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Photo: Hohner

There is nothing like a harmonica’s voice over a foot stomping blues riff, just grooving. It’s probably one of the most underrated instruments around, but one that has helped shape modern blues and folk music. Blues harmonica is extremely expressive. Emotions drip from the instrument like thick molasses. Playing harmonica will get you in touch with yourself, and take you to the crossroads of blues music.

A brief history: from China to Chicago

The harmonica is related to the Chinese gourd and reed instrument, the Sheng. But a prototype that more resembled the modern day harmonica was developed in Europe in the 19^th century. It first appeared in Vienna in 1824, and by 1857, a clockmaker, Matthias Hohner, mass produced them to supply to a growing market.

The instrument gained popularity all over the world, and, even in America, playing harmonica caught on. Hohner started to supply the States in 1868 and by 1920, the diatonic harmonica, the blues harmonica, had already taken on much of its modern form. Then president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, apparently carried a Hohner blues harmonica around with him in his pocket. He is also known to have said that one of his favourite things to do, other than smoke his pipe, was playing harmonica.

How it works

Photo: Hohner

Harmonica music is some of the most emotionally charged stuff out there. Such a powerful instrument is actually really simple in terms of how it works. Most diatonic harmonicas, like the Hohner blues harmonica, have ten holes. There is a ‘comb’ behind the holes that holds reeds – these used to be wooden but now they are metal. There are two reeds per hole. When blowing, one reed vibrates; when breathing in, the other reed vibrates, making different notes. There are therefore twenty notes on a harmonica, but when playing harmonica, you will find that there are other variations.

Some harmonica greats: music you should listen too

Folk music, blues and Jazz have been the main homes for harmonica playing. There have been so many great musicians to take up harmonica music. Bob Dylan sprinkled his blues harp melodies over his gritty folk music. Neil Young played it in some versions of ‘heart of gold’. LittleWalter was considered by some to be the best harmonica player ever. Many in the music industry and community mourned his death in 1968, exactly one hundred years after harmonicas first landed in America. Other players to look out for: Howlin’ Wolf, Rice Miller and Junior Wells. You have to learn harmonica from the best, and the best way to learn is by listening.

Some lessons

Photo: Hohner

There are quite a few online courses one can take to learn harmonica. Grammy award winner Howard Levy recently launched his own online course. There you’ll find the best in techniques, warm-ups and more. Do a bit of research and you’ll also find great sites with free beginner courses and sound bites to help you play correctly. But again, playing is about first listening and then trying, and, it’s all about the feeling. It’s all about the blues.

Taking care of your harp

So now you have a Hohner Blues harmonica, and you’re playing all day and playing all night, right after breakfast and dinner, while drinking a soft drink, and allowing every Joe you meet to have a go, and you’re starting to notice a bad taste coming from your harmonica – horrible. First thing to do – and a very important thing indeed – is learn harmonica maintenance. For health reasons – for you and your harmonica. There are certain cleaning routines for certain types of harmonicas. Some harmonicas need monthly cleaning, others daily, and there are a whole host of things to do and to avoid in keeping your harmonica in prime playing condition.

Then it’s just you, your blues harmonica, and the groove. Play on daddy-o.