Introduction to Harmonicas

A harmonica is a free-reed wind instrument consisting of a series of holes that produce different notes when air is blown or drawn through them. The most common type of harmonica is the diatonic harmonica, which is often tuned to a specific key and allows for the production of different notes through blowing (into the holes) and drawing (out of the holes).

Standard Diatonic Harmonica Notes

For a standard 10-hole diatonic harmonica in the key of C, the following notes are produced when blown or drawn:

Blow Notes Draw Notes Hole 1: C Draw: D Hole 2: E Draw: G Hole 3: G Draw: B Hole 4: C Draw: D Hole 5: E Draw: F Hole 6: G Draw: A Hole 7: B Draw: D Hole 8: D Draw: F Hole 9: F Draw: G Hole 10: A Draw: B

Additional Types of Harmonicas

Harmonicas come in various types, each with its unique characteristics and sound:

Chromatic Harmonica: Has a button that allows the player to hit all 12 semitones, including sharps and flats. Tremolo Harmonica: Features two reeds per note, creating a wavering sound. Orchestral Harmonica: More specialized and can have multiple octaves and different tuning options.

Playing Techniques with Harmonicas

With a harmonica, you can produce notes by blowing (inhaling air) or drawing (exhaling air). Advanced techniques include:

Bending: A technique to lower the pitch of a note by altering the shape of the mouth and throat. This is particularly crucial for achieving the soulful sound in blues and rock music.

Each harmonica is tuned to a specific key, so it's crucial to know the key of your harmonica to play the right notes. You can use specialized harmonicas for different keys, such as C, G, D, and A. However, the C harp is versatile and can handle many folk tunes, while the G harp is perfect for blues in G.

Blow and Draw Techniques for C Harmonica

The C harmonica, also known as a "C harp," can produce a series of chords and scales:

The top row shows the C major triads (notes C, E, G) you get from blowing (intaking air). The bottom row shows the G9 chord (notes G, B, D, F) you get from drawing (exhaling air).

This makes it easy to play certain major-key folk tunes, such as "Oh Susanna," "Brahms' Lullaby," and even more complex pieces like Bach’s "Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring."

Cross Harp Technique

The cross harp technique is employed to play blues and other styles where the plain major scale would not suffice. In cross harp, you use a harmonica tuned to a different key than the song is in. For example, to play in the key of E, you use an A harp, and to play in the key of A, you use a D harp.

From the perspective of the G blues, the C harp primarily draws to create the I7 G7 chord (known as the Mixolydian mode), which includes the flat seventh from the blues scale. Bending notes on the 3 and 4 draws provide additional blues scale notes. Blowing in cross harp produces the IV C chord, although the V7 D7 chord can be approximated by fudging it with D7sus4 or D79.

Bending and Microtones

Bending is a key technique in achieving a soulful and expressive sound in blues and rock music. This involves playing between the piano-key pitches to achieve notes that are intentionally flat. While challenging to master, with practice and patience, you can develop this skill. There are helpful videos available online to guide you through this technique.

Playing in Minor Keys

Playing in minor keys can be more difficult with a diatonic harmonica due to the absence of some necessary notes. For Dorian mode, you can use a harp tuned a whole step below the key of the song. However, for natural and harmonic minor, bending the notes to achieve the flat sixth is a more complex and less satisfying process.

Specialized harmonicas tuned to natural and harmonic minor scales are available but are not as widely used. If you wish to play in these scales, you might need to carefully avoid the sixth or attempt to bend it down to achieve the flat sixth.

Exploring the full potential of your harmonica can take time and effort, but with practice, you can master the techniques and notes to bring your music to new levels. Check out my blog for more detailed information and tips.

Keywords:
harmonica notes, diatonic harmonica, cross harp technique