Hohner chromatic harmonica was invented in 1924 and has since then created and developed many chromatic harmonica models.
The basic principle of the chromatic harmonica is to blow to get the notes C E G C (a C major chord) and then Draw and get D F A B (a Dm6 chord).
This is very similar to the diatonic harmonica but where it differs is that the chromatic has a slider. When you push the slider and blow or draw at the same time the original note is raised by a half step. So for instance on Hole 1 a C becomes a C# when you blow and when you draw and push the slider the D becomes a D#.
The chromatic harmonica is also symmetrical by nature, the first octave is exactly replicated to the second and third octaves making it easy to repeat patterns or scales from one octave to the next. Something that is much more complicated to do on a standard diatonic model.
Hohner chromatic harmonicas come in 10, 12, 14, and 16 holes. The most commonly used chromatic harp is the 12-hole and covers 3 full octaves. The 16 holer is usually found in Blues and mostly Classical music where the extended low octave comes in handy to play violin parts.
Some 12-hole models like the Chromonica 270 and the CX12 black are also available in other keys such as C, D, Eb, E, F, G, A, Bb, and Low C or C tenor.
Even though a chromatic harmonica in C is enough to play any tune, scale, or arpeggio in any key, some beginners or intermediate players find it challenging to master all the patterns and scales.
Instead of learning new patterns, they often prefer to reuse the familiar ones by playing in other keys on specially tuned chromatic harmonicas.
Harmonica players who made the chromatic harmonica popular are Larry Adler, Toots Thielemans, and Stevie Wonder.
Here is a list of Hohner chromatic harmonicas sold on Harmonicaland:
Entry-level Hohner chromatic harmonicas:
- Chrometta 8, Chrometta 10, Chrometta 12 and 14
- Discovery 48
Classic Chromatic harmonicas:
- Chromonica 270 a classic Hohner harmonica
- Chromonica 260
- Chromonica 270 Deluxe
- Chromonica 280
- CX12 Black
- CX-12 Jazz
- Larry Adler Signature
- Toots Thielemas Signature
High-end Chromatic harmonicas:
- Meisterklasse chromatic - a high end Hohner harmonica
- The Amadeus with a plexiglass comb
- The Silverto Concert
- The Super 64C Performance
- The Super 64X performance
