Harmonica

A harmonica is small musical instrument that is played with the mouth by blowing into holes in its side. Harmonicas are cheap and easy to play. Harmonicas produce their musical sounds from the vibrations of reeds in the harmonica's metal case. Harmonicas are used in blues music, folk music, rock and roll music, and pop music. A special type of harmonica, the chromatic harmonica, is used in jazz and classical music. Harmonicas are made in several different keys: G, A♭, A, B♭, B, C, D♭, D, E♭, E, F, and F♯. Each key can play a different range of notes. It's a popular instrument in music genres, such as blues, folk, jazz, country and rock music.

How they are played
Harmonicas are played by blowing or sucking air into one side. On this side, there are many holes. Each hole has a different note. Different notes are played when you blow or suck air.

Harmonica players
Bob Dylan is a famous harmonica player from the 1960s folk rock scene.
Willi Burger is a famous classical harmonica player.eez
Neil Young is a folk/grunge musician who plays the harmonica.
Steven Tyler, from Aerosmith, plays the harmonica.
Little Walter, one of the most well known blues harmonica players ever.
Yvonnick Prene is a groundbreaking jazz harmonica player.
Other Harmonica players
*Bluesharp players
 Billy Boy Arnold
 DeFord Bailey
 Steve Baker
 Carey Bell
 Billy Bizor
 Blind Percy
 Billy Branch
 Buster Brown
 George Buford
 Norton Buffalo
 Eddie „Guitar“ Burns
 Lester Butler 
 Paul Butterfield
 Joe Carter
 William Clarke
 Jaybird Coleman 
 Jim Conway James Cotton
 Cyril Davies
 Lester Davenport
 Paul deLay
 Carlos del Junco
 Rick Estrin
 Frank Frost
 Billy Gibson
 Jazz Gillum
 Alan Glen
 Tony Glover
 Dennis Gruenling
 Adam Gussow 
 Slim Harpo
 Shakey Jake Harris
 Big Walter Horton aka Shakey Horton
 Howlin’ Wolf
 Mark Hummel Paul Jones
 Paul Lamb
 Lazy Lester
 Little Walter 
 Louisiana Red
 Lee McBee
 Jerry "Boogie" McCain
 John Mayall
 Jean-Jacques Milteau 
 Mike Morgan
 Sam Myers
 Charlie Musselwhite
 Hammie Nixon
 Darrell Nulisch
 Paul Oscher
 Lee Oskar
 Rod Piazza
 John Popper Jerry Portnoy
 Gary Primich
 Snooky Pryor
 Annie Raines
 Jimmy Reed
 Jason Ricci
 Curtis Salgado
 Richard „Magic Dick“ Salwitz 
 Mikael Santana
  Ronnie Shellist
 Matthew Skoller
 George „Harmonica“ Smith
 Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
 Little Mack Simmons
 Sonny Terry Sugar Blue
 Sugar Ray Norcia
 Big Mama Thornton 
 Watermelon Slim (Bill Homan)
 Junior Wells
 Phil Wiggins
 Sonny Boy Williamson I.
 Sonny Boy Williamson II.
 Kim Wilson
 Big John Wrencher

Jazz
 Larry Adler
 Matthias Broede
 Jens Bunge
 Hermine Deurloo
 Maurício Einhorn
 Adam Glasser
 Howard Levy
 Hendrik Meurkens
 Richard Oesterreicher
 Toots Thielemans

Types of harmonicas
Another type of harmonica is the chromatic harmonica.  More songs can be played on it than a regular harmonica, because chromatic harmonicas can play more different notes. Chromatic harmonicas have a button which moves a sliding bar. By pressing the button, the player can play a larger range of notes.  
Different names
The harmonica is called many different names, such as: mouth organ, mouth harp, Hobo Harp, French harp, Reckless Tram, harpoon, tin sandwich, blues harp, Mississippi saxophone, or simply harp.

Other websites
 todoarmonica.org 
 Virtual harmonica lessons HarmoPoint 
 Harmonica's blog 
 Harmonica Riff 

Category:Woodwind instruments