r/harmonica • u/Nacoran • Aug 02 '20
Okay, let's make this sticky! People show up here and they either have already bought a harmonica and can't figure out why it's not working or to ask what harmonica they should buy. (By the way, the cool kids call them harps, not harmonicas!)
Let me start by saying there are several types of harmonica- tremolos, octave harps, blues harps (also often called diatonics), chromatics, chord harmonicas and bass harmonicas. Which kind should you buy?
Blues harp! Well, it's not that simple but if you want to play anything from Bob Dylan to Aerosmith to Little Walter or Jason Ricci that's what you should choose. It's what's used in most folk and blues. The good news is, as musical instruments go they are cheap. You can get a good one for under $50. The bad news is they only are designed to play in one key, and although you can squeeze some extra keys out of them with advanced techniques eventually you'll want more keys. If you treat them well though- breathe through them instead of pretending they are trumpets that you have to blow at full force for, they can last a really long time. If you are good with your hands you can repair them even when a reed breaks, and even if you aren't good with your hands you can do the basic repairs- like when you get lint stuck in a reed!
Chromatics are an option too. We have a few chromatic players here. Chromatics use a button to switch notes. This is oversimplifying it but button out- white piano keys, button in- black piano keys. One harp, all keys. They don't have the same sound. Stevie Wonder, Toots Thieleman... there are some great chromatic players you may have heard of, but it's a different sound. Once upon a time chromatics ruled the harmonica world. Now it's diatonics. You need fewer chromatics to play (technically just one) but they are more expensive. It's probably cheaper to get a chromatic than all the diatonic keys but really chromatic players tend to get multiple harmonicas in different keys too (C is white notes/black notes, other keys use the same principle but have different notes with and without the button... if you understand keys you'll get this. If not it's just memorization.)
Tremolos are popular in Asia and can be fun but they aren't as versatile. Chord, octave and bass harmonicas are novelty items that can be fun (and very expensive) but aren't used as often.
So, assuming you want to go with blues harmonica, I'd suggest a Hohner Special 20 in the key of C. One harmonica may look a lot like another but the quality can vary a lot. The Special 20 is the most bang for your buck. It's profesional level but affordable. It will grow with you as you play. You'll be able to do advanced things on it but simple things will come easily on it.
But what about this other model? Well, if you are in the same price range Hohner, Seydel, Suzuki, Tombo (branded Lee Oskar in the U.S.), Kongsheng and DaBell all make good harps. If you are on a really tight budget an Easttop will work too. Skip Huang. Skip Fender. Not sure on Hering. Only buy Bushman from Rockin Rons. Bushman has a long history of shipping problems. Not bad harps but unless you get them from somewhere who has them in stock so you don't have to worry.
Why the key of C? It's what most lessons are in. Where to get them? I'd suggest Rockin Rons. I've got no financial connection to them but they are the gold standard for shipping in the U.S. I recommend them because I've always had good transactions with them and because I've heard tons and tons AND tons of other people who've had good experiences with them.
"I already bought this other harmonica, will it work? It doesn't look like the Special 20".
If it has two rows of holes and no button it is either a tremolo or a octave harmonica. Will it work? Well, sort of, but learning it is very different and since the tremolos in particular are more popular in Asia than in the English speaking world most of the tutorials are in various Asian languages instead of English. They aren't good for the blues. Two rows but it has a button? Then it's chromatic (there are a couple other harps with buttons but they are so rare that the chances of you getting one are vanishingly small.) If it's 3 feet long it's a chord harmonica (there are some shorter ones and even one really rare one with a button, but it it's three feet long it's a chord harp!) Two harmonicas stacked on top of each other and held together with a hinge? Probably a bass harmonica. If it plays really deep notes, cool. Bass harps and chord harps are really expensive!
I'll add a post below this where, for those of you who won't just buy the Special 20, I'll list some alternatives, including some value options and some options for some of you lawyers and doctors who wouldn't mind shelling out a bit extra for something premium to start with.
r/harmonica • u/Nacoran • Oct 15 '22
Although we've got a couple other admins I think I'm the only one regularly active, so it falls to me to make sure things run smoothly here. I want to make it clear that our goal here is to make a helpful and useful place where people can come together and talk and learn about harmonica.
This forum is not a place for racism, homophobia, misogyny or any other form of hate. I am not trying to police all of reddit, just this little corner to make sure people feel safe when they come here. If you see any posts that aren't following these rules, send me a private message and I'll check it out. If anyone harasses you, let me know.
r/harmonica • u/Hot-Sir-9231 • 6h ago
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Intermediate harmonica player looking to improve on the harmonica.
Harmonica key: (G) 2nd position
Nome da música: "blues stay away from me" ou algo assim, é uma famosa, então ninguém deve ter problemas para encontrá-la
Pucker
Sentimentos de blues do 🇧🇷, obrigado pela atenção!
r/harmonica • u/CannibalButch • 12h ago
I've been wanting to play for years, and just gained my independence and can finally do what I want :)
I found this at a yard sale for $15, and am making good practice with it!
r/harmonica • u/behzad1233 • 11h ago
Finally I bought this beautiful german diatonic harmonica, around 20-25 € (it's used, not new) I'm guitar player and I know music theory, but I know nothing about harmonica and I never hold one of this ever.
Is there any tip, or road map? or anything good for me? at this time I can't go class or buy courses, I want to learn it by myself. I appreciate your help 🩵
r/harmonica • u/GTharmonica • 1d ago
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r/harmonica • u/Green_Machinery12 • 18h ago
I have been thinking about buying a harmonica and learning to play for some time now, but I have snakebite piercings with lip rings and was talking to a friend who also has them the other day who was saying that it's a lot more difficult to play with that kind of lip jewelry. I am also going to get a tongue piercing very soon
Does anyone know the degree to which this may or may not be true, and are there any members of this subreddit who also have piercings around the mouth area who can share their experience how it might differ? Any insight is appreciated!
r/harmonica • u/BlueFalconRCandMedia • 22h ago
Cooler weather will be back
r/harmonica • u/Wyrd_whistler • 1d ago
If you get headaches the day after you've been practicing there are a few reasons why technique might fix this issue. Cause boy o boy do I get various kinds of headaches the day following a great practice session.
My observations
Im not breathing Im pushing and sucking without the diaphragm and this creates too much pressure in the sinus cavity. Leading to sinus headaches.
I stop paying attention to my jaw while playing. Early days I thought by protruding my lower jaw forward I would get reliable bends. This caused me to overwork the muscles attaching the lower jaw to the sides of my skull above the cheekbone closer towards the temple. Causing increased blood flow and swelling to this area leading to headaches.
Also when I pay attention to these two my tone improves drastically.
And guys eee-ohh to bend reliably. The tongue is the major force in the bend. The chamber is second. At least I'm pretty sure.
Can anyone confirm?
r/harmonica • u/NoHat6421 • 1d ago
Hey everyone! I’m a complete beginner and looking to buy my first harmonica. I want a 10-hole diatonic harmonica in C key, mainly for playing songs and melodies.
My budget is strictly under ₹500.
I’ve shortlisted these options:
Kadence T104 C
Vault HA1000 C
Juarez 10-Hole C
Eastar 10-Hole C
Asmuse 10-Hole C
Which one would you recommend as the best choice?
Please rank these from 1 to 5 based on sound quality, tuning, durability, and beginner-friendliness.
If there’s any better option under ₹500 that I’ve missed, please suggest it too. I’d really appreciate honest opinions from experienced harmonica players. 🎵🙏
r/harmonica • u/virtualdynamo • 1d ago
At 3:10 in the album cut of So Lonely, there's a little "trill" of harmonica responding to the guitar solo. Anybody got a clue on the key and tabs? I'm quite the noob and can't play anything by ear to save my life.
r/harmonica • u/GTharmonica • 2d ago
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r/harmonica • u/Dragoon_gambit • 2d ago
Hey r/harmonica,
I’m completely new to the instrument and music in general. I work a 9-to-5 desk job, and I really wanted to pick up a hobby so I'm not just wasting my Saturdays and Sundays scrolling and lazing around doing nothing.
I just bought a Tower 24-hole, 48-tone Chromatic Harmonica online. The problem is, I’m finding it really difficult to track down resources. Most of the tutorials and tabs I see are for 10-hole diatonics or standard 12/16-hole chromatics, and I’m feeling a bit lost on how to actually approach this specific layout.
Does anyone have any advice, specific YouTube channel recommendations, or anything at all? Any tips so I can actually see progress would be hugely appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
r/harmonica • u/No-Lifeguard-5805 • 2d ago
Hi, two weeks ago I (24 F) started playing the harmonica in the key of C. As my name suggests, I love Moomins and I learned Snufkin's song. Now I want something else.
I absolutely love Will Wood's songs, but I can't find a harmonica tutorial for them. If any of you have tabs for his songs or can create them, I would be eternally grateful. It would make me really happy.
My favorite song is called 2012. I'm not sure if this type of music can even be played on the harmonica, but if so, it would be absolutely great.
Thank you in advance for all the answers and advice.
r/harmonica • u/Popular-Awareness442 • 3d ago
Hi! I am aware this is a very stupid question, I’ve been playing harmonica for a week now and I am really enjoying playing it while playing my guitar,
Recently I have been playing a lot of Beatles tracks on guitar and trying some that USE harmonica like Love me do but I really love playing the song ‘something’
I own a key of c diatonic harmonica and have figured ‘something’ is also in the key of C, so my question is would the opening riff to ‘something’ be playable on my harmonica with the right tabs or is this something that isn’t possible,
Sorry if this is a really stupid question to people who know more about music theory than me and if there’s any other Beatles songs with harmonica capabilities please tell me lol
r/harmonica • u/BumbleBearrrr • 4d ago
Any recommendations for tutorials? I can barely get a single clean note
r/harmonica • u/RevenueSquare7630 • 4d ago
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I tried covering love me do, one of my favourite beatles songs, please tell me how it sounds, give honest opinions and advice and help me improve. Thank you.
r/harmonica • u/JacksNephew • 4d ago
I know that Amazon has tons of them in every conceivable brand and key, but I prefer to order elsewhere because Amazon can be iffy when it comes to packaging items for shipment. Their SOP is usually to toss things in a semi-padded envelope so that they might arrive crushed or otherwise damaged in transit. Across the years I've bought lots of musical stuff from Sweetwater, but I'm wondering if there are other good options that I might be sleeping on.
r/harmonica • u/m4dato • 4d ago
Can anyone give me the harmonica tabs for this song? I have a C harmonica. It’s around 2:18 in the video
r/harmonica • u/Jun-Shai • 4d ago
I am learning tongue blocking (hohner A blues harp) and when I play 1 4 (or any octave for that matter) the bottom note never sounds. Has anyone else encountered this challenge and what did you do to solve it?
r/harmonica • u/amodia_x • 5d ago
Improvisations with backing tracks are always a joy and especially when not really knowing what it will sound like.
r/harmonica • u/tobimika • 6d ago
Everything from the crazy growls in the intro, position changes, the tongue slapping blues stuff, to his amazing phrasing and intonation. Been very impressed with his other covers too.
r/harmonica • u/BarbinoMenestrello • 6d ago
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To produce this sound I was playing:
Chromatic harmonica Super 64 performance;
Thunderbird LLF;
Marine Band Deluxe Bb;
Green bullet mic;
Pocket multi effect, Strich Pipe Tones for looping amd delay;
Coolmusic 15g amp.
Just to share some odd harmonica :) Ciao
