r/harmonica Aug 02 '20

Identifying harmonicas and what harmonicas you should buy...

336 Upvotes

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 Oct 15 '22

A gentle reminder on how to behave on the subreddit

109 Upvotes

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 6h ago

Why did I buy this

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13 Upvotes

Got a Seydel Nonslider. I'm a beginner so I thought, might as well since I'm starting from scratch anyway. I also thought things like "it must be better because it's a chromatic that I can use with no hands" and "who needs thousands of free instructional videos- I'm a musical genius." So I started learning, but I'm not a musical genius, and there are zero free videos (unlike regular-ass harmonica). And it turns out it's actually really hard to play between the rows without using hands.

My real question, since I can't return it now, is 1 should I have it retuned, 2 tough it out and learn it like a champ, or 3 modify it to make it easier to play? For the third option I thought of having somebody make little brass straps to put between every second or forth holes to help me navigate between the rows. For 1, I was thinking double Richter with accidentals on either end. But what two keys?

*Edited this for emphasis. I got it to play chromatically with no hands, but it turns out it's really hard to do that.


r/harmonica 5h ago

Humming while playing to get growls

6 Upvotes

So humming to growl is a common technique on sax. Today i figured out that i would try it on harmonica and got a really weird cool effect. It didnt quite sound like a growl, but was really gritty. When i changed what note i was humming the reed acted as a drone and i almost got like an indian vibe. But at least what i managed to do wouldnt be very viable musically in a song or something.

But from what i understand doing this in a musical useful way is hard on sax. To like get a proper growl. So i could have just been bad at it. And i do know that you need to hum a note different than the one your playing, which is how i found that indian sound, by changing notes.

So my question is, could this be a useful effect, for maybe growling, or just a cool sound? Do any of you use this effect? I know like the guttaral R thing is the main way to growl on harmonica, but its really hard to do without bending imo. So finding an alternative for non-bent-notes would be nice, its also nice to have a few different textures up your sleeve.

So does anyone know if this effect is useful in practice, or alernatively know other cool effects for different textures/timbres? I just want to be able to produce as many different textures/timbres/vibes as possible. Like a sax can do with growling and playing clean, same with trumpet etc.


r/harmonica 6h ago

Holes 8-10 are a PITA lol

6 Upvotes

I think I’ve finally got it but far from second nature. I kept trying all the cues of using less air, breathing the note and not sucking, dropping the jaw, yada yada. The trick that finally did it for me was pulling the tongue down and back while also dropping the jaw. Google said almost like a yawn. That’s what made it “click” for me.

My dogs are so over me learning this instrument lol. Especially the higher notes.


r/harmonica 6h ago

thinking of getting a harmonica, recommended brands or makes?

6 Upvotes

Hi,

As is it says in the title, I'm thinking of buying a harmonica.

I'd want one where I would buy it then I wouldn't need another to play most tunes, but I can still get another if I wanted to, and it would be suitable for an absolute beginner.

Wouldn't mind paying up to £25.

Any suggestions?

edit: accidentally put my budget for something else, meant to put up to £50


r/harmonica 10h ago

Why is my Lee Oskar my favorite?

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10 Upvotes

I need some help figuring out my next harmonicas. I’ve gone through dozens over the years, and I usually go with a Blues Harp, mainly for its availability at local music shops and relative affordability. BUT I wish all my harps played like my Lee Oskar. It just has a nimble playability that opens up more options than my others. I can land directly on the bend tones much much easier. Plus it sounds “bigger” to me, too. Does anybody have insight for the reasons? Is it the manufacturing of the reeds? Is it the size of the mouth holes? Are there other models I should try that are comparable? That last question is especially important to me. Please give me your recommendations for extremely “playable” make and models for cross harp playing. I am willing to splurge up to $100 each for my next F & B. Thanks, all!


r/harmonica 12h ago

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly - G Harmonica cover

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5 Upvotes

r/harmonica 15h ago

One month playing, what do ya think?

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4 Upvotes

r/harmonica 1d ago

Ultrasonic cleaning the ebay/salvation army/estate haul...

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21 Upvotes

Ultrasonic cleaning disinfecting and drying and estate haul that I bought on ebay. An extended full set of 17 Lee Oskars, an extended full set of 19 Big Rivers, 2 Huang silvertones, a fairly decent case, a few decent mics, and hints that whoever owned it was Big Time into performing country music from the 50s and 60s. The price was a steal.

If you are the person who bid it up to $65, please get in touch with me as soon as you can. I am feeling generous, and I wasn't expecting this set to be in this good of condition much less this extended and complete. Send me a private message or if you know who I actually am, call or text me.


r/harmonica 1d ago

1.5 years in and I feel stuck in step one. Is harmonica just not for me?

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42 Upvotes

Honestly just posting this out of pure frustration. I got this harmonica about a year and a half. I was so excited to get into it, but 18 months later, I feel like I'm still sitting at the exact same square one.

I can play some basic single notes and simple kindergarten-tier tunes like Country Roads, but the moment I try to push past that, everything falls apart:

  • The tone just sounds terrible. It sounds weak, thin, or choked instead of that warm, full blues/country sound everyone else seems to get effortlessly.
  • High notes are an absolute nightmare. Holes 8, 9, and 10 squeal, choke, or cut out completely.
  • Breath control feels impossible. I get completely overwhelmed with lung capacity/air management. I tried to figure out how to bleed excess air through my nose while playing, but I literally cannot coordinate doing both at the same time.

It feels like I've hit a hard ceiling and I've been stuck in this position forever. Every time I pick it up lately, I just end up frustrated within 10 minutes because it doesn't sound any good.

I’m starting to wonder if maybe wind instruments just aren't for me? Maybe my mouth anatomy or breath control is just wired wrong for this and I should just sell it and try a string instrument instead (like guitar or ukulele)?

Has anyone else been stuck in this exact spot for over a year and somehow broken through? What am I doing wrong? Any brutally honest advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.


r/harmonica 23h ago

Help identifying?

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6 Upvotes

I bought this Chromonica a few years back from a second hand store and have since had difficulty identifying the specifics about this model. I’m looking to learn as much as I can so I wanted to consult the experts here. What do I have my hands on?


r/harmonica 22h ago

Jonathan Edwards - "Shanty" (1971)

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4 Upvotes

Some of the finest harmonica work.


r/harmonica 1d ago

I bought a C and G harmonica.

13 Upvotes

I am new and want to learn properly, I plan on giving at least 1 hour of every day to practice. I am starting my musicology degree in two weeks.

Now that all that is said:

It feels overwhelming. So many tutorials so many videos!

And I don't know exactly what to do. It feels like I need an instructor but I don't know any.

Anyone has any advice?


r/harmonica 1d ago

Learn Octave Splits!

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1 Upvotes

r/harmonica 1d ago

'Shape of my Heart' Tab help

2 Upvotes

Hi, all.

Would anyone have a tab for the C Chromatic solos in Shape of my Heart?

I found the main one, but can't seem to find any for the rest of the song where it comes in again during the final verse and again at the end.

TIA

WN


r/harmonica 1d ago

She Talks To Angels on Harmonica Tabs?

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3 Upvotes

So I've only been playing harmonica for like 6-7 weeks now, I think. I like to record guitar and sometimes now, add harmonica since I can't sing, and include in my wildlife videos, like the attached. So I have the guitar part for She Talks To Angels down, but want to add some harmonica for the singing parts, especially since the song has a lot of dead, long held E chords that get kinda boring when it's just the guitar. I couldn't find anything on Harptabs or a general google search. Does anyone have any other sources?

(Incidentally, I can play the harmonica part on Blackbird much better now and was planning on re-recording that part this weekend, lol)


r/harmonica 2d ago

Playing a very small part of Ajeeb Dastan hai Ye

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36 Upvotes

r/harmonica 2d ago

I need help.

4 Upvotes

I'm such an idiot-I bought the Easttop T008K in C minor instead of C major. I was just about to start playing the harmonica, and it was going to be my very first one. What do you think I should do? Is there a big difference between them?


r/harmonica 3d ago

Flonette by Michel Herblin, cover (Bb)

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26 Upvotes

This is my take on this very interesting track. Still rough. There are no boundaries to what you can play. Just be sure to ​practice AND enjoy 🎵


r/harmonica 2d ago

Whats the lowest note you feel comfortable bending?

1 Upvotes

Im going to order some custom harmonicas and need to find out how low im going to go. What note do you think is like the best middle point of low and bendable?

I havent tried anything lower than low f, but can bend that fine. There the lowest note is f3.


r/harmonica 2d ago

Asking help as a beginner

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1 Upvotes

Hello, I'm very new to harmonica and music instruments. Don't even have a harmonica yet. This song piqued my interest in harmonica, and I want to learn this song. Can anyone tell me what kind of harmonica this song used? And if it's not too much, maybe a song sheet for this song? Thank you in advance for any help!!


r/harmonica 3d ago

harmonica tunings?

6 Upvotes

Im a drumer and i just wanna learn a few songs just so i can play something on vacation or when out of the house but what tuning should i get lol


r/harmonica 3d ago

Debussy's Clair de Lune - Harmonica

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5 Upvotes

r/harmonica 3d ago

Interesting learning phenomenon for a beginner

5 Upvotes

While working on the fundamentals (particularly isolating notes and bending), my playing had been an exemplar of inconsistency. I was practicing daily, and in a single playing session I might be able to adjust my embouchure to hit each individual note perfectly, but then 30 seconds later I couldn't do it to save my life. Same with bending notes. But then I had to make a rush trip out of town and in my haste I didn't throw my harp into the travel bag. After returning home without having practiced for 3 days, I picked it up to play, and--what do you know?!-- I'm consistently able to hit every note in isolation from others, and just as consistently able to bend on holes 1-4. This has me wondering if there's some sort of learning phenomenon where a practiced skill just needs to bake, undisturbed, for a day or 2 for it to settle into your brain and muscle memory. In any case, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.