Harmonica (harmonica). Harmonica

Two-reed tremolo and octave harmonicas are good for playing traditional dance tunes, including polkas, Scottish tunes, waltzes, and other types of melodies based on traditional styles such as Slavic, Celtic, Franco-Canadian, Scandinavian and American. Despite the fact that the world is dominated by blues diatonic and chromatic, historically and throughout the world, bi-reed harmonics (mainly tremolo) are the most widespread. When playing such harmonicas, they use different techniques playing various melodies (locking with the Tongue and locking with the Lips), but the most suitable is the locking of the sound holes (channels) with the tongue, a kind of accompaniment was obtained from the chords. Thus, rhythm, fullness and harmony of melodies is achieved, and no other accompaniment is required. This is a perfectly suitable method for playing.

Tremolo and octave harmonicas are basically the same standard diatonic harmonics, but two reeds play each note in the hole (channel). On Octave harmonics, these two reeds are tuned to the same note, but at one octave intervals, resulting in a fuller sound. On Tremolo, one of the reeds is tuned slightly higher than the second, resulting in a "tremolo" effect, the sound is fuller than on a standard diatonic harmonica. In appearance, most octave and tremolo accordions have some differences from diatonic ones. Instead of one row of 10 holes, they have 2 rows (1 row for inhaling notes and 1 row for exhaling notes) of 20 or more holes. In other words, two-reed harmonics have 4 times as many holes as single-reed harmonics.

Due to the larger number of holes, notes are positioned further to the sides than on a standard 10-hole harmonica, requiring more horizontal movement when playing than when playing a standard harmonica. This means that when you play chords, you have to work around fewer notes per chord. For example, on a diatonic harmonica in the key of C, you can play a 3-4-5 chord (B-D-F) while inhaling, this is a G7 chord, but on a two-reed harmonica you can only play D-F, this can sound like Dm or F6. Therefore, many of the melodies played on a double-reed harmonica will seem slightly different (maybe more neutral) than performed on a single-reed harmonica, but this is compensated by a fuller sound due to the additional reeds.

Tuning two reed accordions

The tuning system for two reed accordions is based on the so-called Richter system which is used to tune the standard "Marine Band" - a 10-hole diatonic harmonic. But there are also options. C-clef octaves and tremols often neglect the lower C - the lowest E note, this is not a malfunction or a defect because the lower octave is more often used for playing chords than for playing a melody. Many Tremolos released in Asia (probably the most common harmonicas in the world) use a slightly different tuning system. On these "Eastern Tremols" the lower octave is very similar to the middle octave of the standard Richter system. As a result, in the upper octave, adjacent notes played for inhalation and exhalation begin to distort, which requires certain skills in playing. Another system is used in Huang tools. The tuning is the same as the chromatic harmonic, but with double C notes on exhalation in each octave.

Two-reed accordions differ in another aspect of tuning. Most Western manufacturers (Hohner, Hering) use the "euphony" system. The notes are tuned so that they form good-sounding chords. But sometimes separate notes may not coincide with similar notes played on another instrument.

Asian manufacturers (Suzuki, Huang) are leaning towards balance. As a result, single notes are more accurate, but chords sound less pleasant than pure and strong. And the last aspect of tuning tremolo harmonics: - Western manufacturers place the double reeds far apart from each other, which gives an audible and fast vibration (also called "raw" tremolo). Asian manufacturers use a dry tremolo with the reeds close together for a slower vibration.

Octave and tremolo accordions come with different keys, each with their own sound and characteristics. Standard single-reed diatonic scales are available with all keys from low G to F-high. The note for C and D diatonic settings is very high for Octave accordions, so reeds are added one octave lower when tuning. On the other hand, for octave accordions with a G key, the reeds are taken one octave higher. Also, C and D tremolo instruments tune an octave lower than standard single-reed harmonics. Tremolo and Octave accordion with C key are very good for beginners.

History

The harmonica can be described as a compact pocket musical instrument that brings joy to millions of people around the world. At its core, the accordion is a Western-style wind organ. Since its invention by Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann in 1821, the popularity of this instrument has grown steadily. And after the appearance of the Hohner chromatic harmonica, the repertoire that could be performed on such instruments expanded significantly. True, not all fans of the harmonica know that the direct ancestor of their favorite instrument, like, indeed, all other European reed instruments, is the oriental. For the first time, the oriental wind organ came to Europe from China in the middle of the 18th century. This instrument consisted of 17 bamboo pipes of various sizes with copper tongues inside, which were attached in a circle to a metal body with a mouthpiece. After studying it, the idea arose to use reeds in the design of traditional organs. In 1790, using this invention, in St. Petersburg, Frantisek Kirshnik invents metal strips with “Oscillating reeds”. In 1820, artels for the production of metal strips and hand harmonics were organized in Russia. Shunaev and Timofei Vorontsov. harmonica was created by the German watchmaker Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann in 1821. According to the author's idea, his brainchild was more like a tuning fork, and not a musical instrument. The notes in it were arranged in chromatic order and were extracted only by exhalation. But the author of the most important design decision for that period of time was a master from Bohemia by the name of Richter. Around 1826, he made a sample of an accordion with ten holes and twenty tongues (separate for inhalation and exhalation) mounted in a wooden cedar body. Richter's proposed tuning option using a diatonic scale became standard for European instruments, which were called "Mundharmonika" or wind organ. In 1985, the company from Trossingen became the largest mass producer of harmonicas. At that time, it was led by the famous Matthias Honer. In 1857 alone, with the help of his family and one hired worker, he managed to produce 650 tools. In 1862, Honer brought a harmonica to North America... This was the step that subsequently led his firm to the world leadership in the manufacture of these instruments. By 1879, Honer was making 700,000 instruments a year. At the turn of the century, the annual output was already 5 million units. Now the company produces more than 90 different models of harmonicas, which allow the performer to freely express himself in any musical form whether it be classical, jazz, blues, rock or ethnic music. There are statistics that 40 million people play this instrument in the USA, and another 5 million in Canada. The rapid spread of the harmonica around the world could not be prevented even by world wars. German manufacturers produced special export models for various countries. During the 1st and 2nd World War, various organizations supplied German and British soldiers with accordions. As for Russia: -It is known that the harmonica in Russia was widespread in the 18th century and at the beginning of the 19th. "In Russian was published by M. Belsky in 1903 (on 11 pages in the digital system" tabs "). The gramophone record was recorded by G. Domansky in 1913 ("Seven Forty", March, Intermezzo, Waltz). It is known that the Soviet ideologists, after the Civil War, treated the harmonica favorably: - In 1929, K. Blagoveshchensky and A. Novoselsky released "Rolling self-instruction manual for G. G." - 7 pages (To the first All-Union meeting of pioneers). In 1940, during a period of relative warming in relations with Germany, the USSR Ministry of Defense decided, following the example of the Wehrmacht, to also put in a backpack Soviet soldier harmonica to raise morale. In this regard, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Defense, the production of harmonicas was established in the artel "Tula Harmonica" and at the factory. Soviet army in Moscow. At the next warming in ideological struggle in 1957, before World Festival youth and students in Moscow, in the USSR, in droves, the Tremolo and Chromatic harmonicas were brought to the trade network. At the same time, the tremolo was a multi-channel two-sided Viennese system with a Russian system, and the chromatics were 32-channel made by Weltmeister. The blues harmonics of the Richter system, produced by Hohner, were brought to Russia en masse in 1990.

Diatonic and chromatic harmonicas are fundamentally different from each other. Diatonic ones have a diatonic scale (for example: C D E F and so on) without semitone intervals between notes (C # D # and so on). Playing the diatonic harmonica resembles playing the white keys of a piano. There are no semitones (black keys) in its scale.

Diatonic harmonicas use three reed tuning methods: single, tremolo, and octave. In the first case, one tongue is located in each hole, which works on inhalation or exhalation. Each reed is tuned to its own pitch. The Hohner catalog contains a large number of models of a similar design. It happens that the model is presented only in the keys of C and G. In this design, four holes cover the range of one octave. Other models can be produced in major keys A, B, Bb C, Db, E, Eb, F, F #, G and Ab. Such an instrument with ten holes can be played in 3 octaves.

There are C or G minor tunings. They also have ten holes and span 3 octaves.

There is a model for blues musicians, which is produced in various keys and operates in 3 octaves.

Holes 1-3 and 8-10 are used for extracting chords. And through holes 4-7 you can play the entire diatonic scale. The notes of the scale are played as a sequence of exhalations and inhalations. Natural C major includes the following notes: C (do) D (pe) E (mi) F (fa) G (salt) A (a) B (si) C (do). To perform this ascending scale up, you need to do the following sequence of actions: exhale (C), inhale (D), exhale (E), inhale (F), exhale (G), inhale (A), inhale (B) and exhale ( C). In a downward movement, follow the same steps, but in reverse order.

The second tuning method is tremolo. These accordions have a row of double holes. Each hole is equipped with two reeds tuned to one note. However, at the same time, one of the reeds is adjusted slightly higher. When played on sound, this subtle difference in tuning creates a vibration reminiscent of a tremolo effect. There are single, double-sided, quartet and sextet models of these accordions, ranging from two to four octaves. Each of the models is available in several keys. The single model is an accordion with one row of double holes. Double-sided has two rows of holes with different patterns, located on opposite sides of the body. Other models are from 4 to 6 harmonicas in different keys, fixed on a single holder.

The third type of harmonica tuning is octave. Structurally, it does not differ from the previous one. The only difference is that the reeds located in the double holes are tuned in octave intervals. These models have powerful sound without any vibration. Accords with this tuning option exist only in a single or double-sided version.

Chromatic accordions

The type of harmonica that allows the performer to extract also semitones is called a chromatic harmonica. A similar tool was proposed by Hohner in 1920. There are two types of chromatic harmonicas: for solo playing and for accompaniment. The first variety, as the name implies, is intended for playing solo or in an ensemble. On such an instrument, halftones are extracted using a slider, that is, a button located on one of the sides of the instrument body.

The range of chromatic harmonicas can be from 2 to 4 octaves. There are models for beginners and professionals. 2-octave chromatic has a range from C 1st octave to C # 3rd octave. The professional 2 1/2 octave model can be played from C 1st octave to F # 3rd octave. The 3-octave models are also available for both beginners and professionals. Their range also starts from the 1st octave. 4-octave, professional models range from C small octave to D of the 4th octave. When the slider on the chromatic accordion is released, the performer has access to diatonic notes (white piano keys), and when the slider is depressed, to semitones (black keys).

Another type of chromatic is the bass harmonica, which is used in orchestral accompaniment. These instruments work in the bass register, starting from the E, located in the controctave. Another accompanying instrument is the 48-chord harmonica. This instrument is used in ensemble accompaniment. The “Hohner The 48 Chord” model consists of two connected harmonicas with 12 chords on inhalation or exhalation each, for a total of 48 chords. Moreover, these can be major, minor, dominant, diminished and augmented chords. This tool has 96 double holes and 384 reeds. At 58.4 cm long, it is the longest harmonica in the world.

The harmonica is a small, versatile instrument that most people in the world play almost any kind of music. Although at first glance it may seem difficult to learn how to play the harmonica, the harmonica is actually an easy and fun instrument to learn to play. Read the steps below to learn how to play the harmonica.

Steps

Getting started

Choose a harmonium. There's a lot different types mouth accordions available for purchase, which vary in use and price. Today, diatonic or chromatic harmonics are available for purchase. Any kind can be used to play the most popular music such as blues or folk.

• Diatonic harmonicas are the most common and readily available type, and of course the cheapest. It is tuned to a specific key that cannot be changed. Most diatonic harmonica are tuned to the key C. Types of diatonic harmonica include "blues harmonica", "tremolo harmonica" and "octave harmonica."
  • The blues harmonica is common in the west, and in East Asia tremolo harmonica is more common.
• Chromatic harmonica is a type of harmonica that uses a mechanical apparatus to control which holes produce sound. The 10-note chromatic fundamental can only play one full sound (just like the diatonic harmonica), but the 12-16 hole chromatic can be tuned to any key. Chromatic harmonics are significantly more expensive than most diatonic harmonics; a high-quality chromatic accordion from a well-known brand can cost several hundred dollars.
  • Due to its customizability, the 12-note chromatic harmonica is generally preferred for jazz music.
• A common abbreviated term for a harmonica is “harmonica”. This name derives from other traditional names including "French harmonica" and "blues harmonica". As long as the context is clear, the words "accordion" and "harmonica" can be used interchangeably.

Learn about the harmonica. The Harmonica is a reed musical instrument that uses brass reeds. The tabs are used to create tone when you blow or blow air through the holes. The tongues are mounted on a plate called a tongue plate, which is usually made of brass. The part of the harmonic in which the reed plate is mounted is called the comb, and is usually made of plastic or metal. The harmonica mouthpiece can be built into the comb, or as in chromatic harmonics, screwed on separately. Protective panels for the rest of the unit can be made of wood, metal or plastic.

• The chromatic harmonic guide is also made of metal.
• Depending on whether you breathe in or out into the harmonica, different notes are produced by the reeds. A regular diatonic harp is tuned to C (C major) on exhalation, and G (G major) on inhalation. They complement each other beautifully and there is no need to add additional holes.
• The reeds inside the harmonica are thin and wear out over time. Easy game and regular care will keep the sound good for as long as possible.

Learn to read harmonica tablature. Like guitars, the harmonica can be played on the tablature, which makes it easier for notes to sheet music to an easily observed patterned system of holes and inspirations / expirations. The tablature is also suitable for large chromatic harmonics, but it differs slightly from the diatonic tablature and is usually used less often.

• Breathing is marked with arrows. An up arrow indicates exhalation; down arrow - inhale.
  • Most holes on a diatonic harmonic produce two “adjacent” notes at a given scale, thus playing C and then D in the same scale, this is done by blowing into the corresponding hole and then drawing air from the same hole.
• The holes are marked with numbers starting from the lowest (left) note and moving up. Thus, the bottom two notes are (up) 1 and (down) 1. At the 10-hole harmonic, the most high note will be (down) 10.
  • Some notes of the normal 10-hole harmonic overlap, especially (down) 2 and (up) 3. This is necessary to ensure the correct range for playing.
• More advanced methods are indicated with forward slashes or other small mark. Diagonal slash arrows indicate that note curvature (discussed later) is required to obtain correct sound... Chevrons or forward slashes on chromatic tablature can indicate whether to hold the button or not.
  • There is no standardized tablature system that is used by all harmonists. However, once you practice and master reading one type, you will learn most of the other types quickly.

Basic Harmonica Playing Technique

Play notes as you exhale. The very first thing to do is to practice playing the notes with your new instrument. Select a hole or multiple holes on the mouthpiece and blow gently into them. Adjacent holes are usually designed to automatically harmonize the melody with each other, so try to produce a pleasant sound by blowing three holes at the same time. Practice by blowing one hole, then playing chords multiple holes.

• This type of playing is called "straight harmonic" or "first position."
• As you might guess, the number of holes you blow through partially controls your lips. Eventually, you will learn how to use the front of your tongue to block the holes to provide control over the notes you play. This is described below.

Take a deep breath to change the notes. Keeping in mind that the air must be inhaled gently through the reeds, inhale, increasing the notes by one step. By inhaling and exhaling through the mouthpiece, you can access all of the harmony-tuned notes.

• This kind of playing is called "cross-harmonic" or "second position." Cross-harmonic notes are often suitable for blues riffs.
• If you have a chromatic harmonica, practice pressing and holding the button for additional control over the notes you play.

Try to play the entire range. On a diatonic harmonic tuned to C, the C scale starts at (to) 4 and rises to (to) 7. The standard from / to pattern is repeated except for the 7th hole, where it switches (inhale and then exits). This scale is the only full scale on the C tuned harmonic, but it is sometimes possible to play songs on other bands as long as they do not require the missing note (s) of the range.

Practice. Keep practicing playing the range and individual notes until you feel comfortable playing only one note at a time. Once you are able to achieve the desired control over the instrument, select simple songs and train on them. Tabs for songs like “Mary Had a Lamb” and “Oh Suzanne” are easy to find on the Internet if you don't.

• Try to add flavor by playing several notes at the same time. The next step in your practice is to loosen the control a little and add two-note and three-note chords to the songs that you practice by playing two or three adjacent holes at once. This will help you control your mouth and breathing more and play the songs more sonorously.
  • Don't play everything in chords! Try adding a chord at the end of a verse or phrase. The important thing is to learn how to switch between single notes and multiple notes.

Advanced techniques

Pay for lessons. From now on if you are under guidance experienced player, you will see fast and technically sound results, although you can, of course, continue to learn on your own. Harmonica lessons vary in price and frequency; feel free to try a few lessons from one teacher and then move on to another that suits your needs.

• Even if you are taking lessons, continue to rely on guides and books to improve your game. There is no reason to ditch other materials just because you supplement them with professional pursuits.

Skip the holes. It's easy to get used to the pattern by constantly forcing air in and out through the harmonica, but once you start playing more advanced songs, you have to practice some holes in order to reach others. Play songs on notes that require you to jump over a hole or two, such as an American traditional melody, “Shenandoah,” which jumps from the 4th to the 6th hole near the end of the second phrase (on a standard C diatonic).

• Practice skipping by pulling the harmonica slightly to the side and then returning it to the correct position (for further familiarization with the position of each hole) and stopping the air flow without removing the harmonica (to practice breathing more).

Play with both cupped hands. To begin with, you probably held the harmonica with your index and thumb of your left (or non-dominant) hand and moved it as you played. Add your right (or dominant) hand to play. Rest the heel of your right palm and thumb left hand, and then lay with an edge right palm together with your left so that your fingers close around your left pinky. This creates a “sounding hole” that can be used to influence the sound emanating from the harmonic.

• Add a soft melody or yell by slapping the sounding hole, opening it and closing it. Use this at the end of a verse to add emotion, or just to practice.
• Create a locomotive horn effect by starting with an open sounding hole, then closing it and opening it again.
• Play muted, quiet sound, leaving the sounding hole nearly closed.
• You will likely find that this position forces you to hold the harmonic at an angle with the left edge pointing down and inward. This position is actually perfect for other techniques, so take advantage of it.

Learn to block your tongue. Language blocking is great way turn single notes into beautiful chords without breaking the original notes. By using the side (rib) of the tongue, you will block some notes of the chord, and then lift it up partially as the note is sounded to add them. This technique takes practice, but the position of the hole should help naturally present the side of your tongue to the mouthpiece.

• First, open your mouth to cover the first four holes of the harp. Using your tongue, block holes 1 through 3 and play a straight note on hole 4. If you did everything correctly, you should only hear the playing (up) 4. After you do this easily, play a steady note and then raise your tongue in the middle to make complete harmony.
• The basic technique for changing notes is to make the lip opening very, very small, and dramatically draw air through them into the opening you want to change. Stretch out the cross-harmonic notes and gradually purse your lips until you hear a change in tone. By tightening your lips more or less, you can further control the tone of the note.
• Be very careful when you practice changing notes. Because the air crosses the tabs so abruptly that it can easily loosen or bend them, destroying the instrument. To find the golden mean between not changing the note and changing it too much, patience and caution are needed.

• When people start playing the harmonica, the sound doesn't sound good, and many take longer to produce a good sound. Practice every day and don't give up.
• As the notes change, breathe in / out very deeply. Changing the notes on a harmonica requires solid preparation and strong lungs.

Hey! Many fans of guitar and guitar music, as well as just people who are interested in musical instruments, often would like to learn how to play such a wonderful and affordable musical instrument as a harmonica, or simply a harmonica.

Well, now I'll tell you and give tips.

Harmonica

Harmonica (colloquial. harmonica) - reed pneumatic musical instrument, a kind of harmonica. Inside the harmonica there are metal plates (reeds) that vibrate in the air stream created by the musician.
Harmonica is most often used in such musical directions like blues, folk, bluegrass, blues rock, country, jazz, pop.

Accords are diatonic and chromatic... Chromatic - more sophisticated tools with big amount holes and with a button on the side. We, as beginners, are interested in a simpler solution, so our choice will be a diatonic harmonica with 10 holes and always in the key "C" (C). Why? Because it is logical to start learning from the most common tool, which is the basis for any self-guides and video tutorials on the Internet.
I myself have been playing the harmonica for a little over a week. That is, I am practically the same as you - at the very beginning of my journey. However, I will take responsibility and dare to give some advice on choosing.

• Choosing mouth accordions made of plastic: the tree will swell from our inept lips and saliva;
• We choose only brand accordions Hohner;
• Select the accordions in the "C" key;
• Choosing models Blues Band, Big River Harp, Golden Melody, Marine BandSpecial 20;
• We rejoice like children.

How to study

Very simple. All you need is a harmonica, a metronome (link below), and a self-study book (links are also below). Naturally, patience, perseverance and hard work. The tool, although quite simple, is not so fast to learn.

In order to save you from the dreary walking on various sites, I want to present you two self-study books: a choice. They are written simple and understandable language, are designed for the very beginning musician and very efficiently bring you to the level at which you can play any melody you want.

This is a book "Harmonica. Self-study guide " publisher Smolin K.O. 2000, and the book "A self-instruction manual for playing the harmonica" author Beletskaya M. 2008. The second option is its own audio application with tunes played on the harmonica.

You can download both books from our Yandex.Disk:

Save, print and hang the harmonica fingering on the wall. It will help you navigate faster and start playing:

An attentive reader who is in the slightest degree familiar with musical notation, will notice that the diatonic harmonica is precisely for this reason called diatonic, that there are no halftone sounds - flats and sharps - but only a simple diatonic series: Do, Re, Mi, Fa ... We play it like white piano keys. There are no blacks here.
(Well, by the way, they can also be extracted, but all this is already learned by us later, after obtaining certain skills).

I hope this little post helped you in choosing a tool, and if you have already bought it, it helped you in choosing a training material :)

By the way: you need to practice with the metronome!

A sense of rhythm, playing in an ensemble, with a guitar - all these skills are remarkably developed if you study with a metronome. This applies not only harmonica but also any other instrument. So don't neglect it simple solution, and the efficiency of your classes will be many times higher.

And further: if this material was not enough for you, that is, a good site “All About the Harmonica”. Here's a link:

See you soon!

This post was part of the Alaborn project – music education playing instruments, musical theory and the basics of harmony, vocal technique. Follow the news on our blog and it will only get better.

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Harmonica is one of the most popular reed wind instruments in the world. Compact, lightweight, it can be played both solo and in an ensemble, it brings joy to many people around the world. Rooted in China, where the first prototype of the wind organ was invented, in Europe the first harmonica was invented by the watchmaker Christian Buschmann in 1821.

Varieties of harmonicas: There are many types of harmonicas, in different keys, but the most popular of them are: diatonic and chromatic in C major.

• Diatonic - only diatonic notes are available for this harmonica. Despite the fact that such an accordion has a limited scale, with the help of various techniques (bends) it is possible to extract notes that were not originally incorporated into the harmonica. Having mastered this technique, you can smoothly learn to lower the notes, which is very characteristic of the blues style. Diatonic harmonicas are very popular with beginners because their bodies are mostly made of plastic, they are relatively inexpensive and easy to operate.
• Chromatic - this accordion has a special mechanism (slider) that allows you to take semitones. Thus, on it you can extract all the notes from the chromatic scale. These harmonicas are different large size, and the number of holes reaches from 10 to 16. The body is made of plastic or wood. Most often used in styles such as jazz, blues, classical.
• Tremolo and Octave - These harmonicas tend to have an extended range of notes, and a double row of holes. In a tremolo, one of the reeds is tuned slightly higher than the second, this creates a tremolo effect, the sound is fuller, and the color becomes slightly “out of tune”. In an octave harmonica, the reeds are tuned to the same note, but with an interval of one octave, which gives the instrument the effect of sounding two harmonicas at the same time. They are used for traditional folk melodies: polka, Scottish melodies, waltz, etc.
• Minor and major - as a rule, any harmonica has its own specific key. This is not always convenient, double-sided accordions were invented. The design of these models is such that the holes are located on the left and right, and the musician, by changing sides, can play in a different key. The maximum number can be up to six options.

The designs of the most popular models in use at the moment were considered.

Tips & Care: For beginner harpers (harmonica performers), the diatonic harmonica in C major is suitable. This tonality is most convenient for studying works, since most self-study guides are written for this tonality. The accordion should be with a plastic body, it does not swell like wood, it does not need to be impregnated with wax and it does not let sound through. If you decide on a wooden case, you should consider the Marin Band Crossover harmonica, its resonator is made of bamboo, and unlike a pear, it does not swell over time. Typically, the boards are fastened with screws to the covers and over time they can be disassembled and gently cleaned the tongues from dust and dirt. Buying a children's or a cheap accordion, you doom your lungs to hard work with these “tight” instruments.