How to Know Types of Harmonicas

There are three basic kinds of harmonicas: the diatonic, the tremolo and the chromatic. Distinguishing the difference between each type of harmonics is important so that you may choose the right one for you. You should choose a harmonica for your playing style, the type of music you will be playing, as well as the effects you would like to create.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Play virtually every kind of music with a diatonic harmonica, the first style created and the most popular to this day. Diatonic harmonicas are most often used to play country and blues style music. However, this flexible harmonica allows the player to use semi-tones, single tones and bending effects. You can spot a diatonic harmonica by its single row of ten holes.

2. Choose a tremolo harmonica for a more traditional style music, such as Scottish and Irish airs, gospel, country and folk music. A tremolo harmonica is distinguished by its double rows of holes. Each set of holes contains two reeds that are slightly off tune from one another. When the reeds begin to vibrate, it creates a tremolo effect.

3. Play the entire chromatic scale with a chromatic harmonica. This kind allows the player to play not only the semi tones and tones of the chromatic scale: the chromatic harmonica is set apart by a slide button, which can be pushed in or pulled out to create the sharps and flats.

Tips & Warnings

• The chord harmonica is a two-tiered instrument with a hinge and produces different chords when blowing than it does when drawing air. The chords produced are in major sevenths and are arranged in the cycle of fifths.
• Bass harmonicas are also two-tiered instruments with hinges, however a bass harmonica includes two reeds, which are tuned in octaves. This type of harmonica only produces notes when blowing, but plays two-octave chromatic ranges beginning with EE, the lowest note on a string bass or bass guitar.