Excluded chroms

[chromaticdude]

Looking at all the scales, music scores, and tab for the C chromatic, it seems chroms in different keys are omitted. Apart from my collection, all in C, I have a few in Bb. Hopefully topics can be posted showing attention to chroms in different keys. Just for the record. In Jazz music, the majority of instruments are tuned to Bb. Playing a Bb harmonica is IMO the best way to match the sounds of the assortment of instruments (for example, the Smooth Jazz musician Kenny G. plays various music instruments that are tuned to Bb).

[Jimmy Halfnote]

Who would have the time or motivation to tab music in every key ? The key of C is used to create a standard, for example 3 =G , 3*=Ab , -3 =A ,-3*=Ab....this is a constant and a standard, once you have the notes from this standard you can yourself relate the information to ANY harmonica whatever the key. Keep in mind only 12 hole models come in different keys and even then not all of them. On your other point regarding Bb, this is one of the best and most obliging keys on a C model.

                                                             jh.

[smojoe]

All you need is music that is already written for a Bb instrument. In our music library we had charts for the individual instruments in the band. Guitar, B3, sax, clarinet, trumpet, etc. (I followed the B3 charts most of the time).   
j. athirio

[Gatty1010]

Bb sounds lovely on a C Harmonica.
There are scale neutral notations available... Search for such notations. You can play that in any key.

[Gnarly He Man]

When I first began studying chromatic, I converted MIDI notes from my sequences to tab.
I now find that staff notation works much better.

[Grizzly]

When I first began studying chromatic, I converted MIDI notes from my sequences to tab.
I now find that staff notation works much better.

I spose one could get facile reading tab. I never tried to be. If I'm a good example, I read standard notation about as easily as I read words. As Gary has found out, it can be done.

As Joey says, you can play C harmonica positions on a Bb (or Eb) harmonica reading off of charts that have been transposed for specific instruments, like Bb clarinet or trumpet or Eb alto sax.

Tom

[beads]

Gotta agree with Tom and Gary. I started with tab and think it is great to get a beginner playing songs and having fun. Perhaps comparable to training wheels on a bicycle. They are great while you learn to pedal and brake and steer. Then you find out the bike is even more fun without them. Well worth the initial falls that happen when you first make that transition.  Now I  use sheet music or play by ear. I never use tabs but will make tabs if someone asks me.

[SlideMeister]

Yeah, when I finally decided to knock the training wheels off and start playing other keys on a C Chrome I was surprised. I always thought of B Flat as a two-headed, fire breathing monster that would do bodily damage if I even tried it. Hey, turns out it's just another key; and the more I played it, the less intimidating it became. Who knew?
Here! Play this and shut up! 

[brorat]

I understand sheet music. Sang from it for 40+ years. But I’m not good enough at reading music to play directly from it. In the key of C maj I can pretty much play any tune I know by ear. I’m working to get to that point in other keys…with limited success so far.
I find that using tabs to get the “feel” of songs in keys other than C helps me a lot. Once I have that “feel” for the key and the melody in my head, I can then toss the training wheels for that tune. But not necessarily for all tunes in that key!  For me, the key of C maj seems to be natural and innate. It’s easy for me. Other keys…not so much!

When I was a kid I learned to ride a bike without using training wheels. As an older adult learning chromatic harmonica in “other keys”, the training wheels help me to get there without falling and breaking a hip

[RichChrome]

I Never really got into using tabs, I learned to play by ear and that's how I learn new material, but I have been using sheet music to learn certain parts of new material. This may be of interest, I get most of my sheet music from "Musescore" this site provides free sheet music for a variety of genre's, it also allow you to transpose any song and print copies. Of all the material I play I usually print copies in a number of different keys, this enable me to learn to play a song in different keys on my C chrome.

As I see it, if you are using a Bb chrome and you want to play a piece in Bb it's pretty easy to do, just use sheet music in the key of C, basicly pretending you are on a C chrome. However, if you want to play a song written in Bb on a Bb chrome I still think you will still be playing in the tonic, but you would need to understand the note layout of the Bb chrome in order to read and play the sheet music. I do use chromes in different keys occasionally, but rarely play in the tonic, when I do I'm using sheet music written in C.

[Scotty]

Yeah, when I finally decided to knock the training wheels off and start playing other keys on a C Chrome I was surprised. I always thought of B Flat as a two-headed, fire breathing monster that would do bodily damage if I even tried it. Hey, turns out it's just another key; and the more I played it, the less intimidating it became. Who knew?
Here! Play this and shut up! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUWzN-vec1w

Age: I love that song - just played it on my A (cx-12). Sounded great!

scotty

[SlideMeister]

Yeah, when I finally decided to knock the training wheels off and start playing other keys on a C Chrome I was surprised. I always thought of B Flat as a two-headed, fire breathing monster that would do bodily damage if I even tried it. Hey, turns out it's just another key; and the more I played it, the less intimidating it became. Who knew?
Here! Play this and shut up! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUWzN-vec1w

Age: I love that song - just played it on my A (cx-12). Sounded great!

scotty

It's extra special for me too. Barbara is my "Lady in Red."

"Oh What a Night!" pretty much nails it too, right down to the day back in "63"