The harmonica has the advantage of being accessible to most people. Simple, cheap, fun, everyone can play it. But choosing the right harmonica is not easy for a beginner considering the criteria to take into account and the brands (Hohner, Fender...). To help you find the right model, here is our guide of the best harmonicas.
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Our selection
"The Hohner HOM560017 is not only popular with beginners, but also with many professionals. It is suitable for a wide variety of music styles such…"
"The Fender Blues Deluxe is a 10 hole harmonica. It is particularly suitable for beginners with its traditional shape, solid construction and perfect sound."
"This A tone harmonica has a revolutionary laminated bamboo comb. Completely sealed, it makes the instrument stable and airtight."
"Suzuki offers us the MR250C Bluemaster, a diatonic and chromed harmonica in C 10 holes. Its grip is very comfortable, with a warm sound."
The Hohner HOM560017 is not only popular with beginners, but also with many professionals. It is suitable for a wide variety of music styles such as soul, blues, country and folk.
See the priceThe Hohner HOM560017 is in the key of C. The windchest of this harmonica is made of plastic, so your lips can slide easily over the mouthpiece. The blades and tuning plates are made of copper while the covers are made of stainless steel.
During the playing process, if the blades of the Hohner HOM560017 don't sound right, they should be filed down by hand. This way you can always be sure to have a high quality, perfectly tuned and sounding harmonica.
The Fender Blues Deluxe is a 10 hole harmonica. It is particularly suitable for beginners with its traditional shape, solid construction and perfect sound.
See priceWhen using this 10 hole harmonica, you will not encounter any grip problems. This makes playing the Fender Blues Deluxe more enjoyable and easy. It is versatile to suit all levels of players, from beginners to experts. To ensure optimum durability, the plastic base is moisture resistant. It guarantees a stable fit over the long term.
This instrument emits a bright, articulate sound. If necessary, the plates that support the blades can be replaced, which makes it a very reliable harmonica that can be kept for a long time. A really long time.
This A tone harmonica has a revolutionary laminated bamboo comb. Completely sealed, it makes the instrument stable and airtight.
See priceThe compromise between musicality and modernity offered by the Hohner M2009BX-A, a Band Crossover 20 harmonica in A tone, is very suitable for playing one note in different styles: funk, modern blues, rock, soul, jazz, everything is possible. In addition, the sound offers full tuning.
In this regard, the raucous and powerful sound is particularly suitable for acoustic playing but also for amplified playing. This harmonica is equipped with chrome-plated stainless steel covers and a 0.9 mm brass plate.
Suzuki offers us the MR250C Bluemaster, a diatonic and chromed harmonica in C 10 holes. Its grip is very comfortable, with a warm sound.
See priceThe Suzuki MR250C Bluemaster is a 10 hole C diatonic harmonica. Its chrome body adds finesse and elegance to its design. Very pleasant and easy to play, this instrument has covers made of polished stainless steel certified insensitive to corrosion. The rounded ABS frame improves playing comfort.
As for the technical aspects, the phosphor bronze reeds are adjusted by laser to avoid false notes in the figurative and literal sense. If you need to readjust some elements, you should know that it is easy to break down this harmonica.
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The best beginner harmonica in 2021
The best entry-level beginner harmonica
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A great 10-hole beginner C harmonica
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Hohner HOM560017
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Fender Blues Deluxe
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Hohner M2009BX-A
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Suzuki MR250C Bluemaster
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The Hohner HOM560017 is not only popular with beginners, but also with many professionals. It is suitable for a wide variety of music styles such as soul, blues, country and folk.
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The Fender Blues Deluxe is a 10 hole harmonica. It is particularly suitable for beginners with its traditional shape, solid construction and perfect sound.
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This A tone harmonica has a revolutionary laminated bamboo comb. Completely sealed, it makes the instrument stable and airtight.
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Suzuki offers us the MR250C Bluemaster, a diatonic and chromed harmonica in C 10 holes. Its grip is very comfortable, with a warm sound.
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Handling
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Material of comb construction
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plastic of the ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
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plastic of the ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
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bambou
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plastic of the ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
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Number of holes
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10
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10
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10
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10
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Number of notes
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20
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20
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20
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20
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Tone
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Do Major
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Sol major
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La
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Do/C type
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If you choose a harmonica, you start to choose its starting note. We will find models in C or C major and others in D for example to play Blues. To get a good start on the harmonica, you are free to choose between the diatonic or chromatic model. For example, the diatonic is ideal for playing country and blues. The chromatic will be more oriented to Pop or Jazz. Finally, the tremolo or double row harmonica finds its full use in Scottish folk music for example.
The number of holes depends on the different models. The diatonic harmonica with ten holes which is ideal for beginners. This type brings 20 notes between the blown and aspirated. Here is the shape:
If you want to go further, use the 24-turn harmonicas, otherwise called double tremolo harmonicas.
Some parts of the harmonica are made with wood while others with metal. Wood offers an elegant look, it also makes the instrument a noble device. Wooden harmonicas can swell, causing deviation during playing. Therefore, it is necessary to protect them as best as possible. As for the finish, choose an instrument that matches your taste and can last as long as possible.
In
general, wooden combs will give you a good acoustic quality
.
If you are a beginner, it is better to choose a harmonica with larger holes. In practice, the larger the hole, the more comfortable the user is blowing into it.
It is essential to purchase a harmonica with a case and a cleaning cloth. It is unquestionable to secure one's tool especially when transporting it. Do not place the harmonica in your pocket or in a dusty place. Dust could alter the quality of the sound.
Easily transportable, the harmonica is a small instrument that you can take with you wherever you go. What you need to master to learn to play notes with this instrument is the tongue positions.
When you are a beginner with a harmonica, it is best to start with a diatonic harmonica. It is the simplest and most common because it is easier to play than a chromatic or tremolo harmonica which tend to leak air. With a diatonic harmonica which is designed to play a single scale, one must blow or inhale through an opening to play notes.
The sound that this position of the tongue will give will be what we call alterations in the diatonic harmonica jargon. And it is these three points, blows, aspirations and alterations that make it different from its colleagues. Indeed, these alterations are often considered as a note in their own right. But they also have the function of producing twists of notes or sounds with different timbres for sensational effects.
Apart from that, these blows, aspirations, and alterations can be played in three registers, which are, low, medium and high. To play each note individually, the easiest method is the Pucker method, especially for beginners. To sound the C in the 4th hole, for example, first moisten your lips slightly with saliva.
Then, bring your lips close to your instrument. Push your lips outward afterwards. You must make the harmonica rest on your lower lip and the cover of the harmonica is covered by your upper lip. Then, you have to orient the harmonica slightly upwards. Finally, all that remains is to blow or inhale.
The recorder is a wind instrument formed by a hollow tube usually made of wood or plastic. Like other types of recorders, the player blows directly into the end of the pipe, using the rim as a stop. Generally, a recorder has six holes in the front and one hole in the back.
Advantages:
Many musicians choose the recorder as their first instrument. It is relatively easy to get a good sound from a recorder. In addition, it is small and takes up little space. It costs less and is very suitable for small hands. This instrument also allows you to master the basics of music theory, rhythm and melody.
Disadvantages:
The larger models are less suitable for beginners. In addition, their prices are high enough to start playing. Other models have too much distance between the holes. Therefore, you need big hands to play, so it takes a lot of practice to play properly.
When it comes to design, cold plastic and hot air coming out of the mouth do not mix well. The most annoying thing is the breath from the mouth which condenses quickly in the instrument. This can be avoided by heating the head of the instrument beforehand.
Benefits:
The harmonica is a nomadic and very popular musical instrument. It can be easily stored in a pocket. With this musical instrument, you can vary the styles. The sound it produces is easy to recognize. Once you have learned how to position your mouth, breathe in or out, it is easy to play. In practice, you have to eat the harmonica, not just put your lips on it.
As a remark, the diatonic series is exclusively for beginners. This one has only a few unique styles, including blues, folk country, rock, and jazz.
Drawbacks:
Some brands are heavy. The fairly basic design does not meet the growing demands of users.
If you want to acquire a good foundation in music, start playing the recorder. Then you will be ahead of other inexperienced musicians when it comes to switching to another musical instrument. If you are a beginner, choose the recorders that have been specially designed for you.
If you want to play in many genres of music, choose the harmonica. However, before you buy a harmonica and learn to play, you should distinguish between a diatonic and a chromatic harmonica.
Understanding the technique of alteration
An alteration is obtained when the harmonica player manages to make certain blades of his harmonica vibrate less quickly. Taking into account its physical properties, the blade which vibrates at a certain frequency emits a sound. The higher the frequency, the higher the sound. By altering the original sound of a blade of a harmonica, its vibration is slower and we obtain consequently a lower note. This decrease of the vibration frequency is obtained by playing with only one note. While playing, you back up the tongue in the mouth, while remaining very tight on his harmonica.
Playing the notes alone with the Pucker method
It
is recommended to sound the C of the 4 th hole. In practice, you moisten your lips with saliva, keeping them well relaxed and bringing them closer to your instrument. At this point, if you blow or inhale, you will hear multiple notes. Now push your lips outward, as if you wanted to kiss someone. Your lower lip is like a cushion for the harmonica to rest on, and your upper lip covers the harmonica's hood. You breathe in or blow out after pointing the instrument slightly upward.
Don't be afraid to try something different
Listen to
all kinds of music using the harmonica and don't be afraid to try them. If you have been playing only blues and rock and roll for years and then one day you discovered that bluegrass, country and folk music for has gotten much better, then be willing to try it.
Tap your harmonica when you are done
It'
s important that when you're done playing the instrument, you tap it in the palm of your hand to remove any moisture or debris present. This allows you to play with much more breath and avoid salivating in the instrument.
Exercise
To
play the harmonica, you need wind, so it is very important to maintain good cardiovascular health. The better your heart breath, the longer you can play without getting out of breath.
The best harmonica depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide for the best products available.
Most beginners start with a diatonic (or blues) harmonica tuned in C. This is the easiest type to learn to play. Answer}
Here are the different harmonica keys:C = CD = DE = EF = FG = GÀ = AB = BThe C harmonica includes the notes of the C scale, the D harmonica the notes of the D scale... There are obviously harmonicas with #(sharps) or b (flats).
The key of C major is conceived from the tonic note C. It is called C major in English and C-Dur in the Central European Union. The scale for C major is: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D/E, E, F, G, A, B, dotonic, middle E, dominant G, sensitive B. The tonic gives its name to the key that is linked to it. The note C is the tonic of the key of C. In tonal music, the tonic is the first degree of a key, and thus of major and minor scales. A chord built on this first degree is called a tonic chord. Its root note is a tonic.
For the hygiene of your mouth, it is necessary that your harmonica is well clean. It is advised to use a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean your tool. You must be careful, because several elements, in particular the slats, are very fragile. When you finish cleaning, you rinse the instrument to remove chemical residues.
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