harmonica care advice

7/28/2019 Harmonica Care Advice

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Oral hygiene -

Oral hygiene is vitally important before playing any mouth blown musical instrument. Brushing ones teeth and using a sugar-

free mouthwash, such as Listerine, will ensure that no food particles or sticky saliva deposits are introduced into the harmonica.

* It cannot be over emphasized how impor tant this simple step is

Harmonica Temperature -

One should not blow into a cold harmonica. This causes a good deal of condensation resulting in problems with the delicatevalves. The instrument should be warmed for ve minutes or so in a trouser pocket for instance to reduce initial condensation

buildup. Failure to do this may well result in a popping or buzzing sound before the reed speaks. After playing, let the

harmonica dry out naturally, away from direct heat, before returning it to its case.

Cleaning the Harmonica -

Do not wash or run water into any harmonica for whatever reason, this will result in severe damage to your harmonica. To

remove tarnish, oxidation and discolouration of metal cover plates and mouthpiece use a good quality cutlery cleaner. Apply

the compound sparingly and then buffto a super shiny nish.

* Do Not Rinse with Water

Working in Association with Hohner Building the Finest Harmonicas in The World

How to Care for your Harmonica ?

Harmonica Basics -

Difficulties producing clear and proper sounding notes especially on the lower draw notes, particularly hole 2 & 3 on all types of

harmonica, and holes 11 & 12 both blow and draw on chromatic harmonicas are the most common problems beginners to the

harmonica encounter. These new players tend to make the notes sound muffled, dull and at. It is extremely unlikely that there is

a fault with the harmonica and there is nothing that can be done to make the harmonica easier to play.

Please bear in mind that you would not expect to produce a pure note the rst time you played a clarinet or ute. The harmonica

is an instrument which requires the same respect in learning as any other musical instrument. It is not simply a case of blowing

and drawing, however hard or soft, and then expecting to produce a clear sound. Each hole of the harmonica demands different

lip, mouth and tongue positions, with a controlled - never forced - blow or draw of breath from the diaphragm.

Treat the harmonica with respect and practice seriously -you will become procient- but you must work hard to achieve this.

If you are still struggling after a few weeks of practice please telephone Antony on the workshop numbers and he can talk you

through some of the tips and techniques of harmonica playing.

* Please have your harmonica ready and at hand

Advice For The novice player

For more information please visit www.antonydannecker.com or email [email protected]

Antony Dannecker Professional Harmonica Craftsman - Building the Finest Harmonicas in the World in Association with HOHNER


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some of the more popular tuning variations possible on any

ten hole diatonic blues harmonica

Major -

The most common tuning for diatonic harmonicas and blues players.

Country Tuning -

Ideal for playing in cross position providing the major seventh scale - perfect for country music. Draw reed number 5 raised asemitone.

Country Tuning (aka McCoy) -

Ideal for playing in cross position providing the major seventh scale - perfect for country and Irish folk music. Draw reed number

5 raised a semitone & 3 blow raised a tone.

Melody Maker -

Ideal for playing cross position providing an extended range for single note melodies as you have the complete major scale.

Offers an extremely versatile harp when played in cross position which can be used for jazz, country, folk and many more styles.

Blow reed number 3 raised a tone. Draw reeds 5 and 9 raised a semitone.

Natural Minor -

Again, this tuning is designed to be played in cross position and provides the player with that soulful bluesy sound. Can be used

for many different styles of playing. Blow reeds 2, 5 and 8 lowered a semitone. Draw reeds 3 and 7 lowered a semitone.

Harmonic Minor -

Used mainly in the ethnic music of Eastern Europe, Asia and Yiddish styles. Blow reeds 2, 5 and 8 lowered a semitone. Draw

reeds 6 and 10 lowered a semitone.

Paddy Richter -

Makes melodies easier in the low octave. Used mainly in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions. Ideal for Irish folk music and other fast

melodies. Blow reed 3 raised a tone.

Canned Heat -

A tuning adjustment is made specically for the Canned Heat track 'On the Road Again'. Harps in key A major intonated tuning

only (to be played in cross position). Reed draw 6 is raised a semi-tone from F#-G.

diatonic blues harmonicas tuning information




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Intonated Tuning -

A442 hertz with certain reeds tuned slightly atter to achieve pure and sweet sounding chords with no harsh sounding vibrato.

This is always the rst choice of tuning for the majority of diatonic players regardless of style.

Straight Tuning -

Every single reed is tuned at the same pitch - sacricing pure sounding chords but retaining pure octaves. All reeds are tuned to

the optimum A442 Hertz. (Only choose this tuning if single note melodies are played).

Alternate Tunings -Antony is always happy to hear from players who require bespoke tunings. It is often the case that quite elaborate tuning

configurations can be achieved at a very modest cost. The tuning modifications requiring pitch changes to one or two reeds often

incur no extra charge.

diatonic blues harmonicas tuning information



harmonica care advice

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