The harmonica has a long tradition in music and popular culture. It’s used in all genres, from rock and pop to classical music and jazz. The harmonica is relatively easy to learn, opens a broad variety of options to the player, and its small size makes it easy to carry around in your pocket and play on the road.
The diatonic harmonica, also known as blues harp, offers simple major scales and chords. Special playing techniques like bendings and overbends extend the tonal range. Its sound is typical for blues, folk, and country, but also pop and rock.
Hohner’s Marine Band 1896 is the archetypal blues harmonica. Almost unchanged since it was patented in 1896, the instrument embodies the real deep blues like no other and is the benchmark against which all others are judged. Initially designed for European folk music, it quickly became a prominent voice of American blues of the early 20th century, played by all harmonica players of this era. It’s the soundtrack of broken hearts and dancing all night, of endless prairies and sweaty nightclubs.
