Beginner’s Guide to Harmonicas
Harmonica Lowdown
Harmonicas are an integral part of America’s musical history, bringing to mind common stereotypes of hobos, bluesmen and folk singers. The harmonica is also used in classical, pop, country and rock and roll. Lately, they’ve been sneaking into electronic music though through effects. Overall, the harmonica can be the perfect accompaniment for the singer/songwriter. Just think of Bob Dylan!
Blowing the Basics
A harmonica is a free reed instrument, simple yet affective. What free reed basically means is a reed gets in the way of an air stream that is blown in one side of the instrument. The harmonica is unique among free reed instruments because it does not have a keyboard like a melodica or accordion. Each hole of the harmonica affects different reeds, creating different sounds and tones.
The musician has choices for many different types of harmonicas exist. The simplest are in one key while others will give you the option to switch keys!
The harmonica’s comb is the body that contains the air chambers. Once made of wood, this harmonica part is manufactured now from plastic and metal.
A reed plate is a grouping of several reeds in a single housing. These are usually made from brass though steel and other metals are occasionally utilized.
Harmonica Cover Plates: Two Different Worlds
Cover plates like the name suggests cover the harmonica’s reed plates for protection. Be aware two cover plates exist and diverge with function. Traditional open designs made of stamped metal and plastic exist just to cover. On the other hand, enclosed designs affect sound by creating a louder tone quality tone!
Diatonic Harmonicas
Diatonic simply means that a harmonica has been designed to play solely in one key only. Depending on the world’s region these are sometimes referred to as blues harps (of course for the blues!) and tremolo harmonicas. The advantage of these harmonicas is their extreme affordability
Chromatic Harmonicas
Chromatic harmonicas have a sliding bar button activated which redirects the air to certain different reed plates.
A chromatic harmonica will last longer and will give the player more options.
The Richter scale chromatic only has 10 holes and can only be played in one key. However, the most common chromatic harmonicas are 12, 14 and 16 holes which allow the player the utmost versatility, changing from any key desirable. There is also a hands free model that allows the player to change the tone with moving the lips up and down the side by side holes.
Tremolo Harmonicas
Tremolo harmonicas are distinguished by a design that gives two reeds per note. One reed is sharp while the other is slightly sharp. Uniquely, this creates a warbly, wavering sound.
Less Know Harmonicas
The bass harmonica is a combination of two separate combs, creating deeper sounds. These are all tuned octave, which means hole has two holes for one single note. One comb plays the higher notes while the other plays the deeper note.
Purchasing Harmonica Time
Cheap harmonicas done by the likes of companies like Hot Metal are well made though not necessarily powerful. For beginners, one should cheaply invest into a couple of different diatonic harmonicas in different keys. After mastering these, one will be ready for the choices a chromatic harmonica can offer.
The orchestra harmonica, laid out in four note clusters, can make an astounding 48 chords! For the amount of versatility, these are often the most expensive of harmonicas the common player will definitely not need one such as this. Soon, by this simple instrument, you’ll be invoking the whole of America’s vast music tradition!
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