Best Professional Harmonica
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The harmonica is a free-reed wind instrument. This musical instrument is also known as the French Harp, mouth organ or blues harp and is widely used in different types of music particularly jazz, rock, blues, country, classical music and American folk music.
When played the harmonica is placed close to your mouth to direct air into or out of the several holes on the mouthpiece of the instrument. The flow of air in or out of the openings causes the metal reeds to vibrate at a specific frequency and produces a melodious sound.
What are the Best Professional Harmonica?
There are different types of harmonica, primarily the diatonic and chromatic harmonicas, other types include base harmonica, chord harmonica, echo harmonica and tremolo harmonica.
Components of a Harmonica.
There are three main parts of a standard harmonica. They include:
• A piece of plastic with several openings, to direct air into or suck the air out of the harmonica.
• Two separate metal reeds that vibrate when air is blown in, or drawn out of the holes along the mouthpieces.
• Two cover pieces for shielding the top and bottom components.
Each component serves a specific function in producing a musical tone.
Buying the right Harmonica.
To master the harmonica you need more than just talent, it requires buying the right type of harmonica, patience and a lot of practice.
With different types of Harmonica's available in the market, it is common for you to be confused about which one to purchase.
Thankfully, this guide will review different professional harmonicas, their features and every other important specifications you need to know.
7 Best Professional Harmonica Reviews
1) Hohner Special 20 Harmonica, Major C
Hohner Special 20 Harmonica is a ten-hole diatonic used by harmonica players of nearly all music styles.
Appearance: The cover plates of this harmonica is made out of stainless steel with closed sides to make it more bendable and airtight.
Types of reeds: The Hohner Special 20 is constructed with replaceable brass reeds plates.
Size: The Hohner Special 20 can easily fit into tiny pouches or compartments. It also has its own carrying case for protection and portability.
Comb: This harmonica has a sturdy ABS black plastic comb.
Weight: The Hohner Special 20 weighs 4.8 ounces with a product dimension of 8.5 x 5.2 x 1.4 inches.
Longevity: The plastic comb of this Harmonica is easy to clean and does not swell due to moisture absorption. However, it's brass reed plates have to be replaced from time to time as they wear out easily
Musical style: The is ideal for producing country, blues, folk or rock music.
2) Hohner Marine Band Harmonica, Key Of C
The Hohner Marine Band Harmonica is one of the most well-known Harmonicas used by leading professional harmonica players.
Appearance: The cover plates of this harmonica are made out of arched stainless steel covers with side vents, and fastened to the comb for extra support.
Capability: The Hohner Marine Band Harmonica comes in twelve (12) major keys, along with lower and higher octave and minor tunings.
Types of reeds: The brass plates of Hohner Marine Band Harmonica is constructed using brass.
Size: The Suzuki Promaster Harmonica can easily fit into tiny pouches or compartments.
Comb: It has a lacquered pearwood comb which produces a fantastic tone. The comb is sealed to prevent swelling due to moisture absorption as you blow and draw air.
Weight: The Suzuki Promaster Harmonica weighs 3.2 ounces with a product dimension of 5 x 1 x 1.5 inches.
Musical style: The musical style ideal for this harmonica is blues and folk music.
3) Lee Oskar Harmonica, Key Of C, Major Diatonic
Lee Oskar Harmonica is a diatonic harmonica named after Lee Oskar- who is a founding member and former lead harmonica player in the funk-jazz band “war”.
Appearance: The cover plates of this harmonica is made out of stainless steel.
Types of reeds: The Lee Oskar Harmonica is constructed with replaceable reed plates which are inset and does not irritate your lips and beards when playing.
Size: The Lee Oskar Harmonica can easily fit into tiny pouches or compartments.
Comb: This harmonica is constructed with plastic combs and large holes for easy use when playing. The plastic combs also have closed side vents making it airtight.
Weight: The Suzuki Promaster Harmonica weighs 0.32 ounces with a product dimension of 6 x 3 x 1 inch.
Musical style: The Lee Oskar Harmonica can be used for playing blues, rock, country-folk and Jazz music.
4) Hammond: Mouth Organ HA-20 Made By Suzuki, Japan
Here are some noticeable features of the Hammond Mouth Organ Ha-20 made by Suzuki, a Japanese multinational manufacturer of heavy and light-duty equipment.
Appearance: The Hammond Ha-20 has a beautiful look with a black coloured body. On top of the body is the Hammonds rainbow-coloured logo that makes for a perfect combination with the rest of the dark shade.
Size: The Hammond HA-20 can easily fit into tiny pouches or compartments.
Weight: The Hammond HA-20 weighs 4.8 ounces with a product dimension of 3.9 x 1.6 x 0.8 inches and appears to be rather weighty.
Casing: The Hammond HA-20 includes a hard shell carrying case with silver lining on its edges.
Durability: The components of Hammond HA-20 are made from long-lasting and high-quality materials to allow for prolonged use.
Reeds: The Hammond HA-20 features Phosphor bronze reeds within a hard shell casing.
Musical style: The Hammond HA-20 was specifically designed to produce jazz musical notes.
5) Suzuki Promaster Harmonica, Key Of C
The Suzuki Promaster harmonica is a diatonic harmonica best suited for both beginner, intermediate and professional level players. Its internal components deliver clearer and richer tones.
Here are some key features of the Suzuki Promaster harmonica.
Appearance: The cover plates of this harmonica is made out of stainless steel.
Types of reeds: The Suzuki Promaster Harmonica is constructed with phosphor bronze replaceable reed plates.
Size: The Suzuki Promaster Harmonica can easily fit into tiny pouches or compartments.
Comb: This harmonica has an aluminium comb.
Weight: The Suzuki Promaster Harmonica weighs 3.2 ounces with a product dimension of 6 x 3 x 1 inch.
Casing: The Suzuki Promaster Harmonica has its own hardshell case for easy storage. It also comes with an instructional manual on its use.
Comfort: This Harmonica has curved edges so that nothing pokes your hand when holding it to play.
Musical style: The Suzuki Promaster Harmonica was specifically designed to produce jazz musical notes.
6) Seydel Blues Session Steel Key Of C Harmonica C
The Seydel Session Steel Harmonica C is made by Seydel, a harmonica maker known for producing harmonicas using stainless steel reeds that allows for louder musical notes and greater control.
Here are some key features of the Seydel Session Steel Harmonica.
Appearance: The Seydel Session Harmonica has an orange plastic comb emblazoned with the brand name on the opposite side of the comb.
Types of reeds: The Seydel Session Harmonica has stainless steel reed plates. This allows for its use over an extended period of time as compared to brass reeds.
Size: The Seydel Session Harmonica can easily fit into tiny pouches or compartments.
Edge: This Harmonica's mouthpiece has a smooth edge that enables an incredible playing experience and lessens or minimises discomfort
Weight: The Seydel Session Steel Harmonica weighs 3.2 ounces with a product dimension of 4.5 x 1.8 x 1.2 inches.
Casing: The Seydel session steel is built with finely polished stainless steel cover plates.
Musical style: The Seydel Session Steel was specifically designed to produce rock musical notes.
7) Suzuki Humming, Deluxe Tremolo Harmonica
The Suzuki Humming Deluxe Tremolo Harmonica pride has double holes to produce a rich double reed sound.
Capability: The Suzuki Humming, Deluxe Tremolo Harmonica comes in all twelve (12) major and minor keys as well high D, high D minor and high D and high D sharp minor.
Appearance: The cover plates of this harmonica is made out of stainless steel giving it a light but very strong exterior.
Types of reeds: The reeds are constructed from phosphor bronze.
Size: The Suzuki Promaster Harmonica can easily fit into tiny pouches or compartments.
Comb: This harmonica has a finely moulded ABS plastic comb with octave markers.
Weight: The weighs 4 ounces with a product dimension of 6 x 3 x 1 inches.
Casing: The Suzuki Humming, Deluxe Tremolo Harmonica has its own carrying case for easy storage and portability.
Musical style: The Suzuki Humming, Deluxe Tremolo Harmonica is ideal for playing gospel, western and old-world music.
Choosing the Best Professional Harmonica
If you are in the process of learning how to play the harmonica, you can get one of the seven listed in this article.
Any of the above can work best irrespective of whether you are a beginner or intermediate player. Over time, as you familiarise yourself with the instrument, you can now easily decide on the particular type of harmonica that is perfect for your use.
These harmonicas have been manufactured with different features to augment their use in producing musical notes that are pleasing to the ears.
If you can’t choose a specific harmonica and you want to broaden your experience using different brands and models, you can purchase more than one or all of the harmonica's to improve your skills.
Remember that practice makes perfect. To easily develop and improve your playing abilities requires continuous rehearsals using the right instrument.