Harmonicas for beginners

The harmonicas for beginners on this page have been selected in the key of C, the key used by most tuition books and video lessons. You'll find ten-hole diatonic harmonicas for blues and folk, chromatic harmonicas with a slide, and tremolo harmonicas with a wavering sound. For those first notes, there are small, colourful Hohner Speedy harmonicas and Noicetone children's models, while Seydel sets with a harmonica and tuition book cater for complete beginners. The main brands are Hohner, Seydel, Suzuki and Cascha.

Which harmonica should you buy first?

For your first harmonica, choose a ten-hole diatonic in C with Richter tuning, such as Hohner Special 20, Blues Harp, Marine Band or Seydel Blues Session. This is the type used to learn blues, folk and simple traditional songs, and later you can also learn to bend notes on it. Leave harmonicas with special tunings, such as Country or Harmonic Minor, for later: beginners' courses assume Richter tuning.

The comb, the central section containing the air channels, is made of plastic on most models, so it won't swell with moisture and is easy to clean. Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic has a pearwood comb like the original model, but the wood needs to dry after playing. For a guided start, there's Seydel Junior Starter Kit with a C major harmonica, ten songs and video lessons accessed through QR codes in the booklet, plus the Seydel Soundcheck blues course with a Session Steel harmonica.

When should you choose a chromatic, tremolo or children's harmonica?

A chromatic harmonica has a slide at the side: when you press it, every note rises by a semitone. Twelve holes give you three octaves; sixteen holes give you four, as on the Hohner 64 Chromonica. A tremolo harmonica has two reeds for each note, tuned slightly apart, which gives its sound a gentle wavering effect; it isn't suitable for blues with bent notes. Hohner Mini Harp measures just 3.5 cm and plays eight notes. You'll find other instruments for starting out, such as flutes and saxophones, on the Wind instruments for beginners page.

How should you look after your harmonica?

Rinse your mouth before playing, especially after food or a sugary drink, to keep residue away from the reeds. After playing, gently tap the harmonica against your palm with the holes facing down, leave it to dry, then put it in its case. Never immerse a harmonica with a wooden comb in water.