{"id":26139,"date":"2016-05-19T19:20:19","date_gmt":"2016-05-19T17:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/?p=26139"},"modified":"2017-03-22T14:29:24","modified_gmt":"2017-03-22T13:29:24","slug":"introduction-blues-harmonica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/gear\/introduction-blues-harmonica\/","title":{"rendered":"Introduction to Blues Harmonica"},"content":{"rendered":"

If there is one sound, characteristic to the blues, it\u2019s the\u00a0harmonica<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0This wind instrument, small in size, is a descendant of the accordion and has been a favourite among hustlers, globetrotters and buskers.\u00a0It appeared in the US at the same time as the\u00a0birth of the blues<\/strong>\u00a0and its development and evolution are credited\u00a0to the innovative style and techniques that came from blues musicians. Today, major manufacturers of diatonic harmonicas<\/strong><\/a> are CA Seydel S\u00f6hne<\/strong><\/a>, Hohner<\/strong> <\/a>and Lee Oskar<\/strong><\/a>. There are also more affordable\u00a0alternatives such as\u00a0Harley Benton<\/strong><\/a> .<\/p>\n

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Advice<\/h2>\n

There are many types of harmonicas, but the most prevalent in this style of music is the \u00ab\u00a0diatonic<\/a>\u00a0harmonica<\/a>\u00a0\u00bb<\/strong>\u00a0aka\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0<\/strong>blues harp\u00a0\u00bb<\/strong>.\u00a0As the name suggests this type of harmonica corresponds to a diatonic scale<\/strong>\u00a0equivalent to that of a piano and of unique tonality<\/strong>. The most common and most suitable to enter the world of the harmonica for blues tonality is in C<\/strong>.\u00a0Although this type of harmonica is primarily intended for blues<\/strong>, it is also frequently found in rock music<\/strong>,\u00a0folk<\/strong>, country <\/strong>and bluegrass<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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There are mainly three materials<\/strong>\u00a0used in manufacturing diatonic harmonicas. There’s
\nwood, <\/strong>which according to some, particularly\u00a0offers a warmer sound, but has\u00a0the disadvantage of leakage unlike plastic,<\/strong>\u00a0which is easier to maintain and is more affordable. Metal<\/strong>\u00a0is still used on the bodies of top models with numerous benefits such as power and\u00a0clarity.<\/p>\n

And on stage, you can play live with a special microphone<\/strong><\/a> for your harmonica, known as a bullet microphone.<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Carbon microphones often\u00a0offer a rusty tone and distortion much recognized in the blues.<\/p>\n\n\t\t