Harmonica brands list: 12 popular harp companies

best harmonica brands list
Image courtesy Nicolas Buffler via Flickr. Used under a CC BY 2.0

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson had an ongoing bit with celebrity guests, who could opt to play the harmonica or take an awkward pause to end their segment.

I was always intrigued by how the guests did and their difficulty playing the harmonica. Some did well; others did not.

It lead me to a question: What harmonica brands are available, and what do I need to know when buying one?

SaleBestseller No. 1
Fender Blues Deluxe Harmonica, Key of C
  • One Key of C Fender blues deluxe harmonica and harmonica holder for a complete harmonica set, 11.42x7.48x3.54 inches
  • Chromatic Harmonica in the Key of C - Traditional shape and chromed metal covers will make your harmonica comfortable and easy to play
  • Adults and Kids Harmonica - Designed to be versatile for all levels of players, the classic tone and pitch on this blues harmonica is made possible with a molded PVC comb and brass reeds
  • Quality Fender Harmonica - Moisture-resistant ABS plastic combs for bright sound and tuning stability so you can enjoy playing the Fender blues deluxe harmonica for years to come
  • 1 Year Limited Warranty: Fender harmonicas are designed for players and built with unmatched quality—which is why Fender warrants this harmonica to be free from defects for one (1) year from the date of original purchase
Bestseller No. 2
SWAN Blues C Key 10 Hole 20 Tone Diatonic Harmonica for Beginners, Stainless Steel Silver
  • ????‍????The surface of SWAN harmonica is polished by hand. The smooth surface allows the harmonica to have a better sense of touch. At the same time, the surface of SWAN harmonica is made of electroplating pattern, free of formaldehyde and other chemical materials, so that the health is closer to the performer.
  • ????‍????The SWAN harmonica uses phosphor bronze reed and ABS resin comb inside, and the master designer tunes it. At the same time, high-quality materials will make the harmonica have more lasting vitality, and will not change the sound due to rust and mildew.
  • ????‍????The design purpose of SWAN harmonica is to enable everyone to use it. Players can be children, beginners and professional performers. The purpose of SWAN company is to enable everyone to have a professional harmonica.
  • ????‍????The SWAN harmonica is 4.33 Inch long, 1.57 Inch wide, and weighs only 0.22 pounds. The product design is perfectly ergonomic, allowing the performer to play for a long time without feeling tired.
  • ????‍????SWAN harmonica is the best choice as a gift. Its beautiful appearance will make everyone like it. At the same time, music is the best tool to convey feelings. Choosing SWAN is choosing the future.
Bestseller No. 3
Harmonica for Kids 10 Hole Translucent Kids Harmonica, 5 Pack Educational Toys Beginners Toy Musical Instruments for Kids Children Party Holidays (Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Pink)
  • ????High-quality and child-safe: The harmonica made of non-toxic food grade ABS material, the comb is comfortable on the lips and there are no sharp edges. Bright color, smooth surface. 100% safe for kids.
  • ????Pocket size and easy to bring: 4.1 x 1.1 x 0.9 inch, suitable for kids to grip. Small and exquisite, easy to carry, can be put into pocket at any time to practice. Each of our harmonica is paired with a translucent plastic case, it can prevents dust from entering the interior of the harmonica and affects its use.
  • ????Beginner Friendly Wind Instrument: key of C, 10 hole, ideal for beginners, children, students. It is also a small helper for boy's and girl's music enlightenment. Its voice is sweet, accurate and pure. Suitable for playing rock, blues, country, Jazz or folk music.
  • ????Perfect Gift for Kids: 10 holes translucent harmonicas are great gift and small toy for kids, which will cultivate children's music interest. Suitable to use on stage, in the classroom, go travel, family day, party game. It’s an ideal Christmas stocking stuffer and Easter basket filler.
  • ????Package Included: You will receive 5 pack harmonicas, each harmonica comes with a translucent plastic case so friends, siblings, and all members of the family can share. Include 5 colors - Blue, pink, green, orange, red. Give your kids multiple options.
Bestseller No. 4
East top Harmonica, Diatonic Blues Harmonica Key of C, Blues Harp Mouth Organ Harmonica 10 Holes 008K with Blue Case, Standard Harmonica For Adults, Professionals, Beginners and Students, as a Gift
  • Professional harmonica for adult-East top 10 hole professional diatonic harmonica, suitable for Blues, Folk, Rock, Country, Jazz etc. Great for professional harmonica players and beginners. This Professional Blues Harmonica has exquisite workmanship, beautiful appearance, accurate tone and responsive.
  • Rich sound, responsive, airtightness - Precision-made plastic comb with phosphor bronze reeds; 1.2mm thickness reed plate is easier to get the higher pitch, rich sound and timbre. The reed plate with electroplating antirust, the hole, reed gap is better after electroplating. At the same time, you will feel comfortable when playing, easy to use the skill, such as over-blowing and bending, giving the performer a new experience.
  • Pocket size and easy to bring-(4.01x 1.06x 0.75)"/ (102x 27 x 19)mm(L x W x H), you can put it into your pocket, it can be played everywhere, such as party, school, office and trip etc.
  • Beautiful packaging- The package is exquisitely small and can be used as a birthday present, a gift for further study, a holiday souvenir or a business meeting gift and wedding anniversary etc.
  • Package includes 1x harmonica (key of C); 1x instruction and 1x cleaning cloth. We are the harmonica manufacturer of the East top brand.Backed Up with East top 30 Days Unconditional Money Back . You can rest assured to buy our products.
SaleBestseller No. 5
EastRock Blues Harmonica Mouth Organ 10 Hole C Key with Case, Diatonic Harmonica for Professional Player, Beginner, Students gifts, Adult, Friends, Gift Black
  • Suitable: EastRock harmonica is designed to practicing, beginners and intermediate players. Great harmonica system suitable for blues, folk, pop classical music, jazz, country, and rock & roll.
  • High-quality: Durable with phosphor bronze reeds and stainless steel cover make your harmonica more comfortable and the music more melodious.Food grade ABS Resin combs is lip-friendly.
  • Easy to use: Airflow splitter and the built-in airflow splitter in the harmonica are conducive to maintaining stable airflow, making it easier for beginners to play easily and mastering more sound skills quickly.
  • Vogue appearance: Smooth cover with fine printing, looks elegant and easy to hold
  • Unreserved services: We will give you professional packaging transport cost-effective goods and friendly customer service. Have a happy shopping.

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Find the best harmonica brands on the market in 2023 on Amazon.

Below is a non-comprehensive list of companies making harmonicas, which can be purchased new. Whether you are looking for a blues harmonica or are a beginning harp player, you should be able to find a suitable instrument.

Note: The list does not contain every manufacture possible. (There are plenty of companies importing cheap harps from China and re-selling them on Amazon.) These are more well-known harmonica brands available at most music stores.

  • Bushman
  • Fender
  • HarpArm
  • Hohner
  • Jambone
  • K&M
  • Lee Oskar
  • ProLine
  • SEYDEL
  • Suzuki
  • TurboHarp
  • Harmonix

Guide to buying a harmonica

When shopping for a professional harmonica for yourself or as a gift for someone else, here are some guidelines to follow that will make your selection process easier:

Skill level

Is the instrument going to be played by some already skilled or by someone wanting to learn? This is important to know before you start shopping around and wasting time looking at products that don’t fit the skill level of the recipient.

Different types

The 10-hole major diatonic is the common instrument used for playing blues, rock, country and folk music

The chromatic is mainly used for jazz, classical and for melody playing.

There are other less common types like the tremolo, octave, minor tunings, bass and chord, but they are used only by skilled players for special purposes.

Diatonic vs chromatic

The diatonic doesn’t have easy access to all the possible notes like the chromatic instrument. However, many of the notes that are not naturally found on the diatonic can be acquired by utilizing breathing techniques called “bending.” This method of inhaling and exhaling notes produces the “bluesy” sound many people like.

The chromatic instrument has a button on one side that allows you to play both the normal major scale and, after depressing the button, all the half steps or notes in between. You can’t bend the notes like you can on a diatonic, but you can play any scale in any key with the chromatic.

Which key to buy?

Normally an instrument tuned in the key of “C” is the best first-key instrument. Other recommended keys after “C” include “A”, “D”, “F”, “G”, and “Bb.”

Another option is to can buy one with all six keys packaged together in one instrument. If you plan to play songs with other musicians, keep in mind you need to have the correct diatonic key the songs require. A six-key instrument allows you to join in on any song.

Cost

The old adage that your get what you pay for holds true in the musical instrument industry.

The price can range from $5 for a simple blues C instrument on Amazon up to several thousand dollars for a 12-hole Chromatic Cross Slide Alignment for professional play.

Cheap harmonicas may leak air and may be difficult for beginners to learn on. But, paying a higher price doesn’t guarantee you’ll be getting a better quality instrument that plays or sounds better.

Wood or plastic harmonica comb?

Combs, the internal part of the instrument with teeth that vibrate to produce the sound, come in either wood or plastic.

Plastic combs are known to play better and last longer when compared to wooden combs that have not been sealed. Today, most wood combs are sealed against moisture and will not expand or contract due to humidity. This is not true in older instruments made before 2010. Check the manufacturer’s date if possible before buying a wood-comb instrument.

In actuality, there is very little difference between the plastic and wood combs in terms of tone and quality. Most the overall tone quality is provided by the player’s technical ability, not the comb itself.

Metal combs are a third option. They will last forever and may be a bit brighter due to their density than wood or plastic. In the end, the sound generated is more about the talent of the player than the type of comb material used.

What makes a good harmonica?

Answering the “what harmonic should I buy” question is individual. But, two factors make for a good instrument with each individual player.

First, how does it feel in your hands? Your instrument should feel comfortable, and it should fit easily in your hands.

Secondly, it should produce the sound you like that fits the category of music you like to play.

Find the best harmonica brands on the market on Amazon.

Originally posted 2023-01-06 01:38:31.