Maintenance Tips...

The DOs and the DON'Ts

"Treat your instrument respectfully,” says Willy Dannecker, Head of the “HOHNER” repair department. Very often, the deterioration of musical instruments results from inexperienced and irresponsible handling. " Hence, proper care and maintenance should not be neglected. Here are some of the DOs and DON'Ts.

The Dos

• Do clean the mouthpiece after every practice.

• Do warm the harmonica in the hands before practicing.

• Do begin playing the harmonica gently and softly for a while.

And the Don’ts

• Do not drop the harmonica.

• Do not leave the harmonica out of its case when not practicing.

• Do not practice on the harmonica immediately following meals.

• Do not handle the harmonica recklessly while cleaning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is tongue blocking?

A: Tongue Blocking is the technique where you take three or four holes of your harmonica in your mouth and block some of them with your tongue. You can play single notes (by leaving a hole either to the left or the right of your tongue) or octaves (by leaving a hole to both sides of your tongue, exactly two holes apart) or chords (by lifting your tongue entirely).

Q: What is pucker playing?

A: In pucker playing, you pout your lips to leave a small hole through which you can blow or draw air through one or more holes of your harmonica. This technique allows you to bend (and overblow) notes easily.

Q: How do I bend?

A: Bending is the lowering of the pitch of a reed. This can be done on all holes of a chromatic harmonica. Bending can only be done on the draw reeds of holes 1-6 and the blow reeds of holes 7-10 of a diatonic harmonica (blues harp style). Bending on tremolo or octave-tuned harmonicas is probably less controllable. Bending is achieved by changing the shape of your mouth cavity while playing a certain note. Your mouth should be quite relaxed. Now, try to retract your tongue and drop your lower jaw. As the size of your mouth cavity increases, its resonant frequency decreases, and the pitch of the note will be lowered.  

Q: What is "cross harp"?

A: Originally a blues style, but used today for many kinds of music, cross harp is a system in which a diatonic harmonica is played in a key seven half-steps up from the key in which the harmonica is tuned, e.g. a C harp played in the key of G. This produces a blues scale with a flatted seventh and has the advantage that the most important notes can be bent in the low end, producing a fluid quality and great expressiveness.

Q: If you can play a chromatic in any key, why does the "Super 270" come in different keys?
A: A different blow and draw pattern is required for each key played on a single chromatic harmonica. There certainly is a great advantage in learning the different scales on a single harmonica, especially for jazz and other modern forms which modulate frequently. But for those who prefer to play in only one or two scales, the 270 Super Chromonica allows the player to join in music played in all the most common keys. Greater use of chords is also possible by using a chromatic tuned to the key of the music being played.

Q: How do I get rid of buzzing in my chromatic?

A: This is probably caused by one of the windsavers getting a bit stuck. Windsavers are the little plastic valves that are over the reeds. You can un-stick them using a toothpick or other sharp but soft device. Note that windsavers on the draw notes are outside the reed plates, but the windsavers on the blow reeds are on the inside. Sometimes, there is a pair of windsavers on top of each other in a hole.

Q: Which is better- a plastic or wood body harmonica? And why?

A: Each material used for the body or comb of the harmonica has its own tonal characteristics and unique quality. A wood body (Marine Band or Blues Harp, for example) typically produces a resonant, full bodied timbre with an even note reproduction from lows to highs. A plastic body (Special 20 is characterized by a warm, even sound while being smooth on the lips. Also available are metal bodies (Meisterklasse) or a metallic finishes (Cross Harp) which produce a bright and clear sound. Similarly, the different cover plate designs used among the various models each shape and project the music in different ways and fashion.

Q: Why are there plastic reeds on the chromatics?

A: The small plastic parts visible are not reeds, but are wind saving valves, which allow for greater volume and tone a lower breath pressure.

Q: How do I clean my harmonica?

A: The only cleaning normally required is to remove the excess moisture from the harmonica after playing by tapping it on the palm of the hand and wiping it clean with a lint free cloth. Equally important is to avoid allowing food particles or saliva to enter the harmonica by playing with a clean, dry mouth and keeping the head poised.

Q: Why do 4 & 5 blow and 8 & 9 blow of my chromatic harmonica produce the same notes?

A: The duplicated note in the chromatic is the key note, which by being doubled, allows for the same blow and draw pattern in any octave.

Q: Should I soak my harp?

A: No, soaking or rinsing can warp or crack harmonica wood bodies, promote corrosion of reeds and reed plates and destroy the wind saving valves. A certain amount of breath moisture will naturally permeate a harmonica after a short playing period, helping to seal the reed chambers and improve the sound. Excessive moisture, however, can damage or shorten the life of a harmonica.

Q: Can a harmonica go out of tune?

A: Notes may go a little flat if too much residue and moisture build up on the reeds. This is one reason the instrument should be played with a clean, dry mouth, and be tapped out after playing. Playing too loud will also strain the reeds and eventually cause them to lose the pitch. If a reed goes drastically flat, a quarter tone or more, it has most likely been strained and should be repaired or replaced.

Q: How do I tell what key this model is in?

A: All models have the key designation stamped on the top cover plate or on the body.

Q: How can I obtain a good tone from my harmonica?

A: Beginners and players learning new techniques may need to spend some time adjusting embouchure and airflow in order to obtain a good tone. Notes may rattle or stick with too much air pressure and may sound choked or not play at all if the tongue is in the wrong position. Low draw notes, especially on lower keymodels, require an adequate space in which to resonate properly. A harmonica will sound best with a normal amount of breath pressure and an open, relaxed air passage through the mouth.