Aside from scales and arpeggios, nothing connects you to the chromatic harmonica better than simply playing familiar melodies. I am using Chromatic Harmonica Songbook – Christmas Carols by Thomas Ballinger as a textbook. You will need to purchase your own copy as I will not be presenting any of the pages onscreen. The book presents the songs using standard music notation AND harmonica tablature. I think attempting to go through this kind of songbook on your own without a coach might prove very challenging but I am with you via video demonstrating each of the songs one-by-one and discussing practical aspects of performing the songs on harmonica. You will find some old holiday favorites in this collection of songs as well as some new ones you may not have heard before.
The songs are in a variety of keys and practicing the scales in these keys is encouraged and demonstrated in some of the lessons. The keys of C, G, D, E, F, Bb, D-, E-, and B- are used in the book. All of these keys are nicely in the top half of the circle of 5ths (in other words they are frequently used keys on many instruments).
There is a speed control on the video player (click the gear icon in the lower right of the player) that allows you to slow the video down to 1/2 or 3/4 speed if you need to slow down the playback of any of the demonstrations.
I teach you how to analyze some of these melodies which will help you learn them, memorize them, and even aid in playing them in other keys. Most of the songs stay within the diatonic scale and if you have an understanding of which scale degree the song starts on and what is the first interval you probably can try the song out in another key that you are familiar with. I have happy memories of learning scales in different keys on the instrument and then specifically and strategically using Christmas carols as powerful tools to get more familiar with the harmonica.
Every student is in a different location in their journey so, for many, simply playing these songs as presented in the book will be a large and satisfying accomplishment.