Bushman Game Changer. 10 Hole Diatonic Harmonica with Slide. Includes Free USA Shipping

Bushman

  • $86.50
    Unit price per 


The Richter Blues Game Changer – Richter tuning, also known as Blues tuning, is laid out exactly like a regular, 10-hole diatonic harmonica. It has a slide that raises the note a semitone.  The age old challenge for diatonic players has been that if they want to get the sharps and flats (the black keys on a piano) they would have to learn to bend the notes.  Well that works great for the blues, or any music where coming in flat or sharp and quickly adjusting to the right pitch actually sounds cool, but if you try that on a song like “Beautiful Dreamer”, for example, not hitting that flat note precisely will sound like a fart in church!  And don’t be fooled, even Joe Filisko and Howard Levy need a moment to hear where they’re at on the bend before they’re perfect.  The button on the Game Changer eliminates all of that – it allows the player to precisely hit the accidentals.  With the Richter Game Changer, an average diatonic player can hit sharps and flats more cleanly and precisely than the best bending harmonica players in the world! 

Here is a diagram showing normal Richter tuning:

Before the Game Changer, if you wanted to play chromatically (as in, if you wanted to be able to get all the sharps/flats) you needed to get a chromatic harmonica.  The problem for diatonic players is that a chromatic is Solo tuned, meaning the notes are laid out totally differently than a Richter tuned diatonic; so for a diatonic player, learning to play a chromatic is like learning a second language.  Furthermore, chromatics take more air than diatonics, AND they’re clumsy and awkward to bend.  Chromatic manufacturers try to solve that by adding irritating, plastic wind savers to make the harmonica more air-efficient, but then you can hear the wind savers flapping.  Most diatonic players think chromatic harmonicas are real pigs – they take too much air, they fight you on the bends, they’re not as bluesy sounding, and they make flapping noises.  The Richter Game Changer solves all of that!

The Game Changer has no wind savers flapping in the wind, it’s the most efficient, easy-responding, easy-bending harmonica I’ve ever played.  It’s a diatonic with a button that can get the sharps and flats!  It’s a little bigger than a 10 hole diatonic, but it’s much smaller than a chromatic…and it’s easier to play.  The Richter Game Changer has a light blue comb.

The Solo Tuned (aka Chromatic) Game Changer – Solo tuning, sometimes called Chromatic tuning, features a note layout that is exactly like any standard chromatic harmonica.  The advantages that the Solo Game Changer brings to the market are:  Compact, 10 hole size – does any other company even make a 10 hole chromatic anymore?  If they do, I bet it’s still not as small as a Game Changer.  The small size makes the instrument extra easy to play since it has small, super responsive reeds that don’t require plastic wind savers.  It can play as fast as you can!  The little Game Changer still offers a two-and-a-half octave range, from C4 to F#6.  Lots of chromatics are only available in C or C, A, and maybe G.  The Solo Game Changer comes in 6 keys!  Chromatics are usually expensive, with the most popular models being over $200; the Solo Game Changer is only $87.50 which is less than the cost of many 10 hole diatonics.  If you’re a diatonic player looking to try your hand at a chromatic, I recommend getting the Richter tuning, but if you’re a chromatic player who wants an excellent, fast responding, very affordable, 10 hole chromatic, that is available 6 keys including the rich sounding Low F, I recommend the Solo Game Changer.  It has a yellow comb. 

Tuning Chart for Solo(Chromatic) Tuning

Tuning Chart for C6 Tuning (Only Comes In Key of C)

The Pop Tuned (aka Paddy) Game Changer  – First, let me refer back to the Richter Game Changer’s tuning ‘s which is the standard tuning for most diatonic harmonicas.  Richter tuning works great for simple songs and blues. It’s originally designed for playing chords, as opposed to single note melodies. 


The blow notes are on the top, the draw notes on the bottom.  Richter is popular and versatile, but it’s missing some notes it needs in order to be perfectly suited to play lots of melodies.  Notice that the bottom register is missing the F and A of the C scale. This can be a problem for playing melodies that call for one of those notes, especially if you’re playing quickly. It’s possible to bend the existing notes to get the missing ones, but like I said above, bending while trying to play precise melodies is just not ideal – having a button that enables you get some more of the notes you need, when you need them, is better, but what if you could include the missing notes?  It’s also called Pop tuning because it’s great for playing lots of pop songs.  On a POP tuned C harp, the G becomes an A.
Here’s the Pop Richter tuning chart in the key of C:

If you look at the first chart displayed that shows the standard Richter layout, you’ll notice that the 2 draw and the 3 blow are the same note (on a C harp, they’re both G), but on the Paddy layout above, that is corrected.  The standard Richter tuning works great for playing chords like Bob Dylan does, but it’s not well suited for single note melodies.  The Paddy Game Changer has a red comb.
All info from John Hall and JDR
 Warranty - Call John Hall Bushman 269 858 8773
Please note: The Game Changer is the same as  the JDR Trochilus. Buying from us supports two USA dealers. 

Weight 9 oz
Dimensions 6.5 × 2.375 × 1.25 in
Tuning

Standard Richter , Solo, Paddy

Key

A, Bb, C, D, G, LF



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Customer Reviews

Based on 13 reviews
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Robby Goetschalckx
Perfect diatonic / chromatic hybrid

I've got 2 of the "pop tuning" (Paddy Richter tuning) ones, and they are just great. The note layout at the bottom end is a bit wonky, but I understand the decisions they made -- and this way, it is fully chromatic even in the bottom octave.
All bends work and sound just like on a regular diatonic.
I'd recommend it to anyone who is curious about switching from diatonic to chromatic.

B
Brian Bauman
Brian

Nice easy playing chromatic harp w/o windsavers! Nice price.

J
Jay Thompson
The jury is still out

Don’t know if these will become my harp of choice but they are a great new development for the harp community. They play consistently well…all keys.

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solomon schepps

It actually works. Bending is easy to do precisely, it's surprisingly air-tight. I've been playing a loy of music that requires 4, 5 & 6 overblows which I don't always get cleanly, especially 4 overblow on a G harp. This may be my answer.

J
Jan Peters
very cool playability and sound

While I'm not a chromatic player yet I'm finding this instrument to be wonderful for some third position blues / jazz-blues and most interestingly for some of the traditional Irish music I perform. It's very responsive, light, and quick, with a satisfying sound.

Now I have to try their Paddy Richter!

- Jan Peters
jansongs.com