harmonica

It is called harmonica yet musical instrument of wind, also referred to as harmonica (although this writing is rare). In the Peruvian territory, the harmonica is known as roundabout.

The harmonica is a kind of small-sized, elongated box that presents numerous tongue holes. To touch this instrument, you must blow or suck through these holes.

The harmonica is a wind instrument.

Harmonica Features

We said that the harmonica is a wind instrument: this implies that the sound is produced by the vibration of the air that is inside, without resorting to membranes or ropes. On the other hand, beyond its material, the harmonica integrates the set of the wooden instruments because this vibration of the air takes place in the instrument, unlike what happens in the so-called brass instruments, where the oscillation is performed with the performer's lips.

Harmonicas, as we already indicated, have reeds. These metal strips enable the production of the sound when, with the breaths and aspirations of the musician, they vibrate. Since the strips do not collide with each other or impact a mouthpiece, the harmonica is a free reed instrument.

The tabs

To understand how the harmonica works, it is important to focus on the reeds, which are made with steel or brass. Each reed is associated with a note and a pitch, in turn defined by the length of the strip: the shorter reeds generate high-pitched sounds, while the longer reeds deliver bass sounds.

When the musician blows or sucks for a hole or several at a time, causes one or more reeds to vibrate and produce sound. It is important to mention that each reed of the harmonica has one of its ends fixed and the other loose, the latter being the one that moves with the air and makes the creation of sounds possible.

Musicians who play the harmonica simultaneously with another instrument can use a stand.

The parts of the harmonica

We already referred to the reeds on the harmonica. It remains to add that the rivets of each individual tongue to the support give rise to the so-called reed sets, which are covered with protective plates. Are veneers they define the quality of the instrument's tone by establishing how the sound is projected.

The main body of the harmonica, on the other hand, is called hair comb. This piece houses the reed cells. The mouthpiece, meanwhile, is located between the mouth of the musician and the cells; Depending on the model, it can be independent, form part of the protective plate or integrated into the comb.

Classification according to type

According to your design and your properties, harmonics are classified differently. The one that houses the entire chromatic scale, with sharps and flats, is called chromatic harmonica.

The diatonic harmonica, for its part, has a three-octave extension. The octave harmonica and the tremolo harmonica are others lessons harmonics.

It is interesting to note that the harmonica can rest on a medium that holds it close to the musician's mouth, without the latter having to take it with his hands. These stands are very useful when the subject is simultaneously playing another instrument (such as a guitar, to mention one possibility).