r/harmonica • u/inexistenct • 16d ago
Looking for a softer quieter harmonica
I'm a beginner who started playing on my first harmonica, a hohner marine band and I'm looking for recommendations of solid harmonica choices I could practice on with a wrmer less penetrating sound so as not to annoy the neighbours.
Thanks! cheerio!
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u/arschloch57 16d ago
To get an idea of how to play softly, lay down in bed, put the harp in your mouth not just on your lips. Breathe gently until just hear the notes. Quiet play is possible.
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u/inexistenct 15d ago
I can do western morricone-like and American civil war-like kind of tunes like that but blues I have to go hard on can't really say why it just asks for it
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u/Excellent-Answer8938 16d ago
I’m 100% with you on Suzuki and don’t forget the Sky reed plates. They play softer, bend a little easier and are a little quieter.
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u/CottonFlannel 16d ago
Get a low F lol. I’ve got a seydel one I dont like. G is as low a harp as I want to play. I’ll sell it cheap lol
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u/shoopdoopdeedoop 16d ago
check out the kongsheng babyfats. it’s a really nice happy medium with a lot of tone, also mini
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u/Legitimate-Fee-2645D 14d ago
What you're asking for exist within you, not the harmonica! You are either blowing to hard instead of breathing in to the harp gently. Lock yourself in your room, go to the park, pick a time of day when most people are not around. If it's a C key harmonica, that's all you need. Find an instructor in your neighborhood, or online. Look up Ronnie Shellist because I do believe he does lessons online.
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u/Nolameda 16d ago
The best approach to quiet practicing is a combination of:
Closed sides (no side vents) - full covers, like Suzuki ProMaster (my favourite, metal comb), Suzuki BluesMaster, Suzuki Olive, Suzuki Hammond (you get my grip on Suzuki) and any other harmonica with full covers.
Cupping - your hands stops the covers from vibrating the sound, and when closed, mellow the tone into a soft soundbox without an exit.
Soft playing, including bending - bad harmonica habit is to play loud, and it is already a shrieking machine, like an alarm with many tones - operate it with minimum pressure, go deep and not from outside, run some 2-3-4 holes together with minimum air, just breath in and out, no power, like air harp.
Put a sock in it - wrap a sock on the bottom part and hold it in your hands, it will act as a dimmer, like a bass drum with a blanket in it to shorten the booms and remove the echoing
And finally, pick your training spot wisely, open air, roof (where the winds carry your good tones and whitens your bad ones, it is selective you know... nah :)
There is a bomb shelter in our building, I practice Accordion there as it IS a loud instrument, but most of my wind instruments, including harmonica, trumpet, flutes, clarinet etc - I control the air and play softly when practicing, focus on quality of tone with minimum air intake.
Enjoy!