How to Clean a Chromatic Harmonica
It's important to keep your chromatic harmonica clean, both for health reasons and to avoid a sticky slide. Cleaning is especially important when buying or selling a used harmonica. Because of the nature of the instrument, harmonicas are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria. When food and saliva get trapped under the covers, the warm air in your breath creates the perfect atmosphere for nasty microbes to thrive. Bacteria like this can pose a serious health threat if it goes unchecked.
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Instructions
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Instructions
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Disassemble the chromatic into parts by unscrewing the connecting screws between the reed plates, comb and cover plates. Remove the slide as well.
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Using a small brush (toothbrush works fine) clean the comb in a sink filled with warm soapy water. Gently brush away any gunk that's accumulated in the comb. Rinse well and dry with a soft towel. Follow the same procedure to clean the slide.
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Clean the reed plate by submerging it in the soapy water. Hold the reed plate at each end and shake it up and down in the water. Hold the part of the plate with the plastic valve tip under a current of hot water to remove excess dirt and debris. This will open the two layers of the plastic valves and clean out what's inside.
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Hold the reed plate at one end and pat it against a soft dry towel to remove excess water. The valves should now be clean and good as new.
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Being sure that all the parts are clean and dry, reassemble your chromatic harmonica by screwing everything together again.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid eating, drinking alcohol or soda and smoking before playing your harmonica. These activities can damage the harmonica reeds, block the valves and cause tuning problems.
Don't use oil or grease to lubricate the harmonica slide. This only attracts dust and debris. Water is a perfectly good lubricant and cleaner to use.
References
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Comments
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Very very educative. Quite appropriate for a beginner like me.
