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Chromatic harp

Chromatic harp was developed in the early 1900's. The three-octave model has 12 holes and four octave model 16. In the right end, there is a lever control, which operates the hole plate.

Basically, chromatic harp consists of two diatonic harps in a same body, e.g. diatonic C and C sharp. In the basic form the upper reed plate contains all C scale reeds as blow and draw tones and the lower reed plate all C sharp reeds. The main difference between a diatonic harp is that the blow and draw reeds are attached in the same plate but in the opposite side. For example, in the hole #1, lower side of the UPPER reed plate is the blow tone 'C'. In the same hole, upper side of the UPPER reed plate is the draw tone 'D'. Using the switch lever the musician can select the audible reed plate and subsequently find all chromatic notes. Each hole can produce up to four different notes. If the musician does not use the control lever, the chromatic harp behaves almost like a diatonic harp .

Double reed harps

In double reed harps, each note is produced by two individual reeds. This is made possible by special reed plate structure. The most common double reed harps are 'Echo' and 'Comet'.

Usually the same casing contains two harps, one in each side tuned a quint apart, e.g. C major/G major. In Finland, the most popular model has the parallel minor in the other side, e.g. G major /E minor. This particular model is manufactured only for the Finnish market by Hohner.

Comet harp is much like Echo: Each tone is produced by two reeds, but this time the reeds are tuned a full octave apart. The resulting sound resembles an accordion with octave treble shift.

Another major difference is that the Echo's body is made of wood, where as Comet's is plastic. Comet sound is loud and bright, which makes it suitable for ensembles.

Because Comet has basic diatonic tuning, the produced chords are pure. Therefore Comet is often used as a chord instrument.

Blues harp

The mother of all harps is, of course the diatonic Blues-harp. The original invention in Germany has retained it's basic form in this harp.

The common type has ten(10) holes, one blow and one draw reed in each hole. Some special models might have more holes, extending the lower end of the scale. The blues harp sound is bright and distinctive. It is well suited for all folk music and complements well with all violins. Due to the sound quality, it is suitable for all ensembes.

If played using multiple holes at the same time, the standard blues harp produces the key's first degree chord while blowing and the fifth degree chord (C key -> G7/9 chord) while drawing. The order of the chord and selection of additional notes will be different in each playing position.

The tuning causes the adjacent holes to produce nice thirds and fourths, (except drawing 6th and 7th hole which produce large second). Therefore, it is easy to play nice bi-notes with blues harp and it is often used to mimic violin-like bi-tones.

The "built-in" chords and the natural tuning enables chord playing along with the melody.

One major scale harp can produce at least seven (7) different modal scales. Using different positions, however, the produced chords will not always fit the scale and the natural tuning might sound out-of-tune. Therefore manufacturers produce harps tuned to various scales. This means that the mode of the harp is found in position one (1), the full scale starts from hole four (4), thus enabling pure firsts and fifths. The following modes are generally available: major, melodic minor, natural minor, dorian, country, etc.

Melodic and harmonic minor scales are particularly popular among Finnish musicians.

All diatonic tunings are available for blues harps and some manufacturers offer custom tuned harps for addition cost.

Chord harp

In addition to Harmonetta type of chord harp (see details below), there are at least two variations of chord harps. The other is, what I call the "model lang", which has ready tuned chords arranged into two individual harps attached together with an hinge. The adjacent chord are fifth apart and each position has for example the first degree major (blow) and dominant seventh chord (draw). All minors and diminished sevenths are of course available. Another interesting construction is a triple-decker, which features a separate bass reed in the middle and below the set of chord holes.

Harmonetta

Because the same set of notes are produces with both blowing and drawing, this enables the production of very fast and accurate rythmic patterns, which is a great benefit to an accompany instrument like this.

From the construction point of view, this means that each note requires two reeds - one for blowing and another for drawing.

Harmonetta is an ideal instrument for producing incredible complicated chord structures. In theory is would be suitable for playing melodies too, but the cumbersome key layout and fine air hole structure makes it very difficult to pick up the right notes.

Harmonetta has reed plates which have flat valves, so overblowing or note bending is not possible. In addition the physical distance between the holes and the reeds does not allow fine tuning of air flow, thus articulation variations are quite limited. It is unfortunate that Hohner decided to cease manufacturing this fine chord instrument already around 1960's. Harmonetta capabilities as accompany instrument are yet to be defeated.

Bass Harp

Bass harp is different from all other harmonicas: it is played by blowing only. It's reeds are attached to two individual bodies which in turn are hinged together. Each note is produced by two reeds each on it's own reed plate: one on the upper and another on the lower side of the body. The reeds are tuned one octave apart. For example in the lowest note, the other reed is tuned to contra E (41,203Hz) and it's pair to subcontra E. This produces the distinctive and rich bass resonance. Apart from harmonica orchestras, bass harp is often used in modern music for additional effect.

The tonal range of bass harp is from 2 to 2,5 octaves. The common Hohner model #268 ranges from E1 to C1. Playing the full chromatic scales is possible using the both bodies. Upper body is tuned to F sharp major scale and the lower body to C major.

The most common commercial models are manufactured by Suzuki or Hohner. Hohner models are #268/78 and #265/58. Both are double reed hinged models.The former has 78 reeds and the latter 58.

There is more in this fine Bass Harp site.