Harmonica

Free reed wind musical instrument HarmonicaA 12-hole chromatic (top) and 10-hole diatonic harmonica (bottom)Woodwind instrumentOther names French harp mouth organ blues harp Classification Wind aerophone Hornbostel–Sachs classification412.132(Free reed aerophone)Developedc. 1820sPlaying range Slightly over 4 octaves (16-hole chromatic model) 3 octaves (10-hole diatonic model) Related instruments Melodeon melodica yu harmonetta Musicians List of harmonicists More articles or information Chromatic harmonica Richter-tuned harmonica tremolo harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica include diatonic, chromatic, tremolo, octave, orchestral, and bass versions. The harmonica is played by using the lips and tongue to direct air into or out of one (or more) holes along a mouthpiece (which covers one edge of the harmonica for most of its length). Behind each hole is a chamber containing at least one reed. The most common type of harmonica is a diatonic Richter-tuned instrument with ten ai