Contents
Harmonica Basics
The Parts of a Harmonica
How to Hold a Harmonica
How to Breathe Properly When Playing a Harmonica
The Notes of the C Harmonica
How to Play Single Notes on the Harmonica
How to Do Single-Note, Tongue-Block, and U-Block Embouchures
How to Play Chords on the Harmonica
How to Play Bends on the Harmonica
How to Read and Play from Harmonica Tablature
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- Hold a harmonica and use it to play single notes, chords, and bends
- Perform breathing exercises to develop more endurance and better sound
- Read and play songs written in harmonica tablature
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Harmonica Basics
A harmonica, also known as a harp or blues harp, is technically classified as a “free reed wind instrument.” Unlike other free reed instruments that are keyboard-based (the accordion and the harmonium are two examples), the harmonica consists of a series of holes through which you blow out or suck in air to sound notes. The harmonica is one of the most popular instruments on earth: Hohner, the leading harmonica manufacturer, has produced more than a billion harmonicas.
Why Play the Harmonica?
Some of the most compelling reasons to learn to play the harmonica include:
- Sound: A harmonica adds color to songs.
- Simplicity: Anyone can learn to play basic harmonica in just a few hours. You don’t even need to know how to read music.
- Portability: Harmonicas are wonderfully compact—you can slip one in your pocket and take it anywhere.
- Flexibility: You can play the harmonica either unaccompanied or with the accompaniment of other instruments, such as the guitar.
- Universality: The harmonica is used in nearly every type of music, including blues, folk, jazz, country, rock, and pop. The chromatic harmonica (explained below) is even used to perform classical music.
- Price: Harmonicas are inexpensive musical instruments. Entry-level diatonic models (explained below) cost $15–20, and top-quality models cost about $50.
- Health: Since playing harmonica requires proper breathing techniques and plenty of deep breaths, it can actually strengthen your lungs and give your respiratory system an overall boost.
The Most Popular Types of Harmonicas
Harmonicas are either diatonic or chromatic.
Diatonic Harmonicas
In music, a diatonic scale is a series of seven notes that begins on a particular note. Each of the 12 diatonic scales is named for the note on which it starts. Diatonic harmonicas contain only the seven notes of a particular diatonic scale. For instance, the C diatonic harmonica (called the C harmonica for short) contains the notes of the diatonic scale starting on the note C. The E harmonica contains the notes of the diatonic scale starting on E, and so on. The diatonic harmonica is also known as a 10-hole harmonica, or a 10-hole for short, since it contains 10 holes into which you inhale and exhale air.
Why Do All the Notes Repeat?
You’ll notice that all of the notes you can play on the C harmonica occur more than once on the instrument: you can play a C at holes 1, 4, 7, and 10. Though these are all the same note (C), they differ in pitch, or relative highness or lowness. The C at hole 1 sounds lower than the C at hole 4. The C at hole 4 in turn sounds lower than the C at hole 7, and hole 10 produces the highest-sounding C on the harmonica. The span of eight notes between (and including) each of these Cs is called an octave. A diatonic harmonica lets you play seven different notes and 19 different pitches.
Why Use an E Harmonica and Not a C Harmonica?
Harmonica players who play in what’s known as first position or straight harp choose their diatonic harmonica according to the key of the piece they’re playing or accompanying. Just about all Western music is written in a particular key, so named for the specific note that’s emphasized most in the piece. For instance, music in the key of C will likely begin and end on C and contain many C notes and chords throughout. Harmonica players would use a C harmonica when playing music written in that key or accompanying other musicians playing music in the key of C. Harmonica players often carry several diatonic harmonicas—one for each key in which they expect to play.
Chromatic Harmonicas
The chromatic scale contains all seven notes of the C major scale, plus five additional notes that lie between some of those seven notes. Chromatic harmonicas include a feature called a slide, which enables you to sound all 12 notes of the chromatic scale. Being able to play every note of the chromatic scale enables you to play in any key, but developing the skills to do so takes lots of time and practice.
Which Type of Harmonica Should You Buy?
The chromatic harmonica is harder to play than the diatonic harmonica, so most beginners start with a diatonic model. Nearly all beginners learn on a C harmonica, and that’s the first type of harmonica you should probably buy—it’s also the type that this guide assumes you’ll be using. You can buy a C harmonica at any music shop or online at Musician’s Friend (www.musiciansfriend.com). Look for a model made by Hohner or Lee Oskar, and expect to spend $20–30. Though many cheaper models exist, they often have poor sound quality and contain plastic parts that make it difficult to play some notes.
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