My "long term" is much shorter now than it was when I put down chromatic after 10 years of youthful exploration and picked up diatonic in the early 1970s in order to play the music that interested me at that time. If, in the '90s when I resumed chromatic after a two decade hiatus, I had waited for "the long term" when I could fluidly improvise in all keys on a C chromatic before playing out, I would have had to decline playing chromatic harmonica on quite a few songs at paid gigs and would not have been accepted into one band because I didn't have the chops on one instrument to play all the songs in the designated keys. With keyed chromatics, I could...
If I had focused primarily on building chromatic skills in all keys after resuming in the '90s I would have had to set aside my diatonics to immerse myself in improving chromatic playing skills. I could not have spent time improving my diatonic playing or later worked on vocals. It would have been a different life path, one I did not take.
For me, the use of different key centered chromatics since the '90s has allowed me to competently improvise by ear using chromatic harmonica in paid performances of music I enjoy. Despite using different keyed instruments, I do use the button quite a bit for notes I need making music.
I had a 38 year career in social services (not music), and while we were raising our kids and I was working, my harmonica performance efforts waned and waxed over those years.
Since gradually resuming chromatic harmonica in the 1990s did I let the shortcut of keyed chromatics detour me from learning all the scales on a C? Yes... that is why I mentioned that possibility in my post above.
Has the use of different key centered chromatics adversely impacted my musical efforts using chromatic harmonicas to make the music I enjoy? Not one bit...
I would rather create music competently in a difficult key with a keyed chromatic than offer a poor performance trying to prove I can play awkward keys on a C chromatic.
I am not seeking to become a classical or jazz chromatic professional or even a skilled amateur in all keys.
I enjoy using chromatic and diatonic harmonicas to make music I enjoy. While I have some rudimentary reading skills I only consult sheet music on rare occasions for reference, as I primarily play by ear.
I use the chromatic harmonica to supplement the diatonics I use in performing the music I enjoy. Many audience members have asked about chromatic harmonica after seeing me use one in performance. While I occasionally use the instruments in blues chromatic fashion "3rd position" I do play music on it in other ways, too.
Playing folk, roots, and Americana music on chromatic at gigs and jams interests people in the instrument. While answering questions I usually bring up Toots, Stevie Wonder, and Robert Bonfiglio in addition to the blues chromatic players they know.
Do I regret having not set aside diatonic harmonica and singing in order to focus on mastering all the scales on a C chromatic? No... I am enjoying myself a lot making music using diatonic, chromatic, and singing since my retirement.
As I said above, "... the choice of using chromatic harmonicas based on major scales other than C is an individual choice based on individual circumstances, musical goals and aspirations."
Using chromatics with different key centers fits my individual circumstances, musical goals and aspirations.
I reject any of the blanket prescriptive criticisms that are so readily offered by some who see only one way to approach the instrument.
The chromatic harmonica is a tool, as Danny G noted above, and I will use those tools as I please.
I do not criticize those who pursue the goal of playing and improvising in all keys on one instrument, whether they choose to use solo tuning or an alternative note layout. I agree that being able to play in all keys on one instrument is a more traditional and valid musical approach. When competence is finally achieved it is far more flexible than switching instruments. When speaking to interested persons I often suggest that to really use chromatic harmonica fully you have to learn to play all keys on it.
I greatly enjoy hearing skilled players use one C chromatic to make beautiful music.
How we choose to express our musical selves and the instrument(s) through which we express our music is a personal choice, and I respect the efforts of all who seek to make music for their own or other's enjoyment.
At this stage of my life I am not centering my musical efforts on playing it all on a C chromatic. I am having too much fun following my own path.
Doug S.
