Tip of the week: Getting good chromatic tone

Good tone on chromatic can be elusive.

It's basically the same as good tone on diatonic. However, the isolated, valved reeds are more sensitive to pressure and suction, and will reflect even the slightest quaver in your breathing.

Don't try to pull, push, squirt, or suck air when you play, and don't try to force the notes.

Instead, breathe gently and deeply. Deep breathing moves lots of air, even when moving gently, and this helps give you resonance to deliver both volume and tone.

Make sure the airways are open. Try breathing through your mouth without a harmonica. If you hear any air rushing noise, you need to open up. Drop your jaw and tongue, and yawn in your throat to open the airways. Check your jaw and neck muscles -they should be relaxed. Work this until you can move a lot of air gently and silently.

Play long notes and listen to the sound as you breathe.

Monitor your sensations to make sure that everything is relaxed.

How does the reed feel? If it's resisting, you need to open up more and breathe gently.

Work on relaxing and gently persuading the reed to sound. Meanwhile, listen to the sound and allow t to open up and become rich and full.