New to harmonica? Get this! 

Nice job Jonah. I agree 100% with everything you said (rare for me). Also loved your Amazing Grace at the end. Always great when folks take a real stand.

Oh no, the tone wood argument is back! Hey, your sliding whistle explanation for note bending was tremendous! Good vids.

One of the best videos I have seen about hamronica

Special 20 was my first love main harp. Great videos!

Thank you for your wonderful videos there special . You are one great teacher amen.!

Damn. I feel old. I remember when the Marine Band was about the only diatonic harp there was, and they cost $3.50.

You definitely know your stuff thanks for posting this great insight into harmonicas I have found some metal detecting and used em super young actually probably metal detected the one I used but I saw a video on them and been hooked since gonna buy one just looking into what one to buy

Many years playing on stage taught me to stick with plastic combs. easy to clean and Golden Melodies seem to fit best staying in tune with a band

I'd make one suggestion to future harpists, and that is to pick one of the following keys that you enjoy the sound of the most, hearing a sound you enjoy may encourage you to practice more! Keys: *G*, *A*, *Bb* (B flat), *C*, or *D* Timestamps of Playing Tremolo: 0:33 Chromatic (Hohner CX12): 0:49 Diatonic Hohner Special 20 (Key of C): 3:59 Hohner Rocket/Rocket Amp (Key of C): 4:25 DaBell Noble (Key of Bb): 4:43 Hohner Crossover (Key of C): 5:40 Sydel 1847 Classic (Key of Ab): 6:43 Amazing 20: Easton 008K (Key of Bb): 7:41

That opening riff was cool... bluesy, a little funky, not too fancy but different.

Just ordered the Hohnor Crossover through your affiliate link because it was on sale. I played harmonica in highschool but never taught myself formally. I loved that thing though. It was a Hohnor brand something in C, maybe Marina? It did have the nails and a wood core. I carried it everywhere with me, eventually being known as the harmonica guy lol. Eventually it rusted on the inside and I never got another one until now. I'll be so happy when it arrives so I can finally learn it properly and play all the delta blues music I fell in love with over the years

Jonah: One other thing for your viewers. I tried the DaBell Noble series. The wood comb sounded great but one of the reeds (Hole #10) was stuck. For a few dollars more, you can buy a Hohner Rocket or Rocket Amp, which I love so much I bought the whole set. Hohner also makes a Rocket Low-Tuned series (about $85). I just bought a Low F which is really, really awesome sounding. A friend of mine just bought the Hohner Crossover, which he absolutely loves. For my money, get a Hohner or Seydel 1847 or higher series. Cheers.

Very helpful!

I got the Marine Band and i love it

Would add the Suzuki Hammond HA-20, has a nice warm tone and is quite responsive, with the 2-draw not hard to get. Pulled it out of the box this past weekend, pretty much brand new while mostly playing the Crossover, and was able to hit the 1-4 bends for the first time after only hitting the 1 bend on the Crossover for a couple months. Both are great harps.

I love my special 20. I have it in key of c and it’s really fun to play. I have several others too. I also have 2 Lee Oskars in key of D and E. These three are my goto harmonicas.

Thank you

Nice sampling, Jonah.

Dude rocks man 10/10

Nice vidéo bravo Jonah. Have a great day 😊👏👍🎶🎷

Solid vibrato!

The Kongsheng Mars 1 (plastic) and Mars 2 (aluminum) are not my go to harps. Comfort, bevelled reed chamber, and round holes that suit my main playing style of a 45 degree angle. Both are airtight, require little adjusting, affordable (Mars 1) and sound like playing guitars with nylon strings, or steel strings respectively and the Mars 2 are stunning! I've mixed their red combs with black lacquer coverplates, or black coverplates with gold combs and others. Quite exquisite!

I love the Seydel Low Tone 1847 Bold Body series and right now they are selling about $100 each. Great low sound and good chording. The Suzuki Manji's are the most airtight ones in my mind.

The tremolo is not a gimmick. It's the original harmonica and the most popular in the non-americentric world (literally everywhere else) for Folk and Classical music which harmonica was originally made for. It's your history.

Hey you missed mentioning the MarineBand Deluxe and MarineBand 1896 which they claim is very improved. There is also a new GoldenMelody.

Jonah All beginners have heart and want to play it well, could be so much help for them with the numbers or scale then telling them when to (blow draw) (inhale exhale) (suck blow) or even (in and out) on that scales it's all the same to a beginner they would pick it up so fast with repetition, and start exploring them self's on what they could achieve. that's what a beginner needs try it and keep the faith.

I think I may have given Easttop a low rating previously on this channel. I think I may have gotten some harps that were overlooked by quality control. I took a chance and purchased a "Lucky13" and an Easttop "Blues Standard," and I am in love with both of them. Airtight, resonating timbre, comfort in blowing and holding. I'll be going back to the well with these brand models.

Tnx ❤️❤️❤️

I'm not a beginner I've played for decades. I have to disagree with Johnna about Fender Blues Deluxe. It is very good for the money. I don't know about beginners but I have no problem achieving the sound I want from them. I have them in all major keys. I also have the more pricey Fender Blues DeVille harmonicas as well. The much higher priced Special 20 from Honer or its Rocket series I just can't justify the prices for. They're ridiculously high and not that much better. Bend the reed on a Special 20 You're out $60.00. Bend the reed on a Fender Deluxe you're out $12.00. You can replace a Deluxe 5 times before reaching the price of a Special 20.

Nice, just an observation, I think the crossover harp at 5:40 is in the key of A

Hohner Special 20 is the best harmonica as a value, great compromise between quality and price. Very dynamic, airtight and the comb is giving really good compression. P. S. Easttop, not Easton

You didn't mention the Marine Band Deluxe which has a sealed pear wood comb and screws instead of nails. It's a little cheaper than the Crossover but I think it sounds just as good. All the best from John in the UK.

Man, you have like the coolest blues grass name lmao

I bought a Ozzy Osbourne Hohner Harmonica. Thinking it would be like the Special 20. It’s not. It’s waaaaaay better! Not sure what the comb is but I love it so far.

You seem to be speaking to people that have money and buy what they want. All your suggestions are expensive. Thank you 🙏 ❤️🎶

What was that song you played with the chromatic?

nice video, one of my harmonicas stops playing notes at low end, is there any way to get it back up and running ?

Hiii, thank you for all. Plz. as a beginner, I salive a lot, can I rince it from time to time?

Information I have, is that the Crossover is a part of the 4 harps in the Marine Band family from Hohner.

Why would you not mention a Lee Oscar? Last one i bought was $35(maybe 8 years ago) and they have an ease to them that make bends easier, like they come pre broke in. Best harp I've ever played.

several pros like very much the FENDER BLUES DE LUXE, I don't understand why you specifically single that model out. It's much better than the hohner blues and or the terrible hohner hot metal.

You should have mentioned Lee Oskar Harps. Very well made, profession quality harmonicas, usually sell for less than the Special 20

How do u make the sounds so good

Bro, your link to the Kongshrng is broken there’s a new model available.

What is the the ❌️ harmonica in the thubmail i think i have that one. The one i have is a IRIN harmonica

Bushman Harmonicas are an american made harp that are truly fine instruments. Sandwich style harmonica open back cover plates, and bronze phosphor reeds that have a sweeter tone than the Hohners.

Jonah: Another fantastic video! As one of your beginner students, maybe I can offer some insights to your viewers to save them time and money. 1) Fender Blues Deluxe: DON'T BUY! Cheaply made, the reeds easily corrode, and you will end up throwing it away like I did. 2) Hohner Special 20. Great beginner harp. 3) Hohner Rocket and Rocket Amp. I was having great difficulty bending notes on my Seydel harps and you recommended I try the Hohner Rocket series. Right out of the box, I was bending Holes #1-4 within five minutes after trying for months to get my Seydels to bend. I like the Rocket AMP even better because it does not have side holes for air to bleed out and is even easier to bend than the Rocket. The sounds of the Rocket series are awesome. 4) Seydel 1847 Series and Seydel Lightning. I love the sound these produce and the only disadvantage is that those stainless steel reeds are really hard for a beginner, like me, to bend. But, overall, the Seydels have the best sound to my ears and although they are really expensive you will not have to be replacing them every few years, or sooner. Thanks again for all your insights that can help a beginner like me save time and money. Cheers.

The East top T002 has a great coverplate design. Slightly cheaper than the T008, but I can't hear a difference. I just like the shape of the coverplates, which is very much like a fatter Suzuki Olive, or the Vox Continental type 2 I recently bought.

HI Jonah. What do you think of Suzuki BLUESMASTER? Is it good harmonica? Thanks

Why do you hate the TREMELO harmonica so much. I am having so much fun with it. I can play a variety of songs, and I am a beginner. I am learning how to bend on my Hohner special 20 C harmonica now.

Just hit the metal plates back of special 20 you open it and have Rocket amp....

What was your first harmonica?

What about an A or E harp for blues in E???????

Lee Oskar 😊

You made me so mad with this video. I was just looking for information on a fun gift for my son's friend who is turning 6... Now i'm subscribed to this crap and am ordering 2 harmonicas. Liked very much sir 👍

As a learner the biggest issue is how far apart the holes are to make single notes easier to play.No youtube vid address this.

get a set from Joe Filisko, Joel Anderson, Thomas Hanke, Joe Spiers. wait 3 years, pay 20.000 €/$/etc. be happy. change to next instrument, cello, orga.. haha❤❤❤❤

I almost cried when you threw away that beautiful tremolo harmonica :( tremolos have a beautiful accordion like sound, they are good For cumbia, polka, tarantella, mussette, Waltz and so on... For blues, Country and rock: diatonic 10 holes; for jazz , tango , Bambuco , etc: chromatics

I bought a few Seydel's and I personally don't like them. You have to fight them to get a great sound and why would I pay more for that. Plus 4 hole blows out just like every other harp out there.

Hey what harmonicas would you recommend for a 6 year old music prodigy that can play all key signatures keys on the piano and has perfect pitch hearing? he is 3ft and 1/2 in height, thank you! Please recommend a separate harmonica for classical music as well.

Tremolos in minor are magical instruments in the right hands...

Why do people call harmonicas "harps?" A harp has strings, right? Nice overview. Thanks!

The Easttop Forerunner is a really good chromatic harmonica for about $70. There's a version 2.0 of the Forerunner available now but I haven't tried it yet. For Easttop diatonic harmonicas I like the FreeBlues because it has an inset reed plate like the Hohner Special 20. I find them to be more comfortable than the 008k or 008t models which are quite popular, but have the reed plate laminated on either side of the comb.

These days, I'm spending $75. This has been a little too much of you and not enough about the harmonicas. You won't see me.

Me like your English...

Your pricing is off by25%!

Not first but close lol

You don't need to spin it that much; that part's …

It's not a "gimmick". Folk music- you know, culture- played those "gimmick-y" harmonicas.

Chromatic? Just get a melodica

I put carpet in Lee Oskar's house many years ago. I don't play the harmonica, but thought I'd toss that out there for the algorithm.

You know nothing about Harmonicas >:^ O!!!

Thank you for your wonderful videos there special . You are one great teacher amen.!