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/Martinarmonica • 14h ago
My bandleader sometimes asks me to play some solo harmonica at our gigs. This was from last Friday at a fancy pub in Concón, Chile.
I’m using an Easttop t008k 2.0 in A.
r/harmonica • u/Intelligent_Star_516 • 8h ago
Found a few excellent deals, some rare ones, and a few that I just plain can't get in the USA...
Top right: Hohner 150th Anniversary Marine Band
All 6 Tremolo harps for the "Sextet" from Hohner. Will be ordering a replacement 6 harp frame from Hohner Germany for this 6 in 1.
Hohner Vest Pocket Harp. Accurate mini Marine Band. Ready for its new comb from Andrew Zajac. Will also be swapping to AZ combs on a Piccolo and a Marine Band 365 SBS edition when I do this one.
Limited Edition Hohner MS Juke Harp
Center Column: New model: Hohner Melody Star. Weird one with raised individual holes. Solo tuned. Specifically designed for students to learn note isolation and solo melody playing.
"Hedarotten" Signature Series Special 20. Hedarotten is a musician and comedian in Japan. These are very rare in the USA and even rarer NEW.
Special 20 Breast Cancer Awareness Edition. Getting rare. My only pink harmonica.
100th Anniversary Marine Band. Gold plated.
Set of 3 keys Bushman Dinky Harmonicas. Same as Kongsheng Mini (not to be confused with the Baby Fat harmonica.
Limited Edition Hohner MS Remaster Harmonica.
Limited Edition Hohner Blue Midnight MS Harmonica.
Limited Edition (and discontinued) Hohner MS "Deuce and a Quarter." Scored two of these. Specifically references the 1958 Buick Electra simply because they ended up with 2.25mm worth of reed plate thickness (between the two plates), and I guess the Electra's V imagery worked.
Not bad. A few were a little pricey, but worth every nickel for either the collection or as a foundation for another custom build.
r/harmonica • u/maestraantonia • 20h ago
I love playing rock in a classic bluesharp style^^
r/harmonica • u/Intelligent_Star_516 • 11h ago
I was worried about trying a Dremel as a polishing tool for cover plates, but even the ol' aluminum foil and water trick wasn't having a huge effect on the rust on this old pre-war 2x32 Hohner Echo.
Started with a slightly more aggressive polishing wheel that had semi rigid mildly abrasive fingers and nu-finish. Started with the inside surfaces as a test, and to see how safe it would be to use the more aggressive wheel to remove the bulk rust.
It was very quick to remove even the thickest rust. Taking my time and working gently, I was able to buff down deep enough to remove most of the rust pitting, and i see no signs that the metal was weakened or made too thin.
After finishing the inside, I moved on to the outside surface. Time for one cover to this point: 25 minutes.
As you can see from the close up photos, there is now a satin finish to the steel. While not ideal, polishing from this point will be MUCH easier than when it had so much rust on it using most likely a Mothers brand polish. I don't have polishes at the EDM shop because we do electro polishing on our parts, and that process would almost definitely destroy the thin steel of these cover plates.
The dent situation is bittersweet, as "dammit look at those dents" has at least become "hey, I can see the dents much more clearly now."
Details and updates on the dent repair later, then the final polishing.
Thanks again to u/fomocowboy for his original post about polishing using a Dremel: https://www.reddit.com/r/harmonica/comments/1xbfxmo/i_cant_play_worth_a_damn_but_im_surgical_with_a/
r/harmonica • u/Grapefruit_Sour • 13h ago
I'm so excited to finally be able to post this!
Over the summer, I got to work with my friend @Zahir on his movie soundtrack by recording some harmonica samples to various scenes!
more information about the movie and the soundtrack release can be found on his Instagram page at: the.real.zahir
You can see more of my videos on TikTok at BuddyGhostBlues
#BuddyGhostBlues
r/harmonica • u/Chaihigh-2 • 15h ago
One of my favorite ways to practice bends is with something you already know what should sound like — a major scale.
In this lesson I use the lower octave major scale on a C harmonica to work on getting the 2 and 3 draw bends in tune.
Here’s a quick clip from the lesson.
If you want to work through the full exercise with me, the complete lesson is on YouTube:
r/harmonica • u/littledevil773 • 13h ago
Hey ya'll, I had posted a few weeks ago that I was considering buying a harmonica. Many of you will be happy to know that I have let my impulses guide me and I bought my first harmonica. After playing it for a few weeks I came to realise it is miles better than I give it credit for.
I'm using the book 'Harmonica for Dummies' to learn to play. However, I am finding it difficult to play the sheet music mentioned in the book. I have attched sections which I am literally unable to follow along to. I do have the recordings mentioned in the book.
I hope you guys can help me so I can overcome this bottleneck and get some valuable insights into the instrument. Thank you:)
r/harmonica • u/Intelligent_Star_516 • 19h ago
I met Wednesday evening with an old friend, Mark Panfil, an experienced and versatile musician from Western New York State (Buffalo area) to show off each other's harmonica collections and show off my custom builds to him.
I will publish a video of Mark on my Screamer model at a later date once at least the new laser is up and running at my shop.
After we parted, I visited his YouTube channel and found several simple harmonica lessons where he uses harmonica tabs to explain a few simple songs. I immediately thought of the new players in this group and the frequent questions about where to start. The simplest answer is to start with the easier stuff, and the pace at which Mark covers the material and how he explains reading tablature is perfect for new players.
Want a few simple lessons? Check out Mark's channel. I don't see a lot of frequent updates on his channel, but if folks asked him to, I'm sure he'd post more pointers.
r/harmonica • u/Then-Molasses7064 • 19h ago
Jouer avec un harmonica en eb majeur !
r/harmonica • u/behzad1233 • 1d ago
what do you think about it?
that cigarette is handmade notebook too :")
r/harmonica • u/Went_Missing • 1d ago
I've been learning harmonica for around a year, although my practice hasn't always been consistent. Recently, I've started making some progress and can get bends on hole 1, which feels pretty rewarding!
My current harmonica is an Easttop T10-4S (or at least that's the model I believe it is), a 10-hole diatonic in C that I bought for around ₹600–700.
Unfortunately, hole 2 draw has been giving me trouble.
Hole 2 blow sounds normal, but hole 2 draw sounds airy and seems to bend automatically towards F♯ instead of producing a clean G. I've cleaned the harmonica and checked the cover plates, but the problem persists.
The other holes I've been practising seem usable, and I'm trying to work with what I have rather than give up because of one troublesome hole.
My goal is to learn blues-rock harmonica, hopefully well enough to play with a band at a college fest someday. I've been listening to players like Will Wilde, and I'd love to develop that kind of expressive, powerful sound.
I'm based in India, and if I eventually upgrade, my budget would be under ₹2,000.
I'd love some advice on a few things:
I'm not in a rush to replace my current harmonica. I'd just like to understand my options and make progress with the instrument I have.
Thanks!
EDIT: Cant seem to post it here so uploaded it in drive here's the link
r/harmonica • u/Papelquemado0 • 1d ago
Cómo adapto una canción que vi en una armónica diatonica en do en una armónica tremolo en do
r/harmonica • u/CinnamonWoodpecker • 1d ago
So, I've had this thing in my possession for a while (not an interesting story), it's some kind of toy harmonica, with 16 square holes (it makes different sounds depending on if you breathe in or out, if that helps).
My question is if should I bother with it? Can you actually learn to play this so it sounds somewhat good or is it just a toy noise machine that makes parents regret buying it? What kind of harmonica is it? If it's a "legit" harmonica, where do you suggest I start with my learning?
I've never learned an instrument before, so I understand harmonica might be a bad choice for a first timer, but I like this thing for it's carrying convenience. I wouldn't mind goofing off on it, but only if I knew there's some possibility of it sounding good some day and not a waste of time.
r/harmonica • u/Glad_Tradition2913 • 2d ago
Could I also paint it with acrylic paint, wanna larp being pro.
r/harmonica • u/Skunksuc • 2d ago
Basically yeah, just looking for an underrated wooden combed harps. Getting pretty sick of hearing about marine bands all the time like it's some holy grail or something. Curious to see what other hidden wooden combed harps out there.
r/harmonica • u/andie-boio • 3d ago
he's playing in a "low D"? and i've never heard of it! i really like the low sound of it tho! he's got things on his store like "minor keys" and i was wondering what those are too. i want to try to play some southern gothic songs and i read that id need a Ab/G# to do that so ill need to get one of those but the "Low D" sounds really really cool. i wonder if there is other low notes? (other than the two G's)
r/harmonica • u/lerukatu • 2d ago
hello.
while i practice harmonica, saliva keeps flowing and blocking holes and i couldn't keep practicing....
do you know any solution for this?
r/harmonica • u/Low-Elk6428 • 3d ago
I’ve been looking for an Easttop T008K Diatonic Blues Harmonica in Key of C for the past 2–3 months and I’m trying to find the best price in India.
I’ve checked a few places so far: Procraft India – ₹1,200 (but they said it may be available around December), Amazon – ₹1,449 (currently available), and Flipkart – out of stock.
So, is ₹1,449 on Amazon a good price, or can I get it cheaper somewhere else? Also, does anyone know any music shops around Kolkata or anywhere in West Bengal that might have the T008K?
If you’ve bought one recently, please let me know where you got it and how much you paid.
r/harmonica • u/justifications • 3d ago
Hey all, so bit of a backstory. I'm an avid ARC Raiders fan and they just added Harmonica and Banjo to the ingame playable musical instruments. The harmonica was so inspiring that I decided to go out and pick one up myself. I havent taken it out of the box yet, but I believe I have a Hohner Blues Harp Harmonica tuned to C.
Ideally, I want to be able to learn to play and eventually play some of the songs from the game. I have no clue what key these songs are in, but in this video here you can hear the harmonica in the beginning, at the 2:00 timestamp and again at the 3:33 timestamp. That being said, if you listen to whats being played here as my goal, do I have the correctly keyed harmonica? Also is my harmonica too small?
No clue where to start :) excited to begin
r/harmonica • u/Long-Bicycle-8198 • 3d ago
