Author Topic: Custom Built 4-Octave 4-Chord Harmonica  (Read 844 times)

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Offline George Miklas

  • Doctor of Music Education and author of “Harmonica Pedagogy for the Full Inclusion Music Classroom,” HOHNER Artist, Harmonica Technician, and former member of Jerry Murad's Harmonicats
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Custom Built 4-Octave 4-Chord Harmonica
« on: April 22, 2020, 07:29:52 PM »
Harmonica Gallery builds custom-tuned harmonicas. This one is a custom-built, one-of-a-kind 16-hole, 4-octave, 4-Chord Harmonica which is capable of playing four chords C, F, F#dim7, & G7. George Miklas analyzed the tuning of the CBH Chordomonica I & II (10 & 12 hole models) and then adapted the tuning scheme to fit the 16-hole model. This one-of-a-kind was built at customer request, and there are none others like it as far as we know.

Hohner USA, once located in Hicksville (Long Island), New York, is where Chinese Harmonica Virtuoso and Inventor Cham-Ber Huang (CBH) and Andy Paskas (AP) conducted research and development, creating many one-of-a-kinds and even new production models.

Most notable is Cham-Ber Huang's Chordomonica I and II which was in production for approximately 30 years. The Chordomonica I was 10 holes and had one slide. It produced four chords C, F, F#dim7, and G7. The Chordomonica II was 12 holes and had two slides. It produced six chords, C, Dm7, F, F#dim, G7, and Am. Both of these models were available in 7 keys, A, Bb, C, D, E, F, and G.

A "one-of-a-kind" produced by Andy Paskas was his 16-hole BeBop Harmonica (seen in the video). There were only three of these custom-built, and only two are known to still be in existence. This harmonica's unique tuning scheme was developed during the mid-twentieth century and the Golden Age of Harmonica Bands.

CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO
http://HarmonicaGallery.com  Harmonica Specialist & Aficionado; Scholar, Educator, Performer, Repair; Harmonica Bands and Solo Concerti

Offline John Broecker

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Re: Custom Built 4-Octave 4-Chord Harmonica
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2020, 09:11:31 PM »
Hello, George.

Thanks for the interesting and informative post
about the C custom, 4-octave. 4 chord slide harp.

And, the video was fun. I'm hearing impaired,
but the video offered closed captioning.

About the Chordomonicas:

What years were the Bb and D keyed Chordos made?
I'm searching to complete my set of Chordomonica II.

Bb and D keys aren't listed in any of the Hohner catalogs
that I have, and not listed in Cham-Ber Huang's instruction
books: Folk Song Fest I and II (1965); and Hohner
Chordomonica (1972).

The catalogs and books list the keys of G, A, C, E, and F.
The Hohner #8301 (1 slide), and #8302 (2 slides) were
introduced in 1965, and aren't in any Hohner catalogs
that I have, after 1983.

A 1983 Hohner catalog lists the note chart for the
Chordomonica II, key of C, but nothing else.

Thanks again.  Best Regards.

John Broecker
« Last Edit: April 27, 2020, 08:31:24 PM by John Broecker »
After a search of Wikipedia, it was determined that bipolar bears exist. The Bipolar Bears is a musical group.

Offline George Miklas

  • Doctor of Music Education and author of “Harmonica Pedagogy for the Full Inclusion Music Classroom,” HOHNER Artist, Harmonica Technician, and former member of Jerry Murad's Harmonicats
  • Moderator
  • Chrome-Tributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 382
  • Member of SPAH since 1977
    • Dr. George Miklas, Harmonica Performer, Entertainer, Repair Tech, Hohner Dealer, Scholar, and Author of “Harmonica Pedagogy for the Full Inclusion Music Classroom”
Re: Custom Built 4-Octave 4-Chord Harmonica
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2020, 02:01:21 AM »
Hello, George.

Thanks for the interesting and informative post
about the C custom, 4-octave. 4 chord slide harp.

And, the video was fun. I'm hearing impaired,
but the video offered closed captioning.

About the Chordomonicas:

What years were the Bb and D keyed Chordos made?
I'm searching to complete my set of Chordomonica II.

Bb and D keys aren't listed in any of the Hohner catalogs
that I have, and not listed in Cham-Ber Huang's instruction
books: Folk Song Fest I and II (1965); and Hohner
Chordomonica (1972).

The catalogs and books list the keys of G, A, C, E, and F.
The Hohner #8301 (1 slide), and #8302 (2 slides) were
introduced in 1965, and aren't in any Hohner catalogs
that I have, after 1983.

A 1983 Hohner catalog lists the note chart for the
Chordomonica II, key of C, but nothing else.

Thanks again.  Best Regards.

John Broecker

I might have misspoke regarding Bb and D. I too will check my sources and get back to you.
http://HarmonicaGallery.com  Harmonica Specialist & Aficionado; Scholar, Educator, Performer, Repair; Harmonica Bands and Solo Concerti