7 Types of Harmonica Every Learner Should Know

A harmonica, also known as the French harp or mouth organ, is a hand-held musical instrument. It is one of the few known instruments which is also known as Harp that can be played both by blowing and sucking to produce very different and distinctive sounds. The harmonica is a free reed instrument, played with the mouth. This instrument is loved & preferred by people of all ages in many countries around the world. Many consider Harmonica as best Musical Instrument for Beginners to learn.

Harmonicas are available in a variety of types, the best known are listed in the following steps:

The Chromatic harp is the common type. It has a button on the side, which controls the movement of a sliding bar used to direct air from the mouthpiece to the chosen reed-plate. There are other variations of the chromatic, like the Machino-Tone, which uses a lever-operated flap instead of a button and a hands-free model that enables the player to move the mouthpiece with his lips, without the need for hands to shift tones. This frees up the player’s hands to play another instrument. The basic chromatic harmonica plays only one key but the more advanced models are geared to play any key through a single harmonica. While the chromatic harmonica is used in all styles of music, it is most often associated with jazz and classical music. It has some deficiencies though, when compared with a diatonic harmonica, especially when a bending effect is called for. The deficiency is largely design-related where most notes bend only about half a step so for learners this also means that the complete chromatic scale can be covered, without needing to learn to bend.

The Diatonic Harp is one that offers only the notes in the ordinary diatonic scale. This type has a variation called a Tremolo tuned model, which has two reeds tuned slightly differently from each other. The purpose of differential tuning is to generate a tremolo effect. A further variation is the Octave harmonica. In this version, the two reeds are tuned precisely one octave apart. The end result is that both reeds work together to produce increased volume with an additional timbre. For blues music, a unique type of diatonic is needed which generally has 10 holes, each with its own draw and blow reed. It also has a unique mode of tuning known as Richter tuning. This type of harmonica is also known as a Blues Harp or Richter-tuned 10-hole harmonica. It offers players a wide range of 19 notes in all, two for each hole – one for a draw and another for a blow – with one note repeated. Additionally, these notes are spread over a three octave range. Such Harmonicas, when used with the Blues Harp Microphones prove to be a great combination for small events and concerts. Beginners would surely love this Harmonica to learn on.

The tremolo harmonica, also called the tremolo tuned harmonica, is essentially a diatonic harmonica with two reeds per note. A tremolo harmonica’s distinguishing feature is that it is constructed with double holes (these typically could be of 8, 10, 12 or even more sets of double holes), each of which contains two reeds tuned to the same note, but one tuned marginally higher than the other. As both reeds operate together when either blown or drawn, they sound together when played, but with the slight difference in tuning, which in turn makes the end result to be a vibrating or tremolo effect. The harmonica is designed with one reed slightly sharp and the other slightly flat to produce the desired warbling sound. This warbling or wavering sound is created by two different wave forms interacting with each other to produce a beat. The Asian version of the tremolo harmonica produces 12 semitones and is typically used in east-Asian pop and rock music.

There are two types of orchestral harmonicas – the Melody harmonica and the Chord harmonica. The orchestral melody harmonica comes in eight different types, the most common being the horn harmonica. This is a single large comb with one way – blow-only reed-plates. Each reed is located within a single cell in the comb. One version has a layout much like a piano, where the lower reed-plate produces the natural notes of a C diatonic scale while the upper reed-plate gives the sharps and flats. In another version, one sharp reed sits directly above its lower plate and has the same number of reeds for both the plates. The horn harmonica comes in different pitch ranges, which typically cover two or three octaves. Horn harmonica reeds are generally larger, which with the enclosed horn, provide a different timbre. Another variation known as the polyphonia offers all 12 chromatic notes with two reeds per hole tuned an octave apart. The Chord harmonica offers up to 48 chords laid out in four-note clusters, each of which sounds a different chord when blown or drawn. Each hole has two reeds per note, tuned one octave apart. Less expensive models frequently make do with just one reed per note.

The ChengGong harmonica offers three octaves through an 11-hole front-sliding mouthpiece in its main body. The ChengGong is basically a 24-hole diatonic harmonica, which begins from b2 to d6. The sliding mouthpiece produces multiple chord choices and voicing of 24 chords in all. Additionally, a player can play melodies of a single note with double stops, spanning a wide range of three diatonic octaves. The ChengGong differs from conventional harmonicas because drawing and blowing produces the same notes as its note layout is somewhat similar to the polyphonia or the Asian tremolo harmonica. By selecting just two of the holes of a ChengGong harmonica, you can play a tune harmonized in parallel fourths or thirds. You can even play the tune in octaves, fifths, or sixths by tongue blocking. While playing the melody, you should remember that the upper holes give you slightly different intervals, thus letting you play the extended chords.

Basically, this is a specialty harmonica that’s designed not for playing music. Rather, its intended use is to give singers and other instruments a reference pitch. It’s interesting to note here that the solitary difference between some early harmonicas and pitch-pipes is the instrument’s name, showing the target audience of the creator. Pitch pipes are popularly used in orchestral settings and harmonica ensembles. Hohner brand is a popular variety among such harmonica types.

Geoff Stengel is given the credit for creating the first glass diatonic harmonica in 2009. Made up of borosilicate glass, this diatonic harmonica had reeds, along with brass screws. A variety of oxides and borosilicate glass was hand mixed to impart the instrument its color. A glass diatonic harmonica uses wine glasses with their rims filled with water where each glass is tuned to a different pitch. The player uses his/her chalked or moistened fingers to run around the rim of these glasses to play the melody.

So, take your pick from these harmonica types and getting some beginners knowledge about Harmonica and how to play it, start creating beautiful tunes.

Hope you liked the article and YES! your feedback would be most appreciated.

Thanks!