Oct
30,
2023
Did you know that the harmonica has been around for centuries, yet it's one of the most underappreciated instruments out there? It's true. While ...
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Keys
Keys
Oct
30,
2023
Did you know that the harmonica has been around for centuries, yet it's one of the most underappreciated instruments out there? It's true. While ...
Oct
30,
2023
If you're searching for the best diatonic harmonica, you'll soon find out there's a lot to consider. Interested? You should be. Knowing the ...
Oct
30,
2023
Did you know that the Seydel Chromatic De Luxe Steel is one of the few harmonicas in the world to feature stainless steel reeds? This isn't just a ...
Oct
30,
2023
Think you know everything there is to know about harmonicas? Well, prepare to be amazed. The Seydel 1847 Silver Harmonica is here to shatter all ...
Sep
12,
2023
The Hohner Crossover harmonica is a true gem in the world of harmonicas. Designed with a serious player in mind, this harmonica offers a perfect ...
Sep
12,
2023
Welcome to our captivating blog, where we embark on a musical journey delving into "The Evolution of Chromatic Harmonicas: A Historical Overview." ...
Sep
12,
2023
Welcome to our blog, where we'll take you on a harmonious journey into the world of harmonica neck holders. If you're new to this fascinating ...
Mar
17,
2023
If you want to play Blues, Country, Rock, or Folk music you most likely want to buy a diatonic harmonica. The diatonic harmonica is a 10-hole ...
Feb
06,
2023
There are really 3 main types of harmonicas: 1.Diatonic harmonicas are mostly used in Folk, Blues, Country, and Rock. They come tuned in a ...
Feb
06,
2023
Probably around 1830-35, a watchmaker from the small town of Trossingen, Christian Messner took over a model of a mouth organ (perhaps an aura) ...
Dec
29,
2022
Harmonica sets are a good way to save and bundle once you know which model you like.
Dec
05,
2022
The Hohner echo models like the Echo 32 – 2309 harmonica the Hohner Echo 48 – 2509 harmonica and the double sided Echo models 54/64 and 56/96 ...
Dec
02,
2022
In the history of the harmonica blues there is a before and after Little Walter. An artist who is a pivotal between two ways of blowing the ...
Nov
05,
2022
Are you looking to purchase the perfect harmonica? Do you already have a budget in mind? Which harmonica brand is better? More importantly do you ...
Oct
25,
2022
Looking for a cool gift for Halloween? why not check our limited selection of creepy harmonicas?
Feb
25,
2022
For the first time in 20 years Seydel harmonicas that are hand made in Germany announces a general price increase.
Feb
01,
2020
What is the best harmonica for beginners? In this article we'll help you select your first harmonica.
Feb
01,
2020
Harmonicas come in a wide variety of keys. Depending on your level and what style of music you're playing you might only need one key. Let's see ...
Dec
27,
2019
what harmonica to buy? Buying a harmonica really depends on several factors and here we're going to help you make the right decision So let's ...
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Nicknamed Mouth organ, Blues Harp, Tin sandwich, Mississippi Saxophone the diatonic harmp is by far the most played and sold harmonica in the world. Of course, it is also much more affordable than his big brothers the chromatic, the bass, and the orchestral harmonica. At the same time is it much more versatile than the Tremolo or Octave harmonica that can't really take you further than very simple folk melodies.
The diatonic harmonica is a 10 hole harmonica with dual reedplates. The top reed plate produces the blow notes whereas the bottom reedplate creates the draw notes. This way you can naturally play 20 notes by just blowing or drawing through your harmonica. But the diatonic harmonica has something up its sleeve ... By changing the way you inhale or exhale and shaping the airflow you can actually produce up to 18 more notes! In the end, the diatonic harmonica using bends and overbends is a fully fledge chromatic instrument in the hand of a good player! This is especially true of the top of the line models such as the Harmo Custom Shop model with Ultimate setup where each reed is manually optimized to make each bend and overbend much more responsive and easily available than on standard models such as the Hohner Special 20.
The diatonic harmonica is primarily used in Blues where Artists like Sonny boy Williamson, Little Walter or Big Walter Horton forged its sound.
It's also been very popular in Folk music with Bob Dylan, Crosby Still and Nash and Tony Joe White who performed in Woodstock.
Since the 1980s the diatonic harp has also been seen more often in Celtic music, Country Music, Bluegrass and Jazz with some players developing insane bebop chops.
There is obviously a plethora of diatonic harmonica models made by each major manufacturer. Here is a shortlist of the most popular ones, Harmonicaland harmonica superstore carries all the best diatonic harmonica models you can find:
- Hohner diatonic harmonicas: Special 20 - plastic comb brass reeds, Marine Band - Agglomerate wood brass reeds, Golden Melody - plastic comb brass reeds, Rocket - plastic comb brass reeds, Marine band Deluxe - pear wood brass reeds, Crossover - Bamboo comb brass reeds
- Lee Oskar harmonicas: There is only one model for Lee Oskar and it is a plastic comb brass reeds.
- Suzuki diatonic harmonicas: Bluesmaster - plastic comb brass reeds, Promaster - Aluminum comb phosphore bronze reeds, Pure Harp - rosewood combphosphore bronze reeds, Fabulous - Brass comb phosphore bronze reeds, Manji - composite comb phosophore bronze reeds
- Seydel harmonicas: Session standard - plastic comb brass reeds, Session Steel - plastic comb stainless steel reeds, 1847 - wood or plastic comb and stainless steel reeds
- Harmo harmonicas: Polar - abs comb phosphore bronze reeds, Torpedo abs comb phosphore bronze reeds with manual optimization for overblows, Harmo Custom Shop harmonica - Walnut, Maple, Aluminum, Brass or plastic comb combined with phosphor bronze reeds and wood, aluminum or brass covers.