Harmonica for beginners: A simple introduction to an iconic instrument

Harmonica for beginners
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The harmonica is an iconic (albeit not the most popular) instrument. From prison movies to blues bands, the harmonica has solidified its place in history. And the best part? You can play the harmonica while you play another instrument!

If you’ve ever wanted to play the harmonica, either as your primary instrument or as a second instrument, then you’ve come to the right place.

The first step to playing the harmonica is to buy one. While you might be able to pick on up second hand, from a hygiene perspective, you will want to buy a new one. In addition to the hygiene issue, harmonica reeds are delicate, and expensive to fix. If you don’t know where to buy a harmonica, you can check out our online store and have one delivered to your front door.

To work through the video below all, you will need is a Diatonic Harmonica (aka Blues Harp) in the key of C. The most common makes are Fender, Hohner, Suzuki and Seydel, with the Fenders being one of the most popular for South African players. Unlike the guitar or piano, each harmonica is limited to a specific key, so you would either need to learn each of your songs in one key or plan to buy multiple harmonicas.

With regular practice and a step-by-step, or lesson-by-lesson approach, you will playing the harmonica in no time at all. However, there is no rush, take your time to hone the skills presented in each lesson before moving on to the next. With time and patience, you will be bending, improvising and playing with the knowledge to take your musical journey in any direction you like.

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