The harmonica is a wind instrument.
A wind musical instrument , also mentioned as a harmonica (although this spelling is rare), is called a harmonica . In Peruvian territory, the harmonica is known as rondín .
The harmonica is a type of small, elongated box that has numerous holes with reeds . To play this instrument , you must blow or inhale through these holes.
Harmonica Features
We said that the harmonica is a wind instrument : this implies that the sound is produced by the vibration of the air found inside, without resorting to membranes or strings. On the other hand, beyond its material, the harmonica integrates the set of wooden instruments because this vibration of the air takes place in the instrument, unlike what happens in the so-called metal instruments , where the oscillation is performed with the lips of the performer.
Harmonicas, as we already indicated, have reeds. These metal strips enable the production of sound when, with the breaths and aspirations of the musician, they vibrate. Because the strips do not collide with each other or impact a mouthpiece, the harmonica is a free-reed instrument .
The tabs
To understand how the harmonica works, it is important to focus on the reeds, which are made from steel or brass . Each reed is associated with a note and a tone, in turn defined by the length of the strip: shorter reeds generate high sounds, while longer ones offer bass sounds.
When the musician blows or inhales through one hole or several at the same time, he or she causes one or more reeds to vibrate and produce sound. It is important to mention that each reed of the harmonica has one of its fixed ends and the other loose, the latter being the one that moves with the air and makes the creation of sounds possible.
Musicians who play the harmonica simultaneously with another instrument can use a stand.
The parts of the harmonica
We already made reference to the harmonica reeds. It remains to be added that the rivets of each individual tab to the support give rise to so-called sets of tabs , which are covered with protective plates . These plates define the tone quality of the instrument as they establish how the sound is projected.
The main body of the harmonica, on the other hand, is called the comb . This piece houses the reed cells. The embouchure , meanwhile, is located between the musician's mouth and the cells; Depending on the model, it can be independent, be part of the protective plate or integrated into the comb.
Classification according to type
According to their design and properties , harmonicas are classified differently. The one that houses the entire chromatic scale, with sharps and flats, is called the chromatic harmonica .
The diatonic harmonica , for its part, has an extension of three octaves. The octave harmonica and the tremolo harmonica are other types of harmonicas.
It is interesting to note that the harmonica can rest on a support that holds it close to the musician's mouth, without him having to take it with his hands. These supports are very useful when the subject simultaneously plays another instrument (such as a guitar , to mention one possibility).