: £300 Hohner CX12: £225	10 HOLE MODELS Hohner 260 Standard: £175 Hohner 260 Full Custom: $300 Hohner CX10: £300

HIGH D
Very useful for playing Irish music, but not commercially available from the manufacturers.
The usual D chromatic is quite low pitched, but these custom high D's are made by raising the pitch of a C chromatic -
a substantial retuning job, but it makes for a very responsive and nimble instrument
that plays easily at the quick tempos of Irish tunes.

PRICES & MODELS (If you want to see the price equivalent in your home currency, click here)
a. Eddie Clarke Style (D/C#) Slider goes down a semitone - see above.	12 HOLE MODELS Hering 5148: £150 Hohner 270 Standard: £175 Hohner 270 Full Custom: £300 Hohner CX12: £225	10 HOLE MODELS Hohner 260 Standard: £175 Hohner 260 Full Custom: $300 Hohner CX10: £300
b. Brendan Power Style Custom-tuned slide notes - see above	12 HOLE MODELS Hering 5148: £150 Hohner 270 Standard: £175 Hohner 270 Full Custom: £300 Hohner CX12: £225	10 HOLE MODELS Hohner 260 Standard: £175 Hohner 260 Full Custom: $300 Hohner CX10: £300

PADDY RICHTER TUNED (Same as Blues Harp, but with 3 Blow Raised by a Tone)
This is the tuning I devised and used for many of the tracks on NEW IRISH HARMONICA.
It's handy for those who play Paddy Richter on 10 hole diatonic, as there is no re-learning of breathing patterns.
The only difference is in the use of the slide ornaments, which can be in my style or reversed slide.

THE TRAD SESSION HARP (Two Harps in One! No More Swapping Harps for Different Tunes!)

These Look Like Chromatic Harmonicas, but are Actually Trad Session Harps in D/G
Hering 5148	Customised Hohner 270

A unique harmonica that's perfect for playing tunes in a set and following the key changes.
It is a D and a G harmonica in one instrument, using the construction of the chromatic harmonica
but re-tuned so it is played as two diatonic harmonicas in the two primary scales of trad music.

The slide spring is removed and the slide made ultra airtight with a bit of friction,
so it can be fixed to either scale in an instant as the tunes in a set change key.

SPECIAL ORDERS
If you have another chromatic in mind that isn't mentioned above, just email me and I'll let you know what it would cost to make up.

"Brendan, I received the CX12 today that you retuned to an Irish D, and it
works phenomenally ! Man, this is the way to play Irish music.....the note
arrangement and slide changes are perfect, and it's very intuitive to play
as well. I can't wait to take this baby to a session..... thanks - Tod Barry"

TOD BARRY, Temple City, California USA
CX12 in High D with Resonators, Brendan Power Style

"Hi Brendan, Great job with the chromatics, playing great, and lovely tuning.

Eddie Clark Tuning, Hohner 260's in C#/D, B/C, and Hohner 270 in E/F
Mick Kinsella is a master of many styles on diatonic and chromatic harmonicas.
Order his excellent album by emailing him at: organbeal@hotmail.com

"I have just received the Slide Harp I was waiting for...the sound is brilliant and it looks great.
It adds the possibilities of a Chromatic to the expression of a Diatonic, so it is the perfect combination.
I play the Slide Harp all the time at the moment, rediscovering tunes and new ways to play them.
The bends and valved bends are very easy to produce.

All the best, Jean"

JEAN SABOT, Semi-Professional Harp Player, Brittany, France
Full Custom Slide Harp, tuned to one of Jean's own custom tunings
Jean Sabot is one of the finest exponents of Breton, Irish and other Celtic music on harmonica.
Check out his tunings and recordings at: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jsabot

PRICES & MODELS (If you want to see the price equivalent in your home currency, click here)
a. Eddie Clarke Style, All Keys Slider goes down a semitone - see above	10 HOLE MODELS ONLY Hohner Koch/Slide Harp Standard: £175 Hohner Koch/Slide Harp Full Custom: £300 Power CX10: £300
b. Brendan Power Style, All Keys Custom-tuned slide notes - see above	10 HOLE MODELS ONLY Hohner Koch/Slide Harp Standard: £175 Hohner Koch/Slide Harp Full Custom: £300 Power CX10: £300

PRICES & MODELS
a. 12 Hole Low D/G, Solo Tuning	Hering 5148: £150 Hohner 270 Standard: £175 Hohner 270 Full Custom: $300
b. 12 Hole G/High D, Solo Tuning	Hohner 270 Standard: £200 Hohner 270 Full Custom: £325
c. 10 Hole G/High D, Solo Tuning	Hohner 260 Standard: £200 Hohner 260 Full Custom: £325
d. 10 Hole G/High D, Paddy Richter Tuning	Hohner Koch/Slide Harp Standard: £200 Hohner Koch/Slide Harp Full Custom: £300