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Diatonic Harmonicas
The most common type of harmonica is the diatonic harmonica or Richter harmonica, named after Joseph Richter from Bohemia, a folk musician who developed this tuning system around 1825 (although this is disputed!). Diatonics have been used in almost every genre of music, from blues to rock and from reggae to jazz, and are astonishingly versatile for such a small and relatively inexpensive instrument.
![Lee Oskar Harmonicas Lee Oskar Harmonicas](images/categories/lee-oskar-harmonicas.jpg)
Lee Oskar Natural Minor Harmonica
12 Keys available
The Lee Oskar Natural Minor harps have a very bluesy, soulful sound that's perfect for playing MINOR Blues, Rock, Country, Reggae, Pop & Jazz. This fabulous tuning is set up to play MINOR MUSIC easily, without straining the lips, the lungs or the mind! All of the notes and chords that were missing on the Major Diatonic, for playing minor blues, are right there on the Natural Minor. Natural Minors are designed to be played in 2nd Position (cross harp), not 1st Position (straight harp). In 2nd Position, many of the draw notes can be bent and this allows for a much more expressive, fluid style of playing. 2nd Position is a very popular style used by most players for today's music. Model: 1910N - Green Label Natural Minor Tuning Available in 12 Keys (Listed low to high): Dm, Ebm, Em, Fm, F#m, Gm, Abm, Am, Bbm, Bm, Cm, Dbm ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel 1847 Classic - Wilde Rock Tuning
4 Keys available
Will Wilde Rock Harmonica Tuning SEYDEL Endorser Will Wilde is the inventor of this Special Tuning which is very well suited for "tougher" musical styles like Hardrock or Blues-Rock. Read here how this tuning was invented and why Will uses it regularely since a few years in his shows: "I designed the Wilde tuning specifically for playing hard rock and blues-rock on the harmonica. As much as I love the standard Richter tuning, I have always found it frustrating when it comes to playing “rock guitar” style licks, particularly in the upper octave. The Wilde tuning addresses all of the problems I had with Richter, whilst still retaining the bluesy feel of classic second position harmonica that we all know and love. Whereas Richter tuning was primarily designed for playing major chords and the major scale in first position, Wilde tuning is specifically designed for playing second position minor pentatonic and blues scale licks, throughout all three octaves. I have always preferred the sound of draw notes and draw bends to blow notes and blow bends, as you can get more expression and a better tone & vibrato from them. So, on the Wilde tuning ALL of the draw notes bend (from holes one to ten) and your root note lands on a draw in all three octaves. I think that the Wilde tuning is the configuration that every aspiring rock harp player has been waiting for."... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel 1847 Classic Harmonica
31 Keys available
The Seydel 1847 classic harmonica was the first mass-produced Richter diatonic harmonica with stainless steel reeds. The 1847 classic is the result of Seydel's 160-year of experience in manufacturing high-quality harmonicas. This Seydel blues harp fits all the traditional demands as well as being impressively innovative. This model is the Standard Richter tuning, however if you wish to get the Paddy Richter tuning, then please contact us Full and loud, overtone-rich sound and extremely fast tone-response due to stainless steel reeds Extremely durable and even with heavy duty playing - stainless steel reeds and stainless steel rivets Less air-loss due to fine-cut reed plates - optimised flatness and extremely small tolerances between reed and reed plate Beard and lip friendly - cover plates with rounded edges without any cuts at the mouthpiece and ergonomic built hole openings and rounded dividers The overtone-rich sound can spread out undampened - covers made of extra strong stainless steel sheet (0.4mm), opened wide at the back and crimped and therefore a good stability and rounded edges moisture proof, swelling free maple comb, sealed with multiple layers of food safe finish Tuning: Standard Richter - other tunings available on request, including Paddy Richter, Wilde Rock and EDharmonica. Keys: G to F# plus low tunings About Seydel Seydel is the world's oldest extant harmonica manufacturer and has been producing harmonicas in Saxony, Germany, since the middle of the 19th century. Its speciality is stainless steel reeds, which offer exceptional durability and clarity of tone. Seydel still manufactures all of its harmonicas in Germany and its products span the whole range of harmonica types, from octave and tremolo harps, through to 10 hole diatonics and larger chromatics.... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel 1847 Noble - Paddy Richter Tuning
4 Keys available
The Paddy Richter is altered from the Richter tuning by raising hole 3 blow for two semi-tones which is very useful especially for playing fast in Irish and Celtic music (1st pos: the 6th note of the major scale is playable without bending, 2nd pos.: the 2nd major scale not is available in the lower register without bending).... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel 1847 Noble Harmonica
31 Keys available
The Seydel 1847 Noble is the jewel of the 1847 blues harps collection. An instrument built without compromise; made from only the best materials available and with over 160 years of Seydel's harmonica making experience. This is the Standard Richter tuned harmonica, if you wish to get the 1847 Noble in Paddy Richter, or if we do not have the key you need, then please contact us. The Seydel 1847 Noble is part of the blues range and comes with stainless steel reeds. The Seydel 1847 Noble shares its basic architecture with the slightly less expensive 1847 Classic and Silver models. The main differences are the anodised alloy comb and the satin cover plates. The former provides the Noble with a bright tone and responsive feel, along with excellent durability and swell resistance, whilst the latter gives an understated classy look that differentiates this harp from its cheaper siblings. Like the 1847 Classic, the Noble is available in a full range of low, standard and high tunings, with different combs and cover plates used for the different tonal ranges. New cover plates; matted stainless steel covers with side-vents (openings on both sides), optimised sound projection and distribution of airflow if playing fully cupped New comb accurately milled from aluminium, anodised in black and with the Seydel logo laser-engraved on the back - superb air-tightness and improved handling due to the greater weight of the instrument New tactile oval key stickers- hard wearing and removes the danger of holding the instrument the wrong way round, even in the dark Approved corrosion-free fine-cut reed plates made of German Silver fixed with stainless steel screws - extremely close tolerances between slot and reed for best possible tone control for the player Precisely factory adjusted, pitch-stable and durable reeds and rivets both made of Stainless Steel - optimal tone response and a full sound Tuning: Standard Richter. (Paddy Richter also available on request) ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel 1847 Silver Harmonica
18 Keys available
The Seydel 1847 Silver harmonica is a corrosion-free Richter-diatonic harmonica with stainless steel reeds. Additional to the Standard Richter tuning model here, the 1847 Silver also comes in Paddy Richter or half-valved. The Seydel 1847 Silver harp has an impressive appearance and contains new technical features. The cover plates and reed plate screws are made of Stainless Steel Reed plates made of non-corrosive German Silver Solid plastic comb Tuning: Standard Richter (if you wish to order the Paddy Richter or half-valved please contact us) It also still has some of the well known features from the Seydel 1847 Classic: Reduced air loss due to fine cut reed plates - optimised flatness and extremely small tolerances between reed and reed plate beard and lip friendly cover plates with rounded edges without any cuts at the mouthpiece the overtone-rich sound can spread out unhindered - covers opened wide at the back and crimped and therefore a good stability and rounded edges ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Favorite Harmonica
18 Keys available
The Seydel Favorite can hold its own with other top end harmonicas. It has a translucent anodised aluminium comb and stainless steel covers. Part of the Seydel Blues Series. The Favorite shares some of the features of Seydel's other diatonic harmonicas: the alloy comb material of the 1847 Noble, the brass reeds of the Session and the cover plates and general design of the Session Steel. This provides it with a deep but bright sound, reminiscent of the Noble, but with the slightly more traditional tone of brass reeds. As the Favorite shares the basic design of the Session Steel, the reed plates can be changed at a later date to ones with stainless steel reeds, should this be desired. Holes: 10 Reeds: 20 Exclusive metal body Brass reeds German silver reed plates Ergonomically shaped covers – stainless steel Includes the famous Seydel leather pouch Hand Made in Klingenthal, Germany About Seydel Seydel is the world's oldest extant manufacturer of harmonicas and still produces all of its harps in Germany. Its speciality is stainless steel reeds, which combined with German silver reed plates provide a distinctive tone and offer exceptional durability and longevity. Seydel is also unique amongst the main manufacturers in its ability to offer custom tunings for a small premium. Please contact us if you wish to order a custom tuned Seydel harp.... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Mini Harmonica
![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Orchestra S Harmonica
5 Keys available
The Seydel Orchestra S Harmonica is a 10 hole, solo-tuned diatonic Harmonica with corrosion-free stainless steel reeds (orchestra-tuning), ergonomic covers and carmine red plastic comb. As with the chromatic harmonica, all notes from the major scale are available throughout a two-and-a-half octave range. The Seydel Orchestra S Harmonica offers even more! Typically, the root note is found in hole 1-blow. The Seydel Orchestra S Harmonica places the root note at hole 3-blow, and half of the lower octave is added to holes 1 and 2. Since many players miss some of the notes on the standard Richter-tuned diatonic harmonica in the lower register the ORCHESTRA S allows them to hit the missing notes without having to apply a bending technique. The root note of the diatonic major scale is marked on the coverplate - it starts in 3 blow. This makes the ORCHESTRA S an ideal soloing instrument; the ten-hole design makes the Orchestra-S compact enough to take your melodies anywhere! The note layout is basically the same as that of a chromatic harmonica, making the ORCHESTRA S a great starting harmonica for learning to play a chromatic. The compact size combined with SEYDEL's durability makes the ORCHESTRA S a good choice for musical education in schools. The ORCHESTRA S opens new possibilities to blues harmonica players by making it easy to play minor pieces (3rd position) with a sound similar to solos played on a chromatic, thanks to the solo-tuning. They will also appreciate the extended major scale in the lower register. The root note of the dominant chord is available in the hole 1-draw, making it similar to playing in 2nd position on a standard Richter-tuned harmonica. Seasoned blues players will find all the notes of the blues scale through natural notes and bent notes, bringing soul and color to their blues improvisation. The Orchestra S is based on the successful Session Steel model, and features the same recessed reed plates, ABS comb and stainless steel reeds, so you can expect great playability and durability at a fantastic price! Solo-tuning in a ten-hole, compact harmonica Expanded tonal range in the lower register (Orchestra tuning) Stainless-steel reeds, coverplates, and screws combined for unparalleled durability (outlasting brass-reed models by up to five-times) Anti-corrosive, German-silver reedplates Lip-friendly, translucent carmine red plastic comb (ABS) with recessed reedplates Protective, full-grain leather pouch included ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Antique Harmonica
7 Keys available
Seydel Session Antique The Seydel Session Antique is a diatonic harp with plastic comb and antique-coated stainless steel covers and brass reeds. It is a smoothly shaped harmonica that is a great and ideal choice for beginners. In terms of tone and playability, it is identical to the standard Seydel Blues Session Standard harmonica; the sole difference is the cover plate colour, which on the Antique model has a bronze coloured 'antique' finish. Both the Session Standard and the Session Antique share the same construction as the more expensive Session Steel, with recessed reed plates and a modern cover plate design that extends smoothly to the ends of the harmonica. As a consequence, the Session Steel reed plates will fit the Session Standard and Antique harps, which means that you are able to upgrade to the brighter and longer lasting stainless steel reed plates when the original ones have reached the end of their lifespan Rounded Plastic body with recessed reed plates Brass reed plates, 1.0 mm thick, screwed 10 Holes The Seydel Session Standard edition comes in Chrome Handmade in Klingenthal, Germany Seydel has been manufacturing harmonicas in Germany since the middle of the 19th century, and is the world's oldest harmonica manufacturer. Its speciality is its durable stainless steel reeds, which significantly outlast traditional brass reeds and provide a distinctive bright sound.... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Standard Harmonica
18 Keys available
The Seydel Session Standard Harmonica is a diatonic harp with a plastic comb and stainless steel covers. A fantastic blues harp that is ideal for beginners. Learn to play on this wonderful Seydel Session Standard Harmonica, that comes in the majority of keys. The Session Standard shares the same construction as the more expensive Session Steel model; the only difference is that the Standard comes with brass, rather than stainless steel, reeds. The reed plates from the Session Steel are interchangeable with the Session Standard, so it's possible to upgrade to these in the future, should you wish to. All Seydel harmonicas are manufactured in Germany, so the Session Standard represents one of the of the most cost-effective entry points to a quality German made diatonic. Some players prefer the sound of the traditional brass reeds used in this harmonica and a small number of other Seydels, such as the Favorite, to the stainless steel reeds used in the majority of the company's harps. Like the Session Steel, the Session Standard features recessed reed plates, which means that the player's mouth doesn't come into contact with the reed plates, aiding rapid runs up and down the harmonica. The ABS comb is durable and swell resistant. A great harp for any player, but an especially good choice for those who want a quality instrument without breaking the bank! About Seydel Seydel is the world's oldest extant manufacturer of harmonicas, having been producing the instruments in Germany since the 1940s. Following World War 2, the factory was, unfortunately, located within the newly formed GDR, and the company was absorbed into the state run manufacturer of musical instruments - VEB Klingenthal Harmonica Works. After the end of the Cold War, Seydel was returned to the descendants of its owners, then was sold to the current owners around a decade later. They are now known for their high quality, durability, and, in many models, their signature stainless steel reeds.... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel - Country Tuning Country Tuning
6 Keys available
The Seydel Session Steel Country Tuning harmonica is the upgrade to Seydel's successful Session model, and it comes presented with a bold new look and superior technical reliability, excellent playability and a fantastic sound. This is a blues harmonica with corrosion-free stainless steel reeds, ergonomic covers and plastic comb. Like all Session Steels, the Country tuned model features: Ergonomic cover plates made of stainless steel, completely rounded at the mouthpiece ABS comb with recessed German Silver reed plates Rivets and screws made of stainless steel Lips and beard-friendly design Minimal air consumption achieved by fine-cut reed plates, optimised flatness and extremely small tolerances between reed and reed plate Stainless steel reeds provide the best clear and full sound and response of the 1847 models Up to 5 times longer playing life compared to models with brass reeds Comes with a genuine leather pouch Tuning: Country ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel - PowerBender Tuning
6 Keys available
The Seydel Session Steel PowerBender harmonica is the upgrade to Seydel's successful Session model, and it comes presented with a bold new look and superior technical reliability, excellent playability and a fantastic sound. This is a blues harmonica with corrosion-free stainless steel reeds, ergonomic covers and plastic comb. This is the PowerBender tuned Session Steel, however you can also get it in Paddy Richter, PowerDraw, Melodic Maker, Circular/Melody King, Country, Natural Minor and Harmonic Minor. If you would like any of the other tunings please contact us. We also offer custom tuning such as equal temperament on special order. The PowerBender tuning builds on the best parts of the traditional Richter Tuning, while altering the scale to make the real juicy and important notes much easier to obtain throughout the whole three octave range. Same familiar breathing pattern in the upper-middle registers. All draw notes bend everywhere, holes 1-10! On the un-valved version you can overblow every hole 1-10, for full chromatic playing. Overdraws and blow bends are no longer possible or needed on a PowerBender - they are replaced with simple draw bends. Top octave easy to play (intuitive) as many familiar phrasings can be adopted from the bottom octaves Easy to play in the common positions: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, and 12th Like all Session Steels, the PowerBender model features: Ergonomic cover plates made of stainless steel, completely rounded at the mouthpiece ABS comb with recessed German Silver reed plates Rivets and screws made of stainless steel Lips and beard-friendly design Minimal air consumption achieved by fine-cut reed plates, optimised flatness and extremely small tolerances between reed and reed plate Stainless steel reeds provide the best clear and full sound and response of the 1847 models Up to 5 times longer playing life compared to models with brass reeds Comes with a genuine leather pouch Tuning: PowerBender ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel - PowerDraw Tuning
6 Keys available
The Seydel Session Steel harmonica is the upgrade to Seydel's successful Session model, and it comes presented with a bold new look and superior technical reliability, excellent playability and a fantastic sound. This is a blues harmonica with corrosion-free stainless steel reeds, ergonomic covers and plastic comb. This is the Powerdraw tuned Session Steel, however you can also get it in Paddy Richter, PowerBender, Melodic Maker, Circular/Melody King, Country, Natural Minor and Harmonic Minor. If you would like any of the other tunings please contact us. We also offer custom tuning such as equal temperament on special order. PowerDraw tuning is easy to learn because: The bulk of the harp (holes 1-6) stays exactly the same, so there is no need to re-learn anything in that meat and potatoes range you’re so accustomed to. The breathing pattern of holes 1-6 (blow reed low, draw reed high in each hole)is retained all the way up to hole 10 on the PowerDraw. This gives the top octave an instant feeling of familiarity to anyone who tries it, because the techniques and riffs that work so well lower down work up there too . Simplified Technique: There are no blow bends and no overdraws needed in the PowerDraw tuning. Two of the most important ‘blue’ notes in 2nd position (the flat third, which was overblow 6) and the flat fifth (overdraw 7) are now simple draw bends on holes 7 and 8. Every draw note bends from hole 6-10, soulful and easy! In un-valved setup every hole overblows, and the upper octave overblows are much easier than the overdraws necessary in Richter tuning. PowerDraw works well with the chordal octave-playing approach of tongue blockers. The notes in the top octave are similar to Richter, but the intervals are different. Because the chord splits sound nice and in-key, it is easy to adapt to. The PowerDraw works great in other positions too, especially Third (nice useful bends in the top octave), Fifth (good expression in the top end), Second Position Minor (no need to overblow to get the flat 3rd ), Eleventh and Twelfth (great expression in the top octave). If you feel familiar with playing in holes 1-6 on Richter diatonic already (or you play our BIG SIX model), the PowerDraw is a good choice for you! Ergonomic cover plates made of stainless steel, completely rounded at the mouthpiece ABS comb with recessed German Silver reed plates Rivets and screws made of stainless steel Lips and beard-friendly design Minimal air consumption achieved by fine-cut reed plates, optimised flatness and extremely small tolerances between reed and reed plate Stainless steel reeds provide the best clear and full sound and response of the 1847 models Up to 5 times longer playing life compared to models with brass reeds Comes with a genuine leather pouch Tuning: PowerDraw ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel - Wilde Rock Tuning
7 Keys available
Seydel Session Steel - Wilde Rock Tuning - SEYDEL Endorser Will Wilde is the inventor of this Special Tuning which is very well suited for "tougher" musical styles like Hardrock or Blues-Rock. Read here how this tuning was invented and why Will uses it regularly since a few years in his shows: "I designed the Wilde tuning specifically for playing hard rock and blues-rock on the harmonica. As much as I love the standard Richter tuning, I have always found it frustrating when it comes to playing “rock guitar” style licks, particularly in the upper octave. The Wilde tuning addresses all of the problems I had with Richter, whilst still retaining the bluesy feel of classic second position harmonica that we all know and love. Whereas Richter tuning was primarily designed for playing major chords and the major scale in first position, Wilde tuning is specifically designed for playing second position minor pentatonic and blues scale licks, throughout all three octaves. I have always preferred the sound of draw notes and draw bends to blow notes and blow bends, as you can get more expression and a better tone & vibrato from them. So, on the Wilde tuning ALL of the draw notes bend (from holes one to ten) and your root note lands on a draw in all three octaves. The SESSION STEEL is the upgrade to our successful SESSION model is presented with a bold new look and superior technical reliability, excellent playability and a fantastic sound. Details about Wilde Rock special tuning: Holes one to five are exactly the same as standard tuning. Holes six, seven and eight are the same as holes two, three and four (just an octave higher). Hole nine is the same as hole two (two octaves higher) and the reeds in hole ten have been switched around (so that the ten blow bend is now a draw bend). This makes fast minor pentatonic/blues scale runs much easier and means you no longer need to overblow/overdraw to get the flat third and flat five in the upper octave as they are now available as simple draw bends.... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel Harmonic Minor
11 Keys available
The Seydel Session Steel harmonic minor tuning harmonica is the upgrade to Seydel's successful Session model, and it comes presented with a bold new look and superior technical reliability, excellent playability and a fantastic sound. This is a blues harmonica with corrosion-free stainless steel reeds, ergonomic covers and plastic comb. Seydel's stainless steel reeds provide a bright and powerful sound, and also allow easy bending of notes. Their main advantage, though, is durability - some players have found that the lifespan of these reeds can be up to 5 times that of harps with traditional brass reeds. This is particularly relevant if you're a powerful player who likes to perform frequent overblows. As with all Seydels, air tightness is high, and the cover plate design ensures that the Seydel Session Steel Harmonic Minor harmonica is friendly to both lips and beards (not something you can say about all harmonicas!). Build quality is also exceptionally high - a legacy both of Seydel's long history and its investment in new technology in the last decade or so. This is the harmonic minor tuned Session Steel, however you can also get it in Paddy Richter, PowerDraw, PowerBender, Melodic Maker, Circular/Melody King, Country and Natural Minor. If you would like any of the other tunings please contact us. We also offer custom tuning such as equal temperament on special order. Ergonomic cover plates made of stainless steel, completely rounded at the mouthpiece ABS comb with recessed German Silver reed plates Rivets and screws made of stainless steel Lips and beard-friendly design Minimal air consumption achieved by fine-cut reed plates, optimised flatness and extremely Small tolerances between reed and reed plate Stainless steel reeds provide the best clear and full sound and response of the 1847 models Up to 5 times longer playing life compared to models with brass reeds Comes with a genuine leather pouch Tuning: harmonic minor Keys: G to F ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel Harmonica - Circular Tuning
12 Keys available
Circular tuning variant: all notes of the scale are arranged "logically" and can be reached by alternately blowing and drawing. Therefore it is possible to play up to 12 different chords. For the same reason, it is not so easy to clearly assign the key in which the harp is labeled in. Please note: hole #1 blow is the lowest note and designates the key of the harp here, although the playable major scale is 5 semitones (or a fourth) higher than the label on the instrument indicates. Depending on which root note you choose, you can very easily play melodies in the eight different 'church keys' = modes (modal scales). This tuning is sometimes also called "Spiral" or "Melody King". The SESSION STEEL is the upgrade to our successful SESSION model is presented with a bold new look and superior technical reliability, excellent playability and a fantastic sound. ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel Harmonica - Major Cross Tuning
15 Keys available
Play fast runs and Irish tunes on your harmonica The SESSION STEEL Major Cross from Tony Eyers makes fast tunes easier to play. The instrument was developed for fast bluegrass and Irish tunes. It’s also useful for Irish Folk, Scottish Reels, Jigs, Country tunes and all kind of flute and fiddle tunes. Explore the possibilities of this new tuning. The MAJOR CROSS tuning, developed by Tony Eyers, allows a major scale to be played in second (or cross) position without any bending. While many players use second position, they often find traditional tunes challenging, due to the bending/overblowing needed for some notes. MAJOR CROSS eliminates this problem. Moreover, as bending/overblowing is generally not needed, MAJOR CROSS harmonicas are well suited to the fast speeds common with traditional fiddle tunes. ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel Harmonica - Richter
19 Keys available
The Seydel Session Steel harmonica is based on the Session Standard model, but features the brand's stainless steel reeds, which offer greater longevity and more precise bending than the traditional brass reeds on the Session. The Session Steel uses a recessed ABS comb and full length cover plates, providing a mouthpiece that is ultra smooth and fast, and a modern look and feel. This is the Standard Richter tuned Session Steel, however you can also get it in Paddy Richter, PowerDraw, PowerBender, Melodic Maker, Circular/Melody King, Country, Natural Minor and Harmonic Minor. If you would like any of the other tunings please contact us. We also offer custom tuning such as equal temperament on special order. Ergonomic cover plates made of stainless steel, completely rounded at the mouthpiece ABS comb with recessed German Silver reed plates Rivets and screws made of stainless steel Lips and beard-friendly design Minimal air consumption achieved by fine-cut reed plates, optimised flatness and extremely small tolerances between reed and reed plate Stainless steel reeds provide the best clear and full sound and response of the 1847 models Up to 5 times longer playing life compared to models with brass reeds Comes with a genuine leather pouch Tuning: Standard Richter Keys: Low C to F# About Seydel Seydel is the world's oldest extant harmonica manufacturer and has been producing harmonicas and related accessories in Saxony, Germany, since the middle of the 19th century. After a period of state ownership during the division of Germany into the West and East, Seydel was returned to its original owners in the 1990s and subsequently purchased by its current owners early in the 21st century. It is now regarded as one of the leading producers of harmonicas in the world, and has built it reputation on durability, tone and quality. All Seydel harmonicas are manufactured in Germany.... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel Harmonica Summer Edition 2019
6 Keys available
Seydel Session Steel Harmonica Summer Edition 2019 - The Summer Edition Session Steel is back for 2019, and this year it comes with a mint coloured comb. The Summer Edition retains all of the great features of the standard Session Steel, including German silver reed plates and stainless steel reeds, which can last up to 5 times longer than traditional brass reeds. The fine cut reed plates, extremely flat comb and tight tolerances ensure that there is minimal air loss. This makes the Session Steel very easy to play. Many players like to buy a Summer Edition Session Steel each year in a different key - the variation in comb colour then enables them to easily distinguish the various keys in low light situations, such as gigs. Other players just prefer the special edition harps colour combos to the standard orange combed Session Steels. Either way, we think that this year's mint green comb looks especially good. The Summer Edition harps are only available for a short time. When the production run is finished they won't be available, so make sure you grab one while you can! They're available in the six most popular keys and come with a brown leather pouch with white stitching. ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel Harmonica Summer Edition 2023
6 Keys available
Seydel Session Steel Harmonica Summer Edition 2023 - The Summer Edition Session Steel is back for 2023, and this year it comes with a metallic green comb. The Summer Edition retains all of the great features of the standard Session Steel, including German silver reed plates and stainless steel reeds, which can last up to 5 times longer than traditional brass reeds. The fine cut reed plates, extremely flat comb and tight tolerances ensure that there is minimal air loss. This makes the Session Steel very easy to play. Many players like to buy a Summer Edition Session Steel each year in a different key - the variation in comb colour then enables them to easily distinguish the various keys in low light situations, such as gigs. Other players just prefer the special edition harp's colour combos to the standard orange combed Session Steels. The Summer Edition harps are only available for a short time. When the production run is finished they won't be available, so make sure you grab one while you can! They're available in the six most popular keys and come with a black leather pouch. ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel Natural Minor
12 Keys available
The Seydel Session Steel natural minor tuning harmonica is the upgrade to Seydel's successful Session model, and it comes presented with a bold new look and superior technical reliability, excellent playability and a fantastic sound. This is a blues harmonica with corrosion-free stainless steel reeds, ergonomic covers and plastic comb. Seydel's stainless steel reeds provide a bright and powerful sound, and also allow easy bending of notes. Their main advantage, though, is durability - some players have found that the lifespan of these reeds can be up to 5 times that of harps with traditional brass reeds. This is particularly relevant if you're a powerful player who likes to perform frequent overblows. As with all Seydels, air tightness is high, and the cover plate design ensures that the Seydel Session Steel Natural Minor harmonica is friendly to both lips and beards (not something you can say about all harmonicas!). Build quality is also exceptionally high - a legacy both of Seydel's long history and its investment in new technology in the last decade or so. This is the natural minor tuned Session Steel, however you can also get it in Paddy Richter, PowerDraw, PowerBender, Melodic Maker, Circular/Melody King, Country and Harmonica Minor. If you would like any of the other tunings please contact us. We also offer custom tuning such as equal temperament on special order. Ergonomic cover plates made of stainless steel, completely rounded at the mouthpiece ABS comb with recessed German Silver reed plates Rivets and screws made of stainless steel Lips and beard-friendly design Minimal air consumption achieved by fine-cut reed plates, optimised flatness and extremely Small tolerances between reed and reed plate Stainless steel reeds provide the best clear and full sound and response of the 1847 models Up to 5 times longer playing life compared to models with brass reeds Comes with a genuine leather pouch Tuning: natural minor Keys: G to F# ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Session Steel Paddy Richter Tuning
13 Keys available
Seydel Session Steel Paddy Richter tuning is altered from the Richter tuning by raising hole 3 blow for two semi-tones which is very useful especially for playing fast in Irish and Celtic music (1st pos: the 6th note of the major scale is playable without bending, 2nd pos.: the 2nd major scale not is available in the lower register without bending). The Seydel Session Steel harmonica is the upgrade to Seydel's successful Session model, and it comes presented with a bold new look and superior technical reliability, excellent playability and a fantastic sound. This is a blues harmonica with corrosion-free stainless steel reeds, ergonomic covers and plastic comb. As with the standard model, the Seydel Session Steel Paddy Richter version has stainless steel reeds, which can last up to five times longer than traditional brass reeds. The comb is swell resistant ABS and the cover plate design ensures that this is a harp that is friendly both to lips and beards. Build quality and air tightness are top notch, as you'd expect from the oldest extant manufacturer of harmonicas, and the tone is bright, with great feel and dynamics. The stainless steel reeds are responsive and allow easy bending of notes. Ergonomic cover plates made of stainless steel, completely rounded at the mouthpiece ABS comb with recessed German Silver reed plates Rivets and screws made of stainless steel Lips and beard-friendly design Minimal air consumption achieved by fine-cut reed plates, optimised flatness and extremely Small tolerances between reed and reed plate Stainless steel reeds provide the best clear and full sound and response of the 1847 models Up to 5 times longer playing life compared to models with brass reeds Comes with a genuine leather pouch Tuning: Paddy Richter Also available in a range of custom tunings, including PowerDraw and PowerBender.... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Solist Pro Harmonica
20 Keys available
The Seydel Solist Pro Harmonica is a Diatonic harmonica with a laser cut body and half-flat stainless steel covers. With careful rounding of the dividers at the hole entrances, this type of lip care is only usually possible with plastic. This is additionally supported by the full sealing of the comb. 10 holes Standard Richter tuning German Silver reed plates optimised for loudness and extreme air-tightness Reeds specially set for best response - traditional Brass reeds Half-flat covers for brilliant sound Wooden body, multiple coats of sealant for a resistant finish Comes with a convenient leather pouch ... Read more![Seydel Harmonicas Seydel Harmonicas](images/categories/seydel-harmonicas.jpg)
Seydel Soundcheck Vol. 1 - Blues Beginner Pack
![Suzuki Harmonicas Suzuki Harmonicas](images/categories/suzuki-harmonicas.jpg)
Suzuki Airwave Diatonic Harmonica
3 Colours available
The Suzuki Airwave diatonic harmonica is the only instrument you can play simply by breathing in and out of it. You can play right away and sound really good in just a few minutes! Other harmonicas are really small and hard to hold, but the Suzuki Airwave harmonica has a cool modern design that's easy to hold and easy to play! And there are no metal parts on the outside to scratch you or get hung up on. Music... from the Harp! A Suzuki exclusive, the Airwave harmonica is the answer to a beginning player's dream. Included with the Airwave is an instructional booklet that teaches notes, chords, and has exciting play along songs. Learning to play the Suzuki Airwave harmonica is as easy as 1-2-3. Available in three colours, the Suzuki Airwave has no external screws or metal parts like other harmonicas so it's safe for even the youngest of pupils. It is constructed of tough and virtually unbreakable resin so will easily withstand the occasional trip to the floor! The ergonomic body design is easy to hold and play, notes are much easier to find due to the hole spacing. Do not be mislead by appearance - this is no musical toy and benefits from Suzuki's wealth of experience and technology. The Professional quality reeds, comb and air tight body mean this harmonica really plays! Key: C 10 holes Diatonic Available in: blue, red, orange ... Read more![Suzuki Harmonicas Suzuki Harmonicas](images/categories/suzuki-harmonicas.jpg)
Suzuki Bluesmaster Harmonica
12 Keys available
The Suzuki Bluesmaster is a professional level 10 hole diatonic harmonica with a plastic comb and stainless steel covers. In common with most other Japanese made Suzuki harmonicas, the Bluesmaster features phosphor bronze reeds, which provide outstanding projection and durability. The stainless steel covers are designed with durability and ergonomics in mind, making the Bluesmaster an instrument that is a joy to hold and one that will outlast many lesser harmonicas. Construction-wise, and in pricing as well, the Bluesmaster is comparable to the Hohner Special 20, and like its competitor it features non vented covers and recessed reed plates. Tonally, it produces a slightly warmer sound than the Hohner. Its responsiveness, particularly to bending, is very similar. Volume levels of the two harps are also very similar. Like all Suzuki harps, the manufacturing tolerances are very high, resulting in superb airtightness. This enables the Bluesmaster to respond well to dynamics within your playing and makes precise bending a much easier task. Reed and cover plate alignment are also excellent, making this a great harmonica for beginners as well as more experienced players. The ABS plastic comb offers swell-free performance, making the Bluesmaster an easy harmonica to live with, especially for gigging musicians who need a harp that delivers great tone, but who don't want the fuss of managing moisture levels on multiple harmonicas. The Bluesmaster is available in the 12 standard major keys. A boxed set, which includes the 6 most popular keys, and which offers a discount over buying these keys individually, is available here. This set comes with a foam-lined case that holds the harmonicas in position, allowing easy access to them. Warning: It has come to our attention that counterfeit Suzuki Harmonicas are being offered for sale through overseas sellers. Please do not fall victim to these illegal sellers of Suzuki Harmonicas. All our Suzuki range have been purchased directly from the official Suzuki distributors. ... Read more![Suzuki Harmonicas Suzuki Harmonicas](images/categories/suzuki-harmonicas.jpg)
Suzuki Easy Rider Diatonic Harmonica
4 Keys available
The Suzuki EASY RIDER harmonica is our answer to every entry level player's dream. An exceptional quality product manufactured to exacting specifications. It's built to last, feels comfortable and sounds great. Laser tuned brass reeds are easy to pitch bend for that fat, expressive sound the blues and folk player wants. The Easy Rider harmonica includes a compact carrying case. Available in the keys of C, D & G. Warning: It has come to our attention that counterfeit Suzuki Harmonicas are being offered for sale through overseas sellers. Please do not fall victim to these illegal sellers of Suzuki Harmonicas. All our Suzuki range have been purchased directly from the official Suzuki distributors. ... Read more![Suzuki Harmonicas Suzuki Harmonicas](images/categories/suzuki-harmonicas.jpg)
Suzuki Folkmaster Diatonic Harmonica
12 Keys available
The Suzuki Folkmaster Diatonic is an economical purchase for a easy to play harp. Its exceptional sound clarity and perfect tuning is made possible by a unique laser manufacturing process. Thin bendable reeds produce a mellow tone and the widest choice of sound timbres available from any mouth organ manufacturer. If you are nostalgic for the sound of the past, this traditional diatonic is the right harmonica for you. Classic design with sculptured metal cover Moulded plastic waterproof body Keys: C, G, A, D, E, F, Bb, B, F#, Eb, Ab and Db Includes hard shell case Warning: It has come to our attention that counterfeit Suzuki Harmonicas are being offered for sale through overseas sellers. Please do not fall victim to these illegal sellers of Suzuki Harmonicas. All our Suzuki range have been purchased directly from the official Suzuki distributors. ... Read more![Suzuki Harmonicas Suzuki Harmonicas](images/categories/suzuki-harmonicas.jpg)
Suzuki Harpmaster Diatonic Harmonica
12 Keys available
The Suzuki Harpmaster features an easy to play, free blowing design with its solid ABS comb and focused note holes. The bendable laser tuned phosphor bronze reeds produce the clarity and rich, mellow tones you would expect from much more expensive harmonicas. The classically shaped reed covers offer the look and feel of the traditional harmonica and they are built from durable polished stainless steel. The Harpmaster will provide you with years of proven performance. The Harpmaster includes a hard shell carrying case Available in the keys of C, A, A Flat, B, B Flat, D, E, E Flat & G. Check each key to see if we have stock If we are not showing a product in stock, please contact us. ... Read moreThe Blues Harp
Diatonic harmonicas are often generically referred to as blues harps, due to their strong connection with blues music from the very early days of the genre. The diatonic harmonica itself is a single voice instrument and usually has 10 channels, each with one blow and one draw note - ie one note when the player blows through one hole and a different single note when they suck air through the same hole.
History of the Diatonic Harmonica
Although these is some evidence of a harmonica-like instrument having been produced in ancient China, the modern diatonic can trace its origins back to Germany and Bohemia in the 19th Century, where several companies, including Hohner and Seydel, began to mass produce instruments that resemble the harmonicas we play today. It’s worth remembering that these early harmonicas were originally designed to play German ‘Oompah’ music, with simple chords available at the low and and major key melody notes towards the middle to top of the harmonica. Strangely, this note layout, typically known as Richter, after its (slightly debated) creator Josef Richter, persists to this day, despite its limitations and many attempts to replace it with alternatives.
Although there have been many developments in materials, manufacturing technology and design over the years, most modern diatonics would not look unfamiliar to a 19th century harmonica player. In fact, apart from improved accuracy and tighter tolerances in the manufacturing of the reed plates, a Hohner 1896 Marine Band is virtually identical to an early 20th Century model of the same name.
The main development that influenced harmonica production was its use in folk and blues music, particularly in the USA, from the 1920s onwards. The blues harp was a readily available and inexpensive instrument that could accompany a guitar or banjo, and player soon discovered that they could take it far from its original Oompah music origins by bending draw notes down.
Today there are a number of harmonica manufacturers dotted around the world, with Germany and Japan being pre-eminent at the mid to high end and China being the main source of entry level and low end instruments.
What Does Diatonic Mean?
Diatonic means 'of the scale' and refers to the arrangement of notes in a heptatonic (7 notes per octave) scale in which there are five whole tones and two semitones per octave and in which the two semitones are separated from each other by two or three semitones.
In simple terms, this usually means that a diatonic harmonica is tuned to one specific key. So a C major diatonic harmonica will offer the notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, and B (just the white notes on a piano) at various pitches.
Because these harmonicas are tuned to a single key (ignoring the possibility of playing in second/third/etc positions), most players will require more than one in order to be able to play a variety of songs with other musicians. Luckily diatonic harmonicas are relatively inexpensive, compared to their chromatic counterparts (and, indeed, other instruments, such as guitars), so the purchasing of multiple keys does not need to be financially onerous. Multi packs of diatonics are also available, which offer significant savings over purchasing the same harps individually.
Best Harmonica for Beginners
It is tempting when starting to play a new instrument to purchase something at the budget end of the market. However, as harmonicas are relatively inexpensive, I would generally recommend starting with a German or Japanese made harp, which start at around £30. These will be easier to play than cheaper harps, will last longer and won’t hold you back when your playing improves. In fact, many professional players use harmonicas from the £30 to £40 price point, so, with occasional reed placate replacements this level of harp could last for many years in your harmonica playing journey.
Models that I would recommend for beginners include the Hohner Special 20, https://theharmonicacompany.com/product/suzuki-bluesmaster-harmonica, https://theharmonicacompany.com/product/seydel-session-standard-harmonica and https://theharmonicacompany.com/product/seydel-session-steel-blues-harmonica and the Lee Oskar Major Diatonic. These harps are all keenly priced, have replacement reed plates available, and feature plastic combs, which are resistant to swelling - a common problem with traditional wood-combed harmonicas.
Diatonic Harmonica in C
We recommend that your first diatonic harmonica is in the key of C Major. The reasons for this are multiple: first, C Major is the most popular key used in Western music, which means that you’ll be able to play along with a wider range of songs than any other key; second, and as a consequence of the key’s popularity, almost all beginner lessons on Youtube and other online video channels, start with a harmonica tuned to C; third, C sits right in the middle of standard tunings, meaning that it doesn’t have the harder to play low notes of a lower tuned harmonica or the rather squeaky high notes of a harmonica that is tuned to a higher key.
What Other Keys of Diatonic Harmonica to Buy?
Once you have mastered the basics of harmonica playing, you may want to expand your repertoire to songs outside of the key of C. G and A are popular choices, due to the ubiquity of popular songs written in these keys, but Bb is also a useful key to possess, particularly if you intend to play blues licks with a piano and/or horns.
Which Keys of Diatonic Harmonica are the Highest and Lowest?
Diatonics are labelled as standard keys (ie no high or low designation) from G (the lowest) to F# (the highest). A G harp that is a semitone higher than F#’ is referred to as a High G (and some manufacturers make a High A and a High Ab). Those with a range that start a semitone or more below G are referred to as ‘Low’ harmonicas (or sometimes ‘Tenor’ in chromatics). So a Low F, will be an octave lower than a standard F, but only a tone lower than a standard G. Low Low harps are two octaves lower than the standard key, but are usually confined to E, Eb and F, as below that the notes get extremely low and hard to play at the bottom end. Conversely, some manufacturers don’t offer a standard F#, due to its squeaky nature at the top end, and instead suggest that customers use a Low F# when playing in this key.
Low tuned harmonicas are harder to bend at the low end, but they do have a distinctive tone, and the top end tends to be much more useable than the very high notes on, say, a standard D or E harmonica.
10 Hole Diatonic
Most diatonics have 10 holes, thereby providing 20 notes - 10 on the blow reeds and 10 on the draw reeds. However, there are a small number of diatonics available with a greater range - typically 12 to 14 holes. These tend to feature the Richter note layout, but offer additional lower notes - much like having a low and a standard tuned harmonica combined into a single harp.
What is Meant by Second Position?
Harmonica players often talk about playing in second position, or less commonly, third or fourth position. This can be the source of much confusion, as it suggests a playing technique rather than what it actually is, which is playing a diatonic in a different key to the one in which it is labelled.
This may sound strange, so let’s explain what is meant by these ‘positions’. Consider the scale of C Major - all the white notes on a piano - C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Now consider the scale of G Major - G, A, B, C, D, E, F#. You’ll notice that the only difference in the notes is the F#, so a C harp can actually play all of the notes of the G major scale except for the F#. However, the F, which is available when playing G on a C harp is actually a key note (a 7th) in the blues scale. Combine this with the fact that playing in G on a C harp puts the notes that need to be bent for the blues scale on the draw (where they can be bent) and it’s clear why this arrangement (known as second position) is widely used by blues players.
There are many other positions (consider for example, that C major and A minor share the same notes), but second and first position are the most popular.
Natural Minor, Melody Maker and Alternative Tunings
The standard Richter tuning in the major key has many limitations, not least of which is the fact that it was designed to play a quite different genre of music than that which it is typically used for today. Manufacturers, and in some cases, individuals, have, as a consequence, created alternative tunings in order to circumvent this issue.
The most popular alternative tunings are natural harmonic minors. As the names suggest, these enable the natural minor and harmonic minor keys to be easily played on a diatonic, giving players access to minor key blues licks (typically using natural minor tunings) and Eastern style tunes, via the harmonic minor.
Other tunings, such as Powerbender, Powerdraw and Wilde Rock, aim to make the diatonic more suitable for playing the blues by ensuring that the notes that need to be bent are positioned on the draw reeds. Paddy Richter, in comparison, applies some subtle tweeks to Richter tuning to make it more suitable for playing rapid Irish style folk melodies. Melody Maker, which is available from Seydel and Lee Oskar, is designed to make major key melody playing more intuitive.
Seydel offers the widest range of alternative tunings, whilst Hohner and Suzuki limit their offering to natural and harmonic minors in one or two models.
What is the Difference Between a Diatonic and a Chromatic Harmonica?
As we have noted above, a diatonic harmonica is tuned to a specific key, and can only play notes outside of that key by the use of bends (more on this later). A chromatic harmonica, in comparison, has two sets of reeds, tuned a semitone apart, and usually has a slide, operated by the player, that directs air to the top or bottom set of reeds. This enables it to play all Western notes within a given range. An easy way to imagine this is to think of a piano keyboard - a diatonic in C will feature only white notes, whilst the chromatic will feature the white notes and black notes.
Chromatics are still labelled as being in a particular key, but this is related to the specific note layout and range rather than which key it is able to be played in. So, for example, a G chromatic will start and finish lower in the pitch range than a C chromatic, but many of the notes will be the same on both.
In general, diatonics are more suited to blues and rock, where the ability to bend notes is important, whilst chromatics’ greater range of available notes make them more suited to jazz and classical music.
Can I Play Chromatically on a Diatonic Harmonica?
Although diatonic harmonicas are set up to play only the notes in their listed key as standard, harp players, particularly those from the blues world, have long been adapting their technique to squeeze some chromaticism out of their instrument. This is achieved by bending notes down on the draw, thus flattening certain notes. The best players can access almost any Western note within the confines of the range of the harmonica using variations of this technique.
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