How long does harmonica last

Tour the Site Click here to watch a video tour of what the inside of the site looks like. Levels of Achievement. Forums :: General Discussion. How long will my harmonica last?? Hi David, I am practicing nightst per week. Why might one harmonica last only 6 months and why might one last over 30 years? To begin with, it might help if you think about a harmonica like you do a car.

It has moving mechanical parts and the more mileage you rack up the quicker the harmonica will deteriorate. And, just like a car, the moving mechanical parts of harmonicas i. So, if you want a harmonica to last over 30 years, play it softly, play it very little, dry it immediately, and store it in a cool, dry and airtight container. I admit I kind of set you up by implying that you could maintain a harmonica for 30 years.

I did this because my students are regularly stunned to find out they need to periodically replace their harmonicas. Furthermore, because replacing reeds on most models of harmonicas is more money- and time-intensive than replacing the entire harmonica, I generally just buy a new harmonica and I recommend my students do the same. Other keys are used but these are the most common, particularly with guitar players.

So, finding the correct key is educated guesswork. Many harmonica teachers, JP Allen included, focus on teaching the basic hole diatonic harmonica to help ensure students' success. Diatonic harmonicas are compact, simple, and most commonly have 10 holes. There are 12 basic keys in music. Stick with a basic 10 hole harmonica in the key of "C"- Diatonic harmonicas come in all twelve keys G, Ab, A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, F , but for beginners it's easier if you start with a basic 10 hole harmonica in the key of "C" generally speaking, the "G" harmonicas are very low and the "F" and "F " harmonicas ….

Why is it called a harp? Early names for the harmonica were Aeolina, Aeolian and Mund-Aeoline, which stressed this link with the Aeolian harp. The Richter-tuned harmonica, or hole harmonica in Asia or blues harp in America , is the most widely known type of harmonica. The next three keys you get should be G, B-flat, and E-flat. G is the lowest standard harp; except for Dennis Gruenling, almost no harp players record on the low F, low E-flat, and low D harps. However, soaking or boiling a harmonica may make painted surfaces peel, cause the wooden combs to warp or crack, promote corrosion of metal reeds and the reed plate, destroy the wind saving valves and void the warranty.

In short, soaking or boiling your harmonica may damage it beyond repair. Wipe the coverplates with a damp cloth. You can use a soft toothbrush to clean debris from the covers while running them under warm water. You can rinse the comb, with the reedplates still attached, under warm water to dissolve any dried saliva and to remove dust and debris.

Do not scrub the reeds with the toothbrush. No, as long as you take care of your vocal instrument. Playing the harmonica requires diaphragm, lung control, throat control, tongue, lips, even vocal cords; so you'll have to be careful not to overdo it, and to always warm up properly before a gig.