[mudbone]

Ok I hear the “wall of bass melodicas” acting like a tenor-range trombone section pretty clearly this time around. First time through I mostly was listening to basslines and lead lines and didn’t hear bass melodicas. Soprano is nice, would like to hear more of it in future.

[mudbone]

Sorry I’ve been slow to check out these melodica links suggested by Melodica-Me and Paul. Really enjoyed “Snow Samba”. Like Paul the soprano melodica work in Snow Samba really caught my ear (haven’t heard much soprano melodica playing to this point). However I had trouble picking out the bass melodica passages from other midrange melodicas in the arrangement. I will have to listen to it again. The bass melodica never actually carries the bassline in this arrangement, correct?

That air pump contraption that the two melodica performer uses is quite inventive. Only limitation seems to be that the performer can’t easily modify the dynamics if the air pressure is constant. I suppose this suits his purpose to back his vocals but for basslines this might get monotonous (maybe rhythmic subtleties could compensate?).

Any thoughts on whether playing walking basslines would be passable if one were to use a circular breathing technique to try to keep the quarter notes going?

[mudbone]

Wow, really gives a different complexion to Rhapsody in Blue! Yes, bass melodica really sounds good there. Of course in a set piece like this the performer can choreograph the breathing ahead of time and anticipate delays to notes sounding to synchronize with other performers. I wonder how a bass melodica performer would hold up in a more improvised and perpetual motion type-setting like a jazz combo where they always need to keep the bassline going. I worry it could get exhausting. Not sure I’m ready to pull the trigger on purchasing just yet since the bass melodicas are somewhat pricey. I’m a little more inclined to get a Suzuki M37C or Yamaha P37D first since I don’t think I’ll be disappointed with either of those.

[mudbone]

Thanks for your reply, Alan. I played for a few hours yesterday and the issue with the note not sounding seemed to become less frequent with use (i.e. it more reliably sounded as I played it), however it is still not totally resolved. In your experience does this issue ever play itself out without needing to open the melodica and manipulate the reeds? Also, do you recommend getting a cheaper melodica (<$40) to first practice manipulating reeds on? If so, any particular models that are decent for learning to work with the reeds of the Suzuki m32c or other more upscale models?

Thanks,

Mudbone

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