Which blues harmonica

And, if the answer is obvious it is better to know than to ask. Many players will indicate the key, but some will not. Also, asking which key to use for a blues in E is like a soccer player asking a team mate which direction the ball should go. It is better to find out the key without asking, this article shows how. If you are not sure about harmonica keys or second position , then read this article first.

To learn more about second position, see my online lessons at Harmonica Academy. In particular, you should know that a set of harmonicas in different keys as shown above is needed before joining a jam.

Each verse of a song starts the pattern, the key of the song is best found at this point. Consider a blues jam. Your solo might start after two verses, longer if a guitar takes the first solo. Other keys are used but these are the most common, particularly with guitar players.

So, finding the correct key is educated guesswork. First, we review harmonica keys for second position blues. Your harmonica case should be arranged so that these keys are easily located. It helps to take the yellow sticker with the key off the harmonica case and put it on the harmonica, as shown in the picture. This model has a plastic comb that is comfortable on the mouth, even after practicing for long periods of time. Three of our experts Vallely, musician Brian McIniss , and New York City—based musician and private teacher Marcus Millius like the Lee Oskar harmonica because it has slightly larger holes than other models and a bright and clear tone that makes it easy to learn how to isolate and play single notes — something beginner students often struggle with.

If that sounds like you or the harmonica player in your life, Barrett and Prene recommend this hole Super Chromonica Deluxe, from the same brand that makes our best overall harmonica for beginners. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments , rolling luggage , pillows for side sleepers , natural anxiety remedies , and bath towels. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.

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You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Necessary Necessary. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This harmonica is relatively well-made, though the covers are pinned rather than screwed which can be a little less durable in the long-run.

Why We Liked It - With stainless steel cover plates and brass reed plates, this is pretty impressive for a bargain model. This is a perfect starter harmonica for beginners and also a good knock-about instrument for the pros, ideal for dishing out for when the unrelenting punter wants a turn. We're sticking with Hohner for just a beat longer. The Hogner is a well-known name, and one of the best harmonicas. This particular BX-C model is manufactured in-house in the heart of Germany, unlike the exported entry-level harmonica model above.

These blues harmonicas are out of Hohners Modular Series line, which means that every single part of this bad boy can be swapped out and traded for any other part of their other MS harmonicas, meaning you can customize it as you like.

This harmonica features a well-tuned set of 20 brass reed plates, bending with an unsurpassed tone that has a gritty blues edge. This harmonica is great for live performance and holds its own. It benefits from a wooden comb core, which is a little more susceptible to moisture damage, but it provides a consistent volume and a fuller tone than plastic, because of its better natural acoustics.

The harmonica has hardy stainless steel cover-plates that are nicely engraved. It has a beautiful curvature to it that sits well in the hands, making it ideal for the average harmonica player. Hohner make other harmonica sets too, a few mentions being the Hohner Marine Band Harmonica set, the Hohner Marine, the Hohner Special, the Hohner Special 20, if you'd like to check those out. Why We Liked It - This harmonica has great playability, epic presence, and delivers that unmistakable Hohner tone that's perfect for the dirtiest blues.

We're back in the budget-friendly realms of best harmonicas. Now for an option from I-Mart, which appears to be a Swan model in actuality, or at least features Swan cover-plates, so may have come from the same manufacturing line. These harmonicas are a nice gift option as they come in a range of colors, largely because the cover itself is plastic rather than metallic.

The plastic choice of covering allows for faster octave slides. It's pretty well-made and the reeds have no tuning issues like some budget harmonica models can. The playability could be better, it seems a little hard to play with any real nuance. There are 10 holes, and it does bend reasonably well and is a little on the slimmer side better for a harmonica player with smaller hands.

It comes with a compact storage case that is pretty hardy. Why We Liked It - This harmonica is reasonably well-made. We would probably, in all honesty, go for the fender over this one, unless you are specifically looking for a plastic or colored option. That said, it does the job. This blues harmonica is well-manufactured and features phosphor-bronze alloy reed-plates to spring from, which give it a nice reverberation.

The alloy composition also makes it more resistant to corrosion. The harmonica is easy to play and the holes are numbered clearly on the cover-plate, which also makes it a good student model for learning on. This blues harmonica has a hardy ABS comb which can be rinsed with lukewarm water. It has a bright tone. The trebles have a good sustain and it has fair volume without a mic.

Why We Liked It - It is another great low-cost starter option ideal for learning with. We are finishing up today's reviews with a seven-piece blues harmonica set that comes presented in a nice High-grade ABS carry case with soft cushioned insides. Each harmonica has its own pocket compartment, and the case has a soft covering and strong leather handles for strength and portability. Whilst these harmonicas aren't high-end models, you do get a range of keys to play with for the same price as a premium diatonic harmonica.

The best blues harmonicas are well-made with cupronickel cover-plates that are nicely engraved. They have solid brass insides.