The harmonica’s history starts in ancient China with the reed instrument called “sheng.” Introduced to America by the Hohner Company in the 19th century, it became integral to blues, jazz, folk, and country music.
Harmonicas come in various types, like diatonic and chromatic, with options such as tremolo and octave harmonicas. Specialized orchestral harmonicas include horn, bass, and chord styles.
The diatonic harmonica’s distinctive sound is famous in blues, rock, and country music, while the chromatic harmonica reigns supreme in jazz and classical music. If you want to start playing the iconic ‘mouth harp,’ here’s a breakdown of the types you might choose.
Diatonic Harmonicas
Diatonic harmonicas have a unique sound often linked to blues, country, and folk music. Known as the “blues harp” due to their use in Blues scales, they usually have ten holes, each set to a specific key, and are available in all 12 musical keys.
The diatonic harmonica produces sound through air vibration on reeds. Longer reeds create lower sounds and shorter reeds produce higher notes. By blowing or drawing air, musicians can play all 19 notes on their diatonic harmonica.
Each diatonic harmonica lets you play a complete seven-note scale in the chosen key. But there’s more. By using “bending” and “overblowing,” you can adjust the notes for a full scale. Bending lowers the note by inhaling, while overblowing raises it by blowing out.
Diatonic harmonicas come in two main sizes:
- The 10 holes or 20 reed variety with a 3-octave range
- The 14 holes or 28 reed variety offers a 4-octave range.
Additionally, the diatonic comes in various scales, including:
- Richter scale (which is the regular major scale.)
- Natural Minor scale, which is the one used typically in western music
- The Harmonic Minor is found in east European music as well as Arab and Gypsy music.
Chromatic Harmonicas
The chromatic harmonica has a sliding bar that directs air from the mouthpiece to the selected reed plate. Its design includes a “Machino Tone,” which controls airflow through a lever-operated flap at the rear.
Musicians can either play the standard major scale in the chromatic key or use the button to access various half-step notes within the scale.
In other words, pressing the button lets the player access the “black keys” on the piano, while not pressing it allows playing all the white keys, offering a full range of notes.
Although the chromatic harmonica dominates jazz, it’s popular in other genres too. Stevie Wonder introduced it to mainstream music with his unique flair. Most chromatic harmonicas use “solo” tuning with a 4-hole pattern, featuring blow notes ‘CEGC’ and draw notes ‘DFAB.’
The key difference between an achromatic and a diatonic harmonica lies in their design. The chromatic harmonica, featuring wind saver valves, doesn’t support bending like the diatonic harmonica.
However, the button lets players reach tones usually bent in diatonic playing. The chromatic offers a bending effect ranging from a quarter to a half step.
Chromatic harmonicas come in various sizes, typically:
- The 10 hole chromatic offers 40 notes and a 21/2 octave range. This harmonica is highly portable and compact. However, it has an incomplete range at the top end, making it more limited in scope.
- The 12 hole variety offers 3-octave ranges and 48 notes. The 12 holes chromatic harmonica is a great introductory harmonica as it is easy to grasp and play. Purchasing a 12 hole in the key of C is highly recommended.
- The 14 hole variety offers 56 notes.This variety of chromatic offers an extra octave below C but is difficult for a beginner to master its full range.
- The 16 hole variety offers 64 notes.This chromatic variety lies between the 12 and 16 hole variety and has a range of 31/2 octaves, The larger size makes it more challenging to play, and one needs extensive practice to master its range.
Famous players of this instrument include:
- Toots Thielemans
- Larry Adler.
Tremolo Harmonicas
The tremolo harmonica creates a unique, wavering sound similar to an accordion or organ. It has two reeds per hole, one sharp and the other flat.
Two reeds produce a wavering sound by being slightly out of tune, causing their vibrations to interact.
A tremolo harmonica is a diatonic instrument set to one key, requiring musicians to carry several for different keys. Unlike standard ten-hole harmonicas, its blow and draw reeds have separate chambers, letting players isolate each reed.
However, the instrument works best for effects and simple melodies rather than standard diatonic or chromatic harmonicas. The tremolo is used mainly for special effects and doesn’t allow note-bending like the blues or advanced techniques.
Tremolo harmonicas are famous worldwide, especially in East Asia, and are a common choice in traditional western folk music. However, in parts of Asia like China, Korea, and Japan, they offer a broader range and are used in various music styles, from folk to classical and ensemble playing.
Here’s a look at the most common types of tremolo:
- 20 hole
- 21 hole
- 24 hole
Octave Harmonicas
The distinctively curved octave harmonica resembles the tremolo and produces a full, striking sound. It uses the double reed structure, like the tremolo, but the reeds are set an octave apart. This creates a rich double sound combining a basic note and a higher octave note, without the vibrato of the tremolo.
An octave harmonica is a diatonic instrument in a single key. While skilled players can overblow and bend notes, it’s challenging. Its sound evokes German folk music.
Orchestral Harmonicas
Orchestral harmonicas offer several specialized types for use in ensemble play and orchestras. These harmonica varieties include:
- Bass Harmonicas. These harmonicas play in the lower range and support the rhythmic section of the orchestra. Bass harmonicas use a sliding bar like a chromatic harmonica, and the lower part is tuned to a specific scale.
- Chord Harmonicas.Chord harmonicas offer up to 48 types of chords and perform the role of rhythm accompaniment and pads as the stringed instruments usually provide.
- Horn harmonicas.These chromatic harmonicas fulfill the role of bass with their larger reeds and enclosing ‘horn,’ giving them the part of brass in the orchestra.