Asian tuned tremolos

Yes, you can accompany the melody with an Asian tremolo. It helps if you understand it a bit because there are some note combinations that don't sound nice. I use both Asian and Richter tremolo harps on my Youtube channel. People asked questions about the difference so much that I made some videos.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_O37EI5b7E
Here is a video about a few chords on the Asian:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1WkYdMEI58
Here is another video about chords on the Asian. This gets a little deeper. There is also a diagram.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAVtbFYaBUk
Besides the different note arrangement between Richter and Asian there is often also a difference in tuning. Quite often Richter harps have the thirds of the chords flatted a little so the chords sound smoother. This is called Just Intonation. Asian harps are usually tuned to Equal Temperament. You can Google those terms and read much more than anyone needs to know about them. Also Richter harps usually have a faster tremolo speed (wet) and Asian harps a slower tremolo speed (dry).
If you have any more questions please ask. We can dig deeper into this topic.

Sebastian, I find I really do need more keys than C and G. I like to perform with other musicians so I need to have the keys they are playing in. Many folk tunes have standard keys. D and A are quite popular with fiddle players. Also I do solo shows (at least I did before Covid) and I have found that it helps to mix up the keys. It is easier on their ears. Also I try to mix up fast and slow songs and tremolo harps with wet and dry tremolo. Also throw in some single reed harps with some bending. Too much of the same thing will loose your listeners. I use Low D, G, A, Bb, C and D. Both Richter and Asian. 11 tremolo harps in all. I want to get an F someday. With the F I would then have all the keys found on the "paddle wheel" harps.

Most other musicians can play in different keys. The keys of C and G shouldn’t be that much of a problem for fiddle, hurdy gurdy, guitar and what not. Nevertheless, I am not sure Angie performs with other musicians. So that may not be the reason for her question.

So one says. I remain of the conviction that this is negligible. In our time all keys are the same.

Yes. Because they’re lazy. D and A are easiest to play in. But that doesn’t mean they can’t play in other keys.

Almost all squeeze-box players in Scandinavia and France use G/C-tuning. Their audience doesn’t seem to suffer to much from that meagreness of keys.

I am not against the use of harmonicas in different keys, I myself have some different keys. But I am convinced that they are not necessary. If you have the money to buy many harmonicas in different keys, than go buy them, but if you think that they may be a bit expensive, than you should be aware that there is – musically – no need to have them. With the combination of C/G one can play 95 % of everyday music.

As long as you play for yourself there should be no immediate need for other keys.

Die Notenschleuder is a good example to show why you don’t need other keys than C/G. Under every score you will find a row of buttons to automatically transpose the score into whatever key you need. The Burlesque you linked to is notated in the key of F (one flat). If you want to transpose it to the key of C, just press the button with no sharps and flats, and the melody will be transposed to C.

That is a very useful site. It is nice to have another source for sheet music for folk songs, even though I play mostly by ear.

Angie, Sebastian has made some good points. G and C will play the vast majority of simple folk music just fine. Allow me to add this one extra thought. It is better to spend $100 on one good tremolo harp than to spend $100 on 5 $20 harps in different keys. You will regret having poorly performing instruments.

When learning or playing for your own enjoyment or to entertain family or friends it certainly does not matter what key you use. Sometimes I am at home playing and use a Bb for everything. But the jams and festivals I have been to simply will not conform to a lone harmonica player with limited keys. St. Anne's Reel is a popular French Canadian tune that is often played at old time jams. It is always done in D. Redwing is always played in G. This allows people who have not practiced together to still make music together.

I do not have unlimited funds. My 11 tremolo harps were purchased over a 15 year period. One was a gift and one was purchased used for $13. For a long time I had only 3 tremolo harps and enjoyed them a lot. You do not need to buy many harps to have fun with music.

Anything that can be played on a Richter can be played on an Asian tremolo. The chords may need to be truncated or played as mere short "blips" or left out. Some songs that can be played on the Asian will not work on the Richter. The notes are missing. Sometimes the tune can be moved up an octave on the Richter. If I could have only one it would be an Asian system. If a song will play on a Richter then I almost always use the Richter.