Best harmonica - short or long?

Question

In the music shop there are short harmonicas and long ones?
Some of the short ones are actually more expensive that the long ones? I assume a long one is better as it can play a larger range? (I'm a beginner)

Answer 1

There are essentially four different basic types of harmonica.



Diatonic

Chromatic

Tremolo (and octave)

Orchestral



The 10-hole diatonic is what you usually hear as 'blues harp' and is the most common in the US. There are other hole configurations for the diatonic too, from 4-20+, but the 10-hole such as the Hohner Marine Band, Special 20, Blues Harp, etc... are what you'll see most tutorials and learning materials intended for. C is usually the best key to start off with though some people prefer the deeper sound of a low G.



The other three types aren't really for doing blues and bending stuff with. The chromatic and tremolo are best suited to folk music and because you'd be playing more melody type stuff than improvising blues, it can be beneficial to have 20+ on those. These are what you usually see as the longer harmonicas when you find one in a shop.



The orchestrals are usually long too (sometimes very long) and rather expensive. They are mostly for playing in harmonica orchestras/ensembles and aren't so great for the blues at all. Check Youtube for Harmonicats for a good example. A group of them sounds like a huge accordion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OfJENYhsrw&feature=related (a chromatic, chord, and bass)



If you're a beginner and want to play the blues then start out with a really good quality ($30+ range) 10-hole diatonic in C. A lot of players are pretty fond of the Hohner models mentioned above and Lee Oskar models. You might want to avoid the sub-$10 models unless you're just wanting something to play around with a little.



If you're a beginner and want to play folk tunes and melodic stuff then look at the Hohner Echo Celeste or the Suzuki 2-timer in C as a good starting point. Both are 20+ double holes and relatively inexpensive.



Chromatics (easily identifiable by the button on the side) aren't usually a good place for a beginner to start but if you have some dedication to a practice schedule it can be done. They aren't inexpensive and aren't as care and maintenance forgiving as a diatonic or tremolo.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX0aM_ui3cY is a nice video from the folks at Suzuki demonstrating the different types and some of their models.



[note: most of mine are Hohner but I also own a Suzuki SU21H [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrL1Pg-Kptk&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL ] I play almost exclusively tremolo harps in folk style.]

Answer 2

I think Hohner's are the best and you should base your purchase on the style of music you want to play. If you planned on playing another instrument with the harp then you'd want to use a holder for the harmonica which I'm not sure if the longer ones fit it. If you like Sonny Boy Williamson 2 then to get his sound a short one would be fine. If you like Little Walter then you'd want to get a chromatic which is kinda expensive and unless you got a lot of money to burn I wouldn't recommend learning on that for blues. Blues requires bending notes which can flatten the reeds of a harmonica to the point where they stay flat which is bad.



You need to take your time and break a new harp in by gently blowing and drawing on the holes so you don't flatten the reeds. There's different schools of understanding about soaking harps too. One says it's terribly wrong and eventually it'll get all rusted and worthless. Another school says it's good to get volume and you just smack the excess water out of it. But it causes the wood to warp and the covers will come off eventually.



Another thing to consider is if you are going to play in a band then you'll want to think about mics and pa systems. For the most part though I wouldn't consider any of that up front if your just learning. If you find that you really love playing the harp eventually you may want to try and get a few different keys and learn about playing cross harp.

Answer 3

Long Harmonica

Answer 4

You don't have to buy an expensive harmonica if you are just starting out. Get a short C harmonica and have fun! You can get books and videos at the library.

Answer 5

Yeah, alot of Iraq soldiers moms (not Cyndi Sheehan) were out there protesting the war too. are you going to show them the same disrespect as you show all other Americans who are for having our soldiers home safe and sound? BTW, learn to have some fun. I know you cons love to cut music, art and writing programs from your illiterate boring schools because you are afraid of it. I can see why. Having fun is threatening. You should only work in life. Go to work, do work, make work, work work work work and be a cog in the machine and slave for your Bush or your corporate incarceration ward and don't think for yourself. But some of us still like to have fun in life, because we know all too well how short it is. BTW Jennifer, John Lennon was way more cool, way more intelligent and way more free than you or your neo-con pigs will ever be. You live a sad pathetic life.

Answer 6

I bought Hohner Special 20s, not expensive and great tone.

Answer 7

Well - a Chromatic Harmonica and a blues harp would be ideal.

but dont buy this one

http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/details1.asp?ProductID=1246&name=hohner-7535-c-silver-concerto-harmonica.htm

Answer 8

blues are mostly played on a ten hole harp