Chromatics...

[Dauber]

I'm starting to dabble in chromatic harmonica...yeah, I know, that's cheating , but I figured what the hey...I got a Hohner Chromonica 280...and it's surprisingly easy to catch on to, I must say...

But what's the best way to mic this thing?? With a diatonic, it's easy, because you only need one hand to play, and use the other for the mic, but....when you have a much bigger harmonica, and need your right hand to move the slider, how does one steadily hold a microphone to it???

[FatJim]

The Strnad (Yup it's spelt correctly) clips on to the body of the harp and you can get a version for a 12 or 16 hole chrom.

I think Suzuki make specialist mics for bigger harmonicas like chord and bass harps - maybe they do something for a chromatic?

You can hold the harp and mic together in one hand; using your little finger to grip. It's certainly easier if your using something a little less bulk than a bullet mic. The Madcat Shaker mic could work for you, or you could attach a homemade finger loop to one of those lavalier electret mics. The downside of holding a mic like this though is that the top end might not pick up so clearly as the bottom register - especially with a 16 holer.

Is playing into a mic on a stand not an option?

[Dauber]

Actually, playing into a mic PERIOD isn't an option -- I don't have one. (Just a vocal microphone...) But if I ever play it during the jam that starts off my blues harp class, just wanted to know how to hold things properly without looking like a total yutz.

[FMWoodeye]

Dude, chromatics aren't cheating, as long as you don't get confused by some notes being blow notes on the chromatic and draw notes on the blues harp. There are things you can do on a chromatic that you can't do on a blues harp. However, it's harder to bend a chromatic. Well, you can bend easy enough for expression, and that's all that matters on the chromatic because all the notes are there.
I prefer the blues harp for blues and rock, but I'll use a chromatic (Hohner CX-12) if I want to lay down some fat chordal stuff, for instance.