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HARMONICAS INFORMATION PAGE

Chromatic vs Diatonic, Classic vs MS (Modular System), Layout Chart C Chromatic,
General Layout Chart Chromatic 12-hole, Layout Chart 10-hole Diatonic,
Keys available chromatic models, Layout Chart Extended Range Diatonic,
Layout Chart Octave and Tremolo models, Rangesand layouts of different chromatic models, Layout of Koch Chromatic-Diatonic, Layout of Slide Harp Chromatic-Diatonic, Octave Tuning, Tremolo Tuning, Warranty, XB-40 Layout and bending notes possible.

Printable Harmonica Warranty pdf.

Bending and Overblowing notes on the Harmonica.

Care and maintenance

In order to get the best out of your Hohner harmonica, Hohner recommends the following tips:

• Play it gently and softly for the first weeks. This enables the reeds to develop their full sound and increases their life expectancy.

• Never play your harmonica when it is cold. Always warm a cold instrument up by breathing gently into the channel openings, so that it can reach body temperature before you start to play. You can also keep your harmonica in a bag close to the body in order to warm it up or keep it warm.

• After playing, tap the channel openings out into the palm of your hand to remove any remaining traces of moisture before returning the harmonica to its case.

• Rinse your mouth out with plain water or brush your teeth before playing in order to prevent particles of food becoming lodged inside the instrument and blocking the sensitive reeds.

• Avoid beverages containing sugar when playing, as this can also block the reeds and cause them to stick.

• We strongly advise against putting your harmonica in water or any other liquid, as even sealed wooden combs can warp when wet, thus reducing air tightness.

Please do not put oil of any kind onto or into your harmonica.
Oil collects dust and thereby increases the likelihood of the channels becoming blocked. It also damages the wind-savers or valves on the instrument. If the slide mechanism on a chromatic harmonica is not moving freely, it is likely that it has become bent.
In such cases you should take the instrument to a qualified repairer.


• Please note that reeds and windsavers can show signs of fatigue over time - and sometimes sooner when played with great intensity. Fatigue may cause windsavers or reeds to fail. Improper maintenance can also affect the reeds and windsavers. If your harmonica is no longer functioning properly or noticeably out of tune, we recommend discontinuing its use and sending the instrument to a Hohner Service-Center for repair. Hohner accepts no liability for damage incurred through normal wear and tear, improper maintenance or abuse. Tampering with the instrument in any way, including improper maintenance or treatment, voids the warranty.

Hohner accepts no liability for damage incurred through normal wear and tear. Tampering with the instrument in any way voids the warranty, as does improper treatment.

Low Notes On Your Harmonica

When the lower holes of a harmonica are played as single notes (especially the draw notes), it is not unusual for the sound to be muffled, weak, lowered, or simply non-existent.  This is referred to as "choking" the reeds.  Although lower pitched reeds are particulary prone to choking, any reed is susceptible. 

A choked reed is not caused by a defective or flawed harmonica.  A choked reed usually occurs because the proper resonance chamber has not been created inside a player's mouth and throat.  Each individual note needs a slightly different resonance chamber in order to sound clearly.  For this reason, it is common that one reed will choke while the reeds adjacent to it will sound normally.

To prevent choking reeds:

  • Breathe through the harmonica with the same amount of pressure that you would use to breathe normally.
  • Open your mouth and throat as much as possible, keeping your tongue out of the way.
  • Breathe through your nose and mouth simultaneously to relieve excessive pressure.
  • Tilt the back of the harmonica slightly downward while playing (especially helpful with chromatic models).
  • A sweet, expressive tone should be emphasized over volume.  Forcing more air or drawing too hard through your harmonica increases the pressure and also increases the conditions for choking the reed.

Although it is natural to think so, playing a harmonica is not the same as blowing a whistle or sucking through a straw.  We like to think of the proper technique as more like singing -- usuing your mouth, sinus cavity and throat as a resonance chamber to get a nice sweet sound.  Experiment with different mouth positions for each note, blow and draw, until you find a clean sounding note.

Many players use the choking potential of low draw notes to their advantage.  Once these notes are mastered, they can be flattened and manipulated in many interesting ways.  This is how musicians create the traditional blues sound that everyone loves so much.

The harmonica is easy to play and enjoy.  However -- like any musical instrument -- knowledge, practice, dedication and good technique are required to reach advanced levels of artistry.

 

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HOHNER DIATONIC AND CHROMATIC HARMONICAS

DIATONIC HARMONICAS:

The term "diatonic" is usually defined as meaning that each of the 7 musical note names
(A, B, C, D, E, F, G) occurs only once in a particular scale or key.
For example, no scale should include both "C" and "C#" (C sharp) or "Bb" (B flat) and "B".
Sharps (#) and flats (b) are not usually mixed in diatonic music*.

Diatonic harmonicas feature two reeds on each hole, one for blow and one for draw (breathing in). For instance, the first hole on the C harmonica produces the notes C (when blown) and D (when drawn). They are more commonly called “blues harps”. Notes can be “bent”** to alter their pitch. They are set up so that three adjacent holes blown at the same time produce a chord (triad) – for example, holes 4, 5 & 6 on a C harmonica produce the notes C, E & G when blown. These notes constitute a C Major triad.

The Diatonic harmonica can only be played in one key, though, in the case of Blues players, this is often not the key named on the instrument. Blues players use an A harmonica to play in the key of E (called second position, "cross" position or playing "cross harp"), giving them a D natural (blues 7th) which is not available on the E harmonica. Similarly, the C harmonica can be used to play in the key of A minor, or for the D dorian mode, and so on.

The Tremolo and Octave tuned harmonicas are part of the diatonic range.

*The exception to this is the Harmonic Minor Scale in some keys with flats - beyond the scope of this introductory discussion.

** This involves re-positioning the jaw, tongue and larynx while blowing or drawing. DO NOT attempt to physically adjust the reeds by bending them - they will break and you will void the warranty.

CHROMATIC HARMONICAS:

The term "chromatic" means that all 12 notes of the Western system of musical notation are present in the music or on the instrument. Each of the 7 notes can be raised by a semitone (e.g. F becomes F#, A becomes A#, etc) or lowered by a semitone (e.g. B becomes Bb, E becomes Eb, etc).
The flat of a note sounds the same as the sharp of the note below it (e.g. Eb = D#, G# = Ab).
A note that is unaltered is called "natural" (e.g. C natural, C).

WARNING: some pairs of notes are only a semitone apart to begin with. They are B & C and E & F.
Therefore B# = C, Cb = B, E# = F and Fb = E.
AND: in Germany, the first scale notated was F Major, so the note named "Bb" in the rest of Europe was named "B" there, and the "new" note B natural (added later in Germany) was named "H". This leads to occasional confusion when checking things out on German websites. The Hohner site does not use the "H" notation on its English language section, but it is present on the labels of many harmonicas.

CHROMATIC HARMONICAS ENABLE THE PLAYER TO PERFORM IN ALL KEYS ON THE ONE INSTRUMENT. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY EFFECTIVELY COMBINING TWO DIATONIC HARMONICAS A SEMITONE APART (eg C + C#), THE SECOND KEY BEING ACCESSED BY PUSHING THE SLIDE BUTTON. Each hole thus has four reeds, two for each position of the slide button.

CHROMATIC HARMONICAS ALSO FEATURE VALVES OR "WIND-SAVERS" ON THE COMB TO MAXIMISE EFFICIENCY OF THE AIR-FLOW THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT. THIS MAKES PITCH-BENDING VERY DIFFICULT. OVERBLOWING (WHICH INVOLVES USE OF THE "OTHER SIDE" OF THE REED PLATE DURING A BLOW OR DRAW BREATH) BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE.

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CLASSIC AND MS (MODULAR SYSTEM) DIATONIC HARMONICAS.

CLASSIC RANGE:

Hand made harps for professionals and amateurs alike!

The Hohner Company prides itself on innovation and constant improvement of  the existing, established product lines.  In order to be able to offer the true "Vintage Sound", Hohner invested in extremely precise tools to minimize air loss and ensure a quicker response and bigger volume. The result is our exclusive "Classic" or "Handmade" line. These diatonic top models are exclusively handmade. This Range includes the Marine Band, Special 20 and Golden Melody harps.

MS (Modular System) RANGE:

The abbreviation “MS” stands for Modular System, an integrated concept for Hohner’s harmonica design.
MS-harmonicas benefit from innovations that improve the playing characteristics and also significantly facilitate maintenance and handling. All MS-parts (combs, reed plates and covers) can be combined individually. Simple screw connections allow for an easy assembly. This concept offers the possibility to the players to adjust the instruments to their individual requirements.

The MS range includes the Blues Harp, Pro Harp, Cross Harp, Meisterklasse and Big River harmonicas.  Some notes can be bent to alter their pitch, giving some chromatic and microtonal notes.

The MS system harmonicas are checked and given final tuning by hand.

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Layout of blow and draw notes for diatonic harmonicas in the twelve Major keys.

NB: THE LAYOUT OF NOTES IS DIFFERENT ON CHROMATIC, OCTAVE AND TREMOLO TUNED HARMONICAS. SOME NOTES ARE REPEATED ON ADJACENT BLOWN HOLES OR BLOW/DRAW PAIRS.

Blow

G

B

D

G

B

D

G

B

D

G

Key:

G

Hole No.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

A

D

F#

A

C

E

F#

A

C

E

 

Blow

Ab

C

Eb

Ab

C

Eb

Ab

C

Eb

Ab

Key:

Ab 

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

Bb

Eb

G

Bb

Db

F

G

Bb

Db

F

 

Blow

A

C#

E

A

C#

E

A

C#

E

A

Key:

A

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

B

E

G#

B

D

F#

G#

B

D

F#

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Blow

Bb

D

F

Bb

D

F

Bb

D

F

Bb

Key:

Bb

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

C

F

A

C

Eb

G

A

C

Eb

G

 

Blow

B

D#

F#

B

D#

F#

B

D#

F#

B

Key:

B

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

C#

F#

A#

C#

E

G#

A#

C#

E

G#

 

Blow

C

E

G

C

E

G

C

E

G

C

Key:

C

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

D

G

B

D

F

A

B

D

F

A

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Blow

Db

F

Ab

Db

F

Ab

Db

F

Ab

Db

Key:

Db

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

Eb

Ab

C

Eb

Gb

Bb

C

Eb

Gb

Ab

 

Blow

D

F#

A

D

F#

A

D

F#

A

D

Key:

D

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

E

A

C#

E

G

B

C#

E

G

B

 

Blow

Eb

G

Bb

Eb

G

Bb

Eb

G

Bb

Eb

Key:

Eb

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

F

Bb

D

F

Ab

C

D

F

Ab

C

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Blow

E

G#

B

E

G#

B

E

G#

B

E

Key:

E

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

F#

B

D#

F#

A

C#

D#

F#

A

C#

 

Blow

F

A

C

F

A

C

F

A

C

F

Key:

F

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

G

C

E

G

Bb

D

E

G

Bb

D

 

Blow

F#

A#

C#

F#

A#

C#

F#

A#

C#

F#

Key:

F#

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

G#

C#

E# (F)

G#

B

D#

E# (F)

G#

B

D#

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C CHROMATIC HARMONICA NOTE LAYOUT.

FOR THE 12-HOLE MODEL, THE LAYOUT OF HOLES 1 - 4 IS IDENTICAL TO HOLES 3 - 7 OF THE DIATONIC HARMONICA IN THE SAME KEY, THOUGH USUALLY AN OCTAVE LOWER. THIS PATTERN IS THEN REPEATED IN SUCCESSIVELY HIGHER OCTAVES FOR HOLES 5 - 8 AND 9 - 12, giving a full three-octave range.

WHEN THE SLIDE IS PUSHED IN, THE PATTERN OF NOTES MOVES UP BY A SEMITONE THROUGHOUT.

12-hole chromatic, key of C, holes read 1 - 12 left to right ont the instrument.

Models with this layout: Chromonica, CX12, Larry Adler 12-hole, Toots Thielemans Series and
all 12-hole 48-note models in C.

SLIDE OUT: Key of C Major

blow C E G C' C' E' G' C" C" E" G" C"'
hole No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
draw D F A B D' F' A' B' D" F" A" B"

SLIDE IN: Key of C# Major*

blow C# E# G# C#' C#' E#' G#' C#" C#" E#" G#" C#"'
hole No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
draw D# F# A# C(B#) D#' F#' A#' B#'(C') D#" F#" A#" B#"(C")

*This key has a key-signature of 7 sharps (i.e. EVERY note is raised a semi-tone). This fits well with the idea that the notes are all raised a semitone by pushing the slide in, though it makes it a little awkward to read.

Notes that are labelled "C" on the draw side of the above chart should really be called "B#" but have been left as C for ease of reading. It can be further noted that the key of Db Major (which is exactly the same sounding pitches as C# Major) is in many ways a more useful and easier to read key signature, having only 5 flats. The notes of the scale would then read Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C - see below.

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GENERAL CHART FOR LAYOUT OF 12-HOLE CHROMATIC.

Let's give the notes of the major scale numbers, starting with the tonic (key note e.g. C in C Major) as 1, supertonic (e.g. D in C major) as 2 etc.- to avoid confusion with the hole numbers, we'll follow the well-established procedure of using lower-case Roman numerals for the scale notes and adding a dash (apostrophe) to each successive higher octave.

SO, IN ANY KEY, THE LAYOUT IS AS FOLLOWS:

blow
i
iii
v
i'
i'
iii'
v'
i"
i"
iii"
v"
i"'
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
draw
ii
iv
vi
vii
ii'
iv'
vi'
vii'
ii"
iv"
vi"
vii"

AND THE PITCH OF EACH NOTE GOES UP BY A SEMITONE WITH THE SLIDE PUSHED IN:

blow
i#
iii#
v#
i#'
i#'
iii#'
v#'
i#'"
i#"
iii#"
v#"
i#'"
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
draw
ii#
iv#
vi#
vii#
ii#'
iv#'
vi#'
vii#'
ii#"
iv#"
vi#"
vii#"

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The note names and corresponding numerals for all keys follow:

 
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
C Major
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
F Major
F
G
A
Bb
C
D
E
Bb Major
Bb
C
D
Eb
F
G
A
Eb Major
Eb
F
G
Ab
Bb
C
D
Ab Major
Ab
Bb
C
Db
Eb
F
G
Db Major
Db
Eb
F
Gb
Ab
Bb
C
C# Major (same as Db Major)
C#
D#
E#
F#
G#
A#
B#
Gb Major (same sound as F# Major)
Gb
Ab
Bb
Cb
Db
Eb
F
F# Major
F#
G#
A#
B
C#
D#
E#
B Major
B
C#
D#
E
F#
G#
A#
E Major
E
F#
G#
A
B
C#
D#
A Major
A
B
C#
D
E
F#
G#
D Major
D
E
F#
G
A
B
C#
G Major
G
A
B
C
D
E
F#

This chart follows the cycle of fourths, so each key has an increasing number of flats until the key with 6 flats (Gb Major - same sound as F# Major with 6 sharps) is reached - from then on the keys have a decreasing number of sharps until reaching G Major with only one sharp. The next key would be the key with no sharps (C Major) and the cycle starts again. The key of Cb Major (7 flats) has been ommitted since it would not really be useful (as we are considering pitches going UP by a semitone with the slide pushed in). The notes of Cb Major are enharmnonic (sound identical) to B Major. Gb Major has been included as some harmonica layout charts available on the net include this key.

 

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AVAILABLE KEYS

Hohner Chrominica 48 12-hole Chromatic Harmonicas are available in the following key pairs:

C/(C#/Db), D/(Eb), Eb/(E), E/(F), F/(F#/Gb), G/(Ab), A/(Bb), Bb/(B), B/(C)

where the key/s in brackets are obtained by pushing the slide in.

ALL OTHER CHROMATIC MODELS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY IN THE KEY OF C/(Db) EXCEPT WHERE NOTED BELOW.

RANGES AND LAYOUT CHARTS OF THE OTHER CHROMATIC HARMONICA MODELS.

The same note pattern is maintained throughout the range of Hohner harmonicas. Where the range is extended or contracted, this relates to holes 1 - 12 in the chart above.

Chrometta 8 uses holes 1 - 8 and so has a two octave range.

SLIDE OUT - C MAJOR

blow C E G C' C' E' G' C"
hole No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
draw D F A B D' F' A' B'

SLIDE IN - C# MAJOR

blow C# E# G# C#' C#' E#' G#' C#"
hole No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
draw D# F# A# C(B#) D#' F#' A#' B#'(C')

Chrometta 10 increases the range downwards by adding two extra holes (eight notes, G, A, B, C & G#, A#, B# & C#) to the LEFT of the instrument onto the standard range of holes 1 - 8.

SLIDE OUT - C MAJOR

blow G. C C E G C' C' E' G' C"
hole No. 3* 4* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
draw A. B. D F A B D' F' A' B'

SLIDE IN - C# MAJOR

blow G#. C# C# E# G# C#' C#' E#' G#' C#"
hole No. 3* 4* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
draw A#. B#. D# F# A# C(B#) D#' F#' A#' B#'(C')

Chrometta 12 uses the same 12-hole layout as the Chromonica and is available in the keys of C/(C#) and G/(Ab).

Chrometta 14 is similar to the Chrometta 10 in that it adds two extra bass holes to the standard 12-hole range.

SLIDE OUT - C MAJOR

blow G. C C E G C' C' E' G' C" C" E" G" C"'
hole No. 3* 4* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
draw A. B. D F A B D' F' A' B' D" F" A" B"

SLIDE IN - C# MAJOR

blow G#. C# C# E# G# C#' C#' E#' G#' C#" C#" E#" G#" C#"'
hole No. 3* 4* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
draw A#. B#. D# F# A# C(B#) D#' F#' A#' B#'(C') D#" F#" A#" B#"(C")

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The Chromonica 40 uses holes 1 - 10 of the standard range, thus having a 2.5 ocatve range C - G".

SLIDE OUT - C MAJOR

blow C E G C' C' E' G' C" C" E"
hole No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
draw D F A B D' F' A' B' D" F"

SLIDE IN - C# MAJOR

blow C# E# G# C#' C#' E#' G#' C#" C#" E#"
hole No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
draw D# F# A# C(B#) D#' F#' A#' B#'(C') D#" F#"

 

The Meisterklasse is a 14-hole 56-note Chromatic with the same range as the Chrometta 14.

SLIDE OUT - C MAJOR

blow G. C C E G C' C' E' G' C" C" E" G" C"'
hole No. 3* 4* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
draw A. B. D F A B D' F' A' B' D" F" A" B"

SLIDE IN - C# MAJOR

blow G#. C# C# E# G# C#' C#' E#' G#' C#" C#" E#" G#" C#"'
hole No. 3* 4* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
draw A#. B#. D# F# A# C(B#) D#' F#' A#' B#'(C') D#" F#" A#" B#"(C")

The Chromonica 270 Deluxe is another 12-hole, 48-note harmonica using the standard range. Others using the standard range are the CX12 (available in all keys as per Chromonica 48), Amadeus and Silver Concerto models.

The Chromonica 64, Super 64 and Super 64X models increase the number of holes by 4, again added to the lower range (LEFT hand side) of the instrument. This gives an extra 16-notes and a range of 4 full octaves. This also applies to the Larry Adler 64.

SLIDE OUT - C MAJOR

blow C. E. G. C C E G C' C' E' G' C" C" E" G" C"'
hole No. 1* 2* 3* 4* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
draw D. F. A. B. D F A B D' F' A' B' D" F" A" B"

SLIDE IN - C# MAJOR

blow C#. E#. G#. C# C# E# G# C#' C#' E#' G#' C#" C#" E#" G#" C#"'
hole No. 1* 2* 3* 4* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
draw D#. F#. A#. B#. D# F# A# C(B#) D#' F#' A#' B#'(C') D#" F#" A#" B#"(C")

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LAYOUT CHARTS FOR SPECIAL TUNING CHROMATIC-DIATONIC HARMONICAS:
10-HOLE KOCH (C & G) AND SLIDE HARP (C)

The Koch and Slide Harp models differ from the other Chromatic instruments in that they are literally two Richter tuned diatonics built into one Harmonica. As on the diatonics, note bending is possible.

Koch C

The Koch has no valves or "wind-savers" which are present on the normal chromatic harmonicas.

SLIDE OUT - C MAJOR

Blow

C

E

G

C

E

G

C

E

G

C

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

D

G

B

D

F

A

B

D

F

A

SLIDE IN - Db MAJOR (SAME SOUND AS C# MAJOR)

Blow

Db

F

Ab

Db

F

Ab

Db

F

Ab

Db

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

Eb

Ab

C

Eb

Gb

Bb

C

Eb

Gb

Ab

Koch G

SLIDE OUT - G MAJOR

Blow

G

B

D

G

B

D

G

B

D

G

Hole No.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

A

D

F#

A

C

E

F#

A

C

E

SLIDE IN - Ab MAJOR (SAME SOUND AS G# MAJOR)

Blow

Ab

C

Eb

Ab

C

Eb

Ab

C

Eb

Ab

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

Bb

Eb

G

Bb

Db

F

G

Bb

Db

F

SLIDE HARP

The Slide Harp is "semi-valved", so that note bending is still possible.

SLIDE OUT - C MAJOR

Blow

C

E

G

C

E

G

C

E

G

C

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

D

G

B

D

F

A

B

D

F

A

SLIDE IN - Db MAJOR (SAME SOUND AS C# MAJOR)

Blow

Db

F

Ab

Db

F

Ab

Db

F

Ab

Db

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

Eb

Ab

C

Eb

Gb

Bb

C

Eb

Gb

Ab

 

LAYOUT CHARTS FOR EXTENDED RANGE MARINE BAND & XB40 HARMONICAS

Marine Band 364

blow
C
E
G
C'
E'
G'
C''
E''
G''
C'''
E'''
G'''
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
draw
D
G
B
D'
F'
A'
B'
D''
F''
A''
B''
D'''

Marine Band 365

blow
C
E
G
C'
E'
G'
C"
E"
G"
C'''
E"'
G"'
C""
E""
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
draw
D
G
B
D'
F'
A'
B'
D"
F''
A''
B''
D'''
F'''
A'''

Marine Band SBS

blow
i
iii
v
i
iii
v
i
iii
v
i
iii
v
i
iii
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
draw
ii
v
vii
ii
v
vii
ii
iv
vi
vii
ii
iv
vi
vii

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Marine Band Soloist

blow

C

E
G
C'
C'
E'
G'
C"
C"
E"
G"
C'''
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
draw
D
F
A
B
D'
F'
A'
B'
D"
F"
A"
B"

XB40

All notes can be bent (blown and drawn) by either a semitone or whole tone. It is possible to bend hole 3 (draw) by a minor third (3 semitones).

blow
i
iii
v
i
iii
v
i
iii
v
i
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
draw
ii
v
vii
ii
iv
vi
vii
ii
iv
vi

So in the key of C, the possible bend notes are:

wholetone bend
Bb
D
F
Bb
D
F
Bb
D
F
Bb
semitone bend
B
Eb
Gb
B
Eb
Gb
B
Eb
Gb
B
BLOW

C

E

G

C

E

G

C

E

G

C

hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
DRAW

D

G

B

D

F

A

B

D

F

A

semitone bend
Db
Gb
Bb
Db
E
Ab
Bb
Db
E
Ab
wholetone bend
C
F
A
C
Eb
G
A
C
Eb
G
sesquitone* bend
Ab

NOTE THAT THESE ARE ALL BENDS (LOWERING OF PITCH) MADE EASIER BY THE SPECIAL REEDS OF THE XB-40.

* = one-and-a-half tone or minor third, a word I made up because I didn't think "minor third bend" would fit in the space available. "Sesqui" is Latin for "one-and-a-half", which makes it a pretty useful word-part, as in the well-known phrase "the U.S. government has spent a sesquitrillion dollars on the economic stimulus package..."

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NOTE-BENDING AND OVERBLOWING

The diatonic 10-hole harmonica can be played as a completely chromatic instrument depending on the skill (read "hundreds of hours of practice") of the player. Notes can be both "bent" (lowered in pitch) and "overblown" (raised in pitch) using the techniques of varying air-pressure and air-speed, jaw- and larynx-position, tongue position, etc.

CHART SHOWING AVAILABLE NOTES ON STANDARD RICHTER TUNED DIATONIC HARMONICA USING BENDING, OVERBLOWING AND OVERDRAWING TECHNIQUES:

overblow
Eb
   
Eb
          Bb
wholetone bend
               
Eb
Gb
B
semitone bend
BLOW

C

E

G

C

E

G

C

E

G

C BLOW
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 hole No.
DRAW

D

G

B

D

F

A

B

D

F

A DRAW
semitone bend
Db
Gb
Bb
Db
Ab
         
wholetone bend
F
A
           
sesquitone* bend
Ab
Db
Ab
Db
overdraw

NB overblown and overdrawn notes are a minor third HIGHER than the usual note blown or drawn note for that particular hole. This is because the draw reed is vibrating on the overblow note and the blow reed is vibrating on the overdraw. More overblow and overdraw notes are possible, see the website links below.

Overblowing and overdrawing (raising pitch of notes on either the blow or draw reeds) are considered advanced techniques on the diatonic harmonica, but are becoming more widespread as the technique is taught and instrument adjustments become more common.

Please also note that the use of these bending and overblowing techniques may shorten the usable life of the harmonica reeds (especially when you are first learning them).

Here are some links to some specialist websites related to this topic:

http://musicalinstruments.suite101.com/article.cfm/overblowing_and_bending_notes_on_a_harmonica

http://www.overblow.com/?menuid=116

http://www.tenhole.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGmKdGlaFnU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNNIE0B9WfY&feature=related

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LAYOUT CHARTS FOR OCTAVE AND TREMOLO TUNED HARMONICAS

Octave 24 reed

Unsere Lieblinge 24

blow
E
G
C'
E'
G'
C"
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
draw
G
B
D'
F'
A'
B'

Octave and Tremolo 28 reed

Alpenecho, Bravi Alpini 28, Echo 28, Bravo, Echo Octave 28, Unsere Lieblinge 28

blow
E
G
C'
E'
G'
C"
E"
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
draw
G
B
D'
F'
A'
B'
D"

Octave and Tremolo 32 reed

Comet 32, Bravi Alpini 2 x 32, Echo Tremolo 32, Echo Harp 32, Echo Octave 32, Seductora 32,
Tremolo Soloist, Unsere Lieblinge 32

blow
E
G
C'
E'
G'
C"
E"
G"
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
draw
G
B
D'
F'
A'
B'
D"
F"

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Octave 40 reed

Comet 40, Double Comet 2 x 40, Echo Octave 40, Unsere Lieblinge 40

blow
E
G
C'
E'
G'
C"
E"
G"
C'''
E'''
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
draw
G
B
D'
F'
A'
B'
D"
F"
A"
B"

Tremolo 40 reed

Echo 40, Echo-Harp 2 x 40, Golden Melody Tremolo, Highlander 2x 40, O Fado Portuguese

blow
C
E
G
C'
E'
G'
C''
E''
G''
C'''
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
draw
D
G
B
D'
F'
A'
B'
D"
F"
A"

Tremolo 42 reed

21 Tremolo Deluxe
NB: HOLE 11 HAS NO REED ON THE BLOW SIDE!!

blow
C
E
G
C'
E'
G'
C''
E''
G''
C'''
 
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
draw
D
F
A
B
D'
F'
A'
B'
D"
F"
A"

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Octave 48 reed

Echo Octave 48, Unsere Lieblinge 48

blow
C
E
G
C'
E'
G'
'C"
E"
G"
C'''
E'''
G'''
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
draw
D
G
B
D'
F'
A'
B'
D"
F''
A''
B''
D'''

Tremolo 48 reed

Big Valley, Bravi Alpini 2 x 48, Echo 48, Echo Harp 2 x 48, Goliath, Kreuzwender, Orchester Bravo 48, Rheingold

NB: holes 1 & 2 begin one octave lower than standard tremolo range (e.g. G,).

blow
E,
G,
C
E
G
C'
E'
G'
C''
E''
G''
C'''
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
draw
G,
B,
D
F
A
B
D'
F'
A'
B'
D"
F"

Tremolo 60 reed

Bravi Alpini 2 x 60, Echo Harp 2 x 60

blow
C,
E,
G,
C
E
G
C'
E'
G'
C"
E"
G"
C"'
E"'
G"'
hole No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
draw
D,
G,
B,
D
F
A
B
D'
F'
A'
B'
D"
F"
A"
B"

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Limited Warranty – Hohner Harmonicas

All Hohner Harmonica Dealers should have a testing device available, which serves to test Harmonicas before purchase.

For public health and safety, harmonicas should not be blown by customers until after purchase. Sample sounds are available for all models - please email us for a CD.

Harmonica reeds are extremely fragile, so they can be broken or bent out of shape if played too forcefully or if foreign matter comes into contact with them.
See Care and Maintenance above.


Hohner Harmonicas are warranted to be free from manufacturing defects at the time of purchase.  Any harmonica found to contain manufacturing defects or other noticeable imperfections at the time of purchase will, at Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co KG’s discretion, be repaired or replaced at no charge to the end consumer. 

Please note, the paint on the front of the wooden comb is a decorative layer which is prone to wear when played even for a short time. It is therefore considered usual wear and tear if this paint comes off. This paint is a harmless substance which is approved for use in objects contacting the mouth by the German Health department. Under German and European manufacturing Health and Safety regulations, a stronger type of paint cannot be used.

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