When you're trying to learn the harmonica, make certain you understand the different variations of the instrument. This will allow you to select the right Harmonica for the type of music that you want to play.
To pick the best harmonica for yourself you need to answer what kind of music do you like? What types of instruments do your favorite harmonica players use? What kind of sounds does he or she make with their instrument? There are three main types of harmonicas and within those three main types there is a significant amount of variation.
The different types of harmonica
There are basically three types of harmonica and they are the tremolo harmonica, the chromatic harmonica and the diatonic harmonica.
Diatonic harmonica: Diatonic harmonica is perhaps the first kind of harmonica to be made. A diatonic harmonica generally has 10 holes that help you to use the tones and semi-tones the way white notes are used on a piano. The normal 10-hole main diatonic harmonicas are available with 12 keys of music that helps you to play 7-note major scale of the harmonica key. You can always bend certain draw (inhale) and blow (exhale) notes to create notes that are different from the major scale.
You will see that most professional harmonica players are diatonic players. Diatonic harmonicas are very common in playing country, folk, rock and blues but they are equally suitable in playing different types of music. The ones used for country and blue are also known as "harp," "blue harp," "standard 10-hole" and "short harp."
Diatonic harmonicas are some of the most popular ones because you can play almost every kind of music with it and it is still very popular. This is quite a flexible option that helps you to use bending effects, semi-tones and single toes. Keeping in mind, quality and price, the Hohner Special 20 is the best harmonica for anyone. The Lee Oskar Major Diatonic is another popular model.
Chromatic harmonicas: The chromatic harmonica is especially designed to make for the missing notes on the diatonic harmonica. You can easily play both the tones and semi-tones of the chromatic scale. Generally, a chromatic scale is the one when both black and white notes are played in succession. This kind of harmonica has a button on the side and when you are not using it, you can easily play a normal major scale using the key of the chromatic. You can play any type of key or scale when the button is pressed as you have all the missing half-step notes between the major scale notes.
Chromatic harmonica is generally used in classical and jazz music. You must keep one thing in mind and that is, bending does not go well with chromatic.
Tremolo harmonica: This type of harmonica is made with double holes that are placed in the vertical direction. Each hole contains two reeds in which one is a bit de-tuned to the other. These reeds will produce a peculiar tremolo effect when they vibrate. This harmonica is nothing but diatonic with double holes. Tremolo harmonica is mostly used for effects and is perfect for creating traditional music. The major scale begins on the 3rd or the 4th set of holes but it depends on the brand that the tremolo harmonica belongs to. Tremolo is the best harmonica for creating Irish and Scottish airs, country, gospel and folk music.
Other varieties of harmonicas
Some of the other popular varieties of harmonicas are:
Special tuned diatonic: With this comes the additional advantage of scales and notes that are generally not available with chromatic harmonica.
Octave tuned: This is almost similar to tremolo harmonicas, particularly in reed layout as well as in music range. There are no reeds that are tuned to the same note, instead, each double hole has a reed that is tuned to the octave part of the other.
Chord and brass harmonica: These two types are generally used for ensemble performances.
There are varieties of models available in the market. You just have to do some research and choose the best harmonica that you are comfortable with.
To pick the best harmonica for yourself you need to answer what kind of music do you like? What types of instruments do your favorite harmonica players use? What kind of sounds does he or she make with their instrument? There are three main types of harmonicas and within those three main types there is a significant amount of variation.
The different types of harmonica
There are basically three types of harmonica and they are the tremolo harmonica, the chromatic harmonica and the diatonic harmonica.
Diatonic harmonica: Diatonic harmonica is perhaps the first kind of harmonica to be made. A diatonic harmonica generally has 10 holes that help you to use the tones and semi-tones the way white notes are used on a piano. The normal 10-hole main diatonic harmonicas are available with 12 keys of music that helps you to play 7-note major scale of the harmonica key. You can always bend certain draw (inhale) and blow (exhale) notes to create notes that are different from the major scale.
You will see that most professional harmonica players are diatonic players. Diatonic harmonicas are very common in playing country, folk, rock and blues but they are equally suitable in playing different types of music. The ones used for country and blue are also known as "harp," "blue harp," "standard 10-hole" and "short harp."
Diatonic harmonicas are some of the most popular ones because you can play almost every kind of music with it and it is still very popular. This is quite a flexible option that helps you to use bending effects, semi-tones and single toes. Keeping in mind, quality and price, the Hohner Special 20 is the best harmonica for anyone. The Lee Oskar Major Diatonic is another popular model.
Chromatic harmonicas: The chromatic harmonica is especially designed to make for the missing notes on the diatonic harmonica. You can easily play both the tones and semi-tones of the chromatic scale. Generally, a chromatic scale is the one when both black and white notes are played in succession. This kind of harmonica has a button on the side and when you are not using it, you can easily play a normal major scale using the key of the chromatic. You can play any type of key or scale when the button is pressed as you have all the missing half-step notes between the major scale notes.
Chromatic harmonica is generally used in classical and jazz music. You must keep one thing in mind and that is, bending does not go well with chromatic.
Tremolo harmonica: This type of harmonica is made with double holes that are placed in the vertical direction. Each hole contains two reeds in which one is a bit de-tuned to the other. These reeds will produce a peculiar tremolo effect when they vibrate. This harmonica is nothing but diatonic with double holes. Tremolo harmonica is mostly used for effects and is perfect for creating traditional music. The major scale begins on the 3rd or the 4th set of holes but it depends on the brand that the tremolo harmonica belongs to. Tremolo is the best harmonica for creating Irish and Scottish airs, country, gospel and folk music.
Other varieties of harmonicas
Some of the other popular varieties of harmonicas are:
Special tuned diatonic: With this comes the additional advantage of scales and notes that are generally not available with chromatic harmonica.
Octave tuned: This is almost similar to tremolo harmonicas, particularly in reed layout as well as in music range. There are no reeds that are tuned to the same note, instead, each double hole has a reed that is tuned to the octave part of the other.
Chord and brass harmonica: These two types are generally used for ensemble performances.
There are varieties of models available in the market. You just have to do some research and choose the best harmonica that you are comfortable with.
About the Author:
Learn more about picking the Best Harmonica for Beginners. Stop by Tony Black's site where you can find out all about Choosing a Harmonica and all the pro's and con's of the different types.
