Dating harmonica reeds

How do harmonicas work?

In harmonicas, reeds are typically stacked on top of one another underneath a reed plate, with half the reeds responding to blowing, and the other half responding to suction. The vibration of the reeds caused by your breath produces the harmonicas signature sounds.

How to replace worn out reeds on a harmonica?

Luckily though, since harmonicas house all the reeds together, replacing worn out reeds is relatively simple. If you have a Hohner harmonica, which is likely considering their popularity, all you need to do is purchase a set of Hohner special 20 replacement reed plates.

When should you replace your harmonicas?

Since harmonicas cannot produce sound without reeds, it becomes crucial that you replace them as soon as they start to show signs of failure; without high quality, fresh reeds, your harmonica will not sound good at all. But why do reeds break? There are a number of possible reasons.

How do I adjust the reed gap and curve on my harmonica?

To adjust the reed gap and curve you need a short, stiff file and your finger or thumb. If you do not have the right type of file, HOHNER offers it as part of a service kit containing tools for gapping and other common repairs. You can order it from the Hohner Parts & Service Center. First disassemble your harmonica.

How does air enter a harmonica?

Air enters the harmonica through its comb, which contains the air chambers that cover the reeds. The comb in a modern harmonica is often made of plastic or metal for durability, but on traditional instruments it was made of wood. The sound of the harmonica comes from groups of reeds mounted on reed plates inside the instrument.

What is a harmonica used for?

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, rock. There are many types of harmonica, including diatonic, chromatic, tremolo, octave, orchestral, and bass versions.

How are harmonicas constructed?

Most harmonicas are constructed with the reed plates screwed or bolted to the comb or each other. A few brands still use the traditional method of nailing the reed plates to the comb. Some experimental and rare harmonicas also have had the reed plates held in place by tension, such as the WWII era all-American models.

How do you play a harmonica?

A harmonica is played by using the mouth (lips and tongue) to direct air into or out of one (or more) holes along a mouthpiece. Behind each hole is a chamber containing at least one reed. The most common is the diatonic Richter-tuned with ten air passages and twenty reeds, often called the blues harp.

Keep harmonicas free from particulates (lint, particles of food, any beverages other than water, etc…). Don’t blow too hard and don’t let others play your harmonicas. (Stressing the reeds will put the reeds out of tune.) Why might one harmonica last only 6 months and why might one last over 30 years?

What makes a harmonica sound good?

How do you adjust the Reed on a harmonica?

Push the reed down if the harmonica didn’t work when you inhaled. Place the tip of the toothpick over one of the holes on top of the upper reed plate. Use the tip of the toothpick to nudge the reed. Move it up to 5 times to adjust the sound. Lowering the reed fixes sound issues when you play draw notes.

How to fix a harmonica that is in bad shape?

If you’re really struggling with a harmonica that is in bad shape, you could also unscrew the reed plates to dig into the reed. However, the reed is delicate, so it’s better to avoid taking everything apart and usually isn’t necessary anyway.

What is the best way to Gap a harmonica?

Gapping will also help the harmonica respond to your style of playing. If you blow soft, gap tight. If you blow hard, gap loose. The standard out-of-the-box harmonica should bend well in the hands of a player who has control of his bends.

How do you make a harmonica overblow?

Advanced harmonica mechanics can make your harp overblow like a dream and still respond to hard playing. Make sure the blow reeds are on top. Remember, the blow reeds are on the inside of the reed plate. Place the cover plates on the harp. Make sure the cover plate with the numbers is on the top.