harmonicas

Blues players' staples

Harmonicas are small handheld wind instruments played by blowing and drawing air through metal reeds.

The standard harmonica produces different notes depending on which holes you breathe through and whether you inhale or exhale.

Blues and folk musicians favor them for their portability and expressive, bending tones: He pulled out a harmonica and played a mournful tune.

instrument

mouth organ

Handheld wind instrument

blues harp · tremolo · bending · draw · blow · comb · plates · holes · key · tuning

music

blues

Mournful American music genre

  • folkRegular common people
  • countrySovereign state or territory
  • rockSolid earthen material

jazz · Americana · busking · campfire · jam session · improvisation · riffs · licks · solo · accompaniment

portability

pocket

Fabric compartment in clothing

affordable · beginner · accessible · busker · street musician · campfire · backpack · case · holster · hands-free

players

Stevie Wonder

Bob Dylan · Neil Young

Categories
Opposites
sound production mechanism

harmonicasdrums

Struck membrane instruments

pianos · percussion instruments · violins · guitars · xylophones

instrument scale and portability

harmonicaspipe organs

Wind instruments with ranks

grand pianos · church organs · tubas · double basses · drum kits

musical formality and cultural context

harmonicasviolins

Bowed stringed instruments

cellos · oboes · clarinets · French horns · bassoons

Phrases
Family

harmonica, harmonic, harmonically

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G