- C major: Blow holes 1–2–3, 4–5–6, or 7–8–9.
- G major: Draw holes 1–2–3, or 1–2–3–4.
- G7 (seventh): Draw holes 2–3–4–5.
- D minor: Draw holes 4–5–6, or 8–9–10.
What notes can a harmonica play?
Starting from hole 1, the notes are
C, D, E, G, G, B, D, C
. Very confusing. Unlike holes 4 to 7, these lower notes do not make up a major scale. However look at blow notes 1 to 4, which are C, E, G and C.
How many chords can you play on a harmonica?
Four basic types
of chords
Four types of triads exist, each with different interval qualities: A major triad has a major third and a perfect fifth. Your C-harmonica has two major triads: the C major triad formed by the blow notes anywhere on the harp and the G major triad in Draw 1 through 4.
What genres can you play on harmonica?
The modern harmonica, or harp, has been around since the early 19th century. It is typically used in
blues, country, rock and roll and folk music
. These musical genres are somewhat similar in structure and form, and often borrow ideas from each other.
Is there a harmonica that plays all keys?
While
the chromatic harmonica is capable of playing in all keys
, it does have limitations. For example, while chromatic harmonicas can “bend” notes down in pitch, as a single-reed bend it sounds quite different from the typical dual-reed bend of a blues harp, and can only bend downward by a semi-tone.
What is first position on harmonica?
1st position just means
playing in the key that the harmonica comes in
. So, if you have an A harmonica you will be playing in the key of A. The root note will be the 1 blow, 4 blow, 7 blow and 10 blow.
Is it difficult to play the harmonica?
Compared to other wind instruments, the harmonica is a relatively easy instrument to learn. … Players that bend notes are required to change the pitch by
locating their tongue and tuning the mouth to the desired pitch
, which is difficult to achieve even for harmonica players that have been studying for years.
Do you need to read music to play harmonica?
Do I need to be able to read music to play harmonica? No.
We mostly use a system for notating harmonica music called tablature or “tabs”
.
How many notes can you play on a harmonica with 10 holes?
It is a variety of diatonic harmonica, with ten holes which offer the player
19 notes
(10 holes times a draw and a blow for each hole minus one repeated note) in a three-octave range. The standard diatonic harmonica is designed to allow a player to play chords and melody in a single key.
Can you play all notes on a harmonica?
When you use regular blowing and drawing techniques on a diatonic harmonica, it will produce, at most, seven notes of varying pitches. However,
it is possible to play all of the notes of the chromatic scale on a diatonic harmonica
by using bends (see How to Play Bends on the Harmonica).
Which harmonica is easiest to play?
- Diatonic: Diatonic harmonicas are the easiest type of harmonica to start playing from as a beginner, and they are also perfect for playing nearly any genre of music. …
- Chromatic: Chromatic harmonicas vary in how many holes they possess; usually they have 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16 holes.
Can you learn harmonica by yourself?
Using software like Skype and Apple’s Facetime, you can find an
online tutor
that is willing to help you learn the harmonica. The Internet has also brought us another very useful digital format that has made learning how to play a musical instrument like the harmonica much easier.
What type of harmonica does Bob Dylan use?
Bob Dylan has played
Hohner harmonicas
almost exclusively from the 1950s to the present day.
Can you change the key of a harmonica?
Harmonicas can go out of tune with playing
, and even new harps straight from the factory aren’t always in good tune. But you don’t have to accept what you get — you can correct out-of-tune notes.
What do I need to know before buying a harmonica?
When buying a harmonica,
it pays to choose a quality model, with good raw materials for its replaceable parts
. Never buy a second-hand harmonica either. Remember, this is an instrument played with the mouth, so, for hygiene reasons alone, it’s unsuitable to use one that’s already been in someone else’s mouth!
What is the most popular key for blues harmonica?
Blues songs are usually in
E, A, G, C or D
, with E, A and G the most common. Other keys are used but these are the most common, particularly with guitar players. So, finding the correct key is educated guesswork.
