That buzz of anticipation you’ve been feeling recently will peak Saturday, April 18. We’re speaking, of course, about National Harmonica Day, a day set aside for us to celebrate, contemplate and participate with this small instrument and its big sound.
Unlike most musical instruments, the harmonica is small. In fact, it’s compact enough to fit in the hip pocket of your faded Levis. It can also be transported in a dirty red bandanna, as did Bobby McGree in the Kris Kristofferson-penned “Me and Bobby McGee.” We should note, though, that the harmonica comes into direct contact with the player’s mouth, so make sure that bandana isn’t too dirty, y’hear?
An advantage of its portability is that it increases the likelihood that you’ll be able to borrow one, as this video will illustrate:
An E harmonica is an example of a diatonic instrument. It can play a seven-note scale (as in ‘Do Re Mi”) and is tuned to a single key. If you’re listening to Little Walter, the Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash or that Dylan guy, you are most likely hearing a diatonic instrument,
A chromatic harmonica, though, plays a 12-note scale (“Do Re Mi” plus the sharp notes). If you’re listening to Toots Thielemans or Stevie Wonder, you are most likely hearing a chromatic harmonica.
There are other types as well, including the bass harmonica which sometimes sounds as if someone tuned a bullfrog. Beach Boy Brian Wilson was fond of using it and it appears on songs such as “I Know There’s an Answer” from Pet Sounds.
The chromatic harmonica is also used in classical music and you’re not alone if classical harmonica is news to you. One of its greatest players ever was John Sebastian, who recorded works by Bach and Debussy, toured all over the world and played with many of Europe’s great orchestras.
If Sebastian’s name sounds familiar, you might be thinking of his son, John B. Sebastian of 1960s hit-makers the Lovin’ Spoonful. The younger Sebastian plays several instruments, including harmonica, although he’s influenced more by blues and folk than classical.
For many players, the harmonica is used in addition to a guitar or piano. This is aided by a wire rack placed around the musician’s neck that holds the instrument in place, like the one Dylan uses in the video above. It’s also used by Billy Joel when he performs “Piano Man,” which has a very prominent, you might say dominant, harmonica part for a song that has “piano” in its title.
Harmonica is the primary instrument for some players: The J. Geils Band featured Richard “Magic Dick” Salwitz, who frontman Peter Wolf would introduce as “Magic Dick on the licking stick!” Greg “Fingers” Taylor was a mainstay of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band for years. Likewise, Mickey Raphael has played harmonica in Willie Nelson’s Family Band since 1973.
But enough talk, er, type. Here’s a playlist showcasing the harmonica in a number of musical settings. Pretty versatile for an instrument you can carry in your hip pocket.