Harmonicas

Hohner Harmonicas

Are you looking for harmonicas? Then you've come to the right place. Blues, rock, country, jazz; whatever the occasion, we have the Hohner harmonica for you. Hohner has been manufacturing harmonicas since 1857, and they've always been the best.

In recent years, the harmonica has gained status as a serious musical instrument. It can now be heard in the world’s most renowned concert halls, with music written specifically for harmonica by world-acclaimed contemporary composers. In New York, Classical harmonicists Larry Adler, Robert Bonfiglio, Larry Logan, and Tommy Reilly all staged recitals and New York’s City College became the first institution of higher learning to offer a degree program majoring in harmonica

Choosing the right harmonica will depend a lot on your style of play and the music you play. Get the right harmonica and it will be a joy to play. Get the wrong one and you'll will struggle with it and quickly become frustrated. To make the right choice, before you order here are some things you should consider:

Cover Design

Some covers are well suited for tongue blocking. These feel natural in your mouth for tongue blocks and octaves, making it real easy to blow out both sides of your mouth while blocking out the unwanted holes with your tongue. You can pucker or tongue block on any harmonica, but some cover designs do feel better for certain styles of play, making it easier to hit the note you want cleanly.

Action

The action of a harmonica is a very important factor to considerngth. A medium action reed bends more deeply on down in the midsection. A slow action reed bends more slowly over the whole length of a reed. High quality harmonicas offer fast action and better response. Medium priced harmonicas offer medium action but not the greatest response. Inexpensive harmonicas offer slow action and poor response.

Power

Power, or the volume of a harmonica, is determined by a combination of cover design and action plus the air tightness or compression of the harmonica. Harmonicas with plastic combs are more airtight and provide greater compression though out the life of the harmonica. Wood comb harmonicas constantly change over the course of the life of the harmonica due to expansion and contraction of the wood from the moisture generated from your breath while playing. Wood is a very unstable material as it constantly changes with the weather conditions and playing environment, creating problems down the road with air leaks. There are certain things to consider even on a plastic comb harmonica. The reed plates on some harmonicas are recessed into the comb itself, providing a more air tight fit between the cover, the comb, and the reed plates. Other harmonicas do not have the reedplates recessed into the comb. These can be a little less air tight as the covers rest on the reed plate it self and sometimes can be a source of air leaks.