 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ruben
Date: 2025-04-11 13:00
I feel like taking up the harmonica for a few reasons: I do the occasional jazz gig and it with give my audience another sound alongside that of the clarinet. I've always loved the soulful playing of Toots Thielmans. The third reason: It would be nice to have an instrument I could carry around with me anywhere and pull out practically anywhere. Do any of you out there play the harmonica? Does it -and I hope not- mess up your embouchure?
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
Post Edited (2025-04-11 13:01)
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Author: lydian
Date: 2025-04-14 06:55
I play both at a basic level. I don't have anything approaching Toots' or Stevie's chops on chromatic. I can improvise fairly well on clarinet, but not on chromatic harp, even after years of trying. But I can play blues on a diatonic without too much trouble. I've never played clarinet and harmonica on a gig, but I can't imagine any embouchure issues.
The easiest double for a jazz clarinet player would be sax or flute, both of which I play on most of my jazz gigs. Harp for me has been just for messing around at home, not for performance. That would take way too much time and effort to get good at compared to sax or flute, IMO. But if you have a natural gift for it and are committed, anything is possible.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2025-04-14 12:43
Thanks Lydian! The chromatic harmonica gives a novel sound. Plus it's easy to transport.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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