Harmonica Holders
About Harmonica Holders
Some musicians are talented in more than one thing. Some can sing and play a guitar at the same time. But some also like to play the harmonica at the same time. This might seem like an impossible feat, but it is possible with a harmonica holder.
A harmonica holder is a specially built instrument. It helps you hold your harmonica while you are playing any other instruments, like the guitar or piano. What the holder does is that it allows you to simultaneously play two instruments. You need to position the holder around your neck so that you can reach your harmonica while performing. Read this article to get a better understanding of different types of harmonicas and harmonica holders. This will help you make the right choices when you are purchasing the holder.
Four different types of harmonicas
Harmonicas are probably one of the instruments with the most diversity. There are around a dozen different types of harmonicas. Each one of them varies in the tonal characters, frequency range, and notes. For instance, there are harmonicas that are suitable for rock music, those that blend in really well with folk music. Others are perfect for Irish country music. Depending on the model, the length and thickness of the instrument also vary. Here is a list of four of the most popular types of harmonicas that are out there.
Diatonic harmonicas
This type of harmonics produces a distinctive sound that is somewhat similar to an accordion. This specific sound characteristic makes this suitable for Irish music to play jigs and reels. If you play it in the key of G, you will get the sound of a well-tuned, airtight harp. If you want more of a Scottish signature to the sound, then you have to tune it in the key of A. Depending on the price and model of the harmonica, you will get a model that has a metal comb or a plastic comb or a combination of both.
Tremolo harmonicas
Tremolo harmonicas are suitable for both Irish and folk music because of their pleasant sound that is somewhat similar to an accordion. The tuning of these harmonicas will be slightly different from diatonic harmonicas. One of the most notable features of Tremolo harmonicas is that the lower reed plates of the instrument will have a slightly different tuning than that of the upper reed plates. This makes the sound of harmonica vibrate in a resonance that sounds sweet to ears. But because it is difficult to bend notes with it, you will have to be a really experienced player to harness its full potential.
Chromatic harmonicas
If you are looking for a harmonica that is easiest to play folk music with, then you ought to look at chromatic harmonicas. In this type of harmonica, you get a full chromatic scale that makes it easy to perform difficult bends. If you compare this instrument to a 10 hole diatonic harmonicas, both of them are way different from each other. This one essentially has two diatonic harps that are placed one on top of the other. Out of these, the lower one has a semitone higher tuning that allows you to produce full chromatic scales without bending notes.
Bass harmonicas
Just like the name indicates, this type of harmonicas has a bass sound signature. Because of the nature of the lower reed plates of the instrument, it produces overtones of the lower range of the frequency spectrum. Also, the tuning of the upper plate will be such that it produces sharp notes that are also flat. Because some of the upper notes will be free, there will be additional F and B notes when you play a bass harmonica. The tones of a bass harmonica will be laid out like the piano keys.
Tips on how to buy Harmonica Holders Online
At first, it might look really simple to find a holder for your harmonica. But only when you start looking at different models will you understand how diverse they are. As there are hundreds and thousands of models of holders, finding the right one for your instrument that also fits your playing style can be a challenge. That being said, it can be easier if you know what criteria to consider in them. Here are a few things to keep in mind while shopping for them.
- Size – Just like different types of harmonicas that come in a variety of different sizes, harmonica holders also vary widely in size. Firstly, the piece that holds the instrument can be wider or narrower. A holder designed to hold large harmonicas cannot properly hold a small harmonica. Neither can a holder designed for small harmonicas hold a large one.
- Comfort – If you are a professional player, you are going to wear the harmonica holder for a long time every day. That means the comfort of the holder is an essential thing to consider. The part that goes around the neck should have enough padding so that it will not cause any sores.
- Design – When you are performing, the harmonica holder becomes another part of your outfit. Probably even one of the most visible parts. So, just like a musician takes care of the way the instrument looks, one should also be thoughtful about the design of the holder.
- Convenience – The primary purpose of using a holder for the harmonica is so that you can leave your hands free to play any other instrument. So, the holder should sit stable on the shoulders or around the neck without moving around. Otherwise, you will need to place one hand on the holder, which makes the holder less useful.
There are many other musical accessories that one would need besides a harmonica holder. These include things like instrument cases, instrument covers, instrument cleaners, stands, amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, speakers, mixers, and many more. You can find any of these easily using our shopping search engine . It will also let you compare the prices and features of different products and pick the best one among them. So, don’t forget to check out other amazing products from the Musical Instruments category.
Question & Answer
How to use a harmonica holder?
There are mainly two sections to a harmonica holder. The first one out of them is that part that goes around the neck. This part will hug around the contour of the neck and rests on the collarbone. Even though it won’t be tight around the neck, it should sit snugly so that it won’t move around unintentionally. The other part is the part that holds the harmonica. This consists of simple parallel plates with adjustable screws at either end. Tighten the screws so that the instrument won’t fall out while playing. But also, be careful not to tighten them too much to avoid damaging the instrument.
Do harmonicas wear out?
Just like any other instruments, harmonicas also wear out. But it is not the whole harmonica that wears out but the reed. In almost all instruments, it is the vibration of the reeds that produce the sound. Even in a saxophone, the reed inside the mouthpiece is what produces the sound. The rest of the instrument just gives further tonal characteristics to the sound. But harmonica reeds are more durable than saxophone reeds. If you are somebody who plays the harmonica regularly, you can expect the reeds to last for around six months.
Where to buy harmonica holders in the UAE?
There are only a few instruments that don’t require hands to play. Harmonica is one of them. So, if you already know how to play another instrument, it would be great to be able to play the harmonica along with it. Having a harmonica holder lets you do just that. Luckily, you can find plenty of holders on Shops.ae. Moreover, the retail search engine on the website makes it really easy to search and find them. What is even better is that you will be able to buy them for the best prices and get the most bang for your bucks.
If you are looking to buy harmonica holders online in the UAE, look no further as you are in the right place. There are more than 500 shops and brands offering them online on Shops.ae. These shops offer products from brands like Hohner, Harparm, Seydel, Fender, Hering, and Dunlop.