There are two main categories of harmonicas:
Diatonic
– which only contains the notes of a specific scale and are mainly used in Blues, Rock, Country and Pop music. Chromatic – which can play all notes in the chromatic scale
What are the different harmonica types?
Types of harmonicas. Though there are a number of specialty harmonicas, the three most common varieties fall into one of three categories based on how they are tuned:
diatonic, chromatic, and tremolo
. We’ll focus mainly on these while touching on a few of the less common harmonica types.
Which type of harmonica is best?
- Hohner Special 20 Harmonica Bundle, Major C. $48. …
- Lee Oskar Harmonica, Key of C, Major Diatonic. $44. …
- Hohner Marine Band Harmonica, Key of C. …
- Hohner Golden Melody Harmonica, Key of C. …
- SEYDEL Blues Classic 1847 Harmonica C. …
- Hohner Super Chromonica Deluxe, Key of C.
Which is better diatonic or chromatic harmonica?
The
diatonic harmonica
is the most common harmonica. … That said, the chromatic harmonica is often considered best for jazz and complex classical music. So, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED you start your harmonica journey with a diatonic, which is way easier to learn than the chromatic harmonica.
How do I know which harmonica to use?
If the tune is in a major key, choose a key of harmonica that gives
you first or second position
, though sometimes you might also consider twelfth position. If the tune is in a minor key, choose a key of harmonica that’s in third or fourth position (or maybe fifth position) relative to the key of the tune.
What is the easiest song to play on harmonica?
- Alouette. …
- Ode to Joy. …
- Mary Had a Little Lamb. …
- When the Saints Go Marching in. …
- Jingle Bells. …
- Row Row Row Your Boat. …
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. …
- Stand By Me.
What is the most common key for a harmonica?
In other analyses of popular music keys (albeit usually with much smaller datasets)
C major
has been shown to be the most widely used key by a significant margin. G major has usually been a distant second – often around half as frequently used as C major.
Do you use your tongue to play harmonica?
Place the harmonica between your lips so that the front of the harmonica touches the right and left corners of your lips, where your upper and lower lips meet. … When you do this,
the top of your tongue will
make a broad surface that glides against the harmonica without poking into the holes.
Is harmonica good for lungs?
Playing the harmonica
might boost your lung capacity
and strengthen your breathing muscles.
How much does a good harmonica cost?
A good beginner, yet still pro quality, 10-hole diatonic harmonica is somewhere
between $35-$90
. A good quality, chromatic harmonica will cost somewhere between $120-$250. If you buy a harmonica within these prices ranges, you can spend more, but you won’t necessarily get a harmonica that plays or sounds better.
Which harmonica does Bob Dylan use?
Bob Dylan has played
Hohner harmonicas
almost exclusively from the 1950s to the present day.
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. First, we review harmonica keys for second position blues.
Can you learn harmonica by yourself?
While it may seem like it would be an easy instrument to learn how to play, but the truth is you would be
better off taking some harmonica online lessons to get started
. …
What key harmonica is heart of gold?
Hello and welcome to this week’s lesson, where I will be showing you how to play Heart Of Gold by Neil Young. You will need a harmonica in the
key of G
, and we will be playing in 1st position in the key of G.
What is second position on harmonica?
2
nd
Position (
Cross Harp
), is a Blues scale that offers a more expressive and soulful sound. Many of the draw reeds can be bent (a technique used to change the pitch of a note.)
Which harmonica key is lowest?
On
a C harmonica
, the lowest note is a C note (hole 1 blow). The C note is the central pitch, the natural tonic. Therefore, this harmonica can be said to be tuned in C Major. There can also be other ways to determine the key of harmonica.
