Skip to main content
Blues Harmonica logo

User Account

Username:*
Password:*
Forgot Your Password?

Visitor Menu

  • Sign Up
  • Sample Lesson #1
  • Sample Lesson #2
  • Student Recordings
  • Forums
Forums :: Ask Harmonica Expert Winslow Yerxa

Harp vs harmonica

5 replies [Last post]
Wed, 01/26/2022 - 15:57
ÉricD
ÉricD's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/16/2021

Hello, I'm just curious, not being natively English-speaking.. Some people here say harmonica, others harp.

Are both words used equally, or are they used maybe in different areas?

Top
Wed, 01/26/2022 - 16:37
#1
Expert Winslow Yerxa
Expert Winslow Yerxa's picture
Offline
Expert
Joined: 01/16/2010
Both equally

The German term Mundharfe (lterally mouth harp) has been used since the beginning.

The term Harmonica (or Harmonika) in many languages refers to the accordion, so you sometimes see the terms Mund-harmonika to distinguish between the two.

Harmonica orginally referred to a completely unrelated instrument that generates sound with the friction of a moistened fingertip against glass. Benjamin Franklin is often credited with it invention, though he only made improvements.

Mouth organ is another widely used term, but its first use in English (around 1810) actually referred to panpipes. The earliest harmonicas actually resembled panpipes.

So the poor harmonica doesn't really have a name it can claim as exclusively its own. But it has many other nicknames in multiple languages. In French it's sometimes called ruine-babines or musique à bouche.

Top
Thu, 01/27/2022 - 00:31
#2
ÉricD
ÉricD's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/16/2021
Thanks!

I had no idea that harmonica in other languages may refer to accordion!

Top
Thu, 01/27/2022 - 14:57
#3
UkuleleRob65
UkuleleRob65's picture
Offline
Level 6
Joined: 06/06/2014
They don't speak English in England

Sorry, folks over there in the UK, but it's an old joke here in the Colonies.

I've read in connection with bios of members of the Rolling Stones that back in the 1960s when Brian Jones and John Lennon were picking up harmonicas, in England "harmonica" referred to chromatic harmonicas, and "harp" was used for 10-hole diatonics. (I wonder if for young Mick Jagger it was a "Kent Saxophone" for folks like him, born in Dartford.)

And then there are those who prefer "Mississippi Saxophone."

But "Tin Sandwich" has always made my mouth hurt.

Top
Sat, 01/29/2022 - 04:04
#4
Robert Edrington
Robert Edrington's picture
Offline
Level 5
Joined: 08/19/2021
In Italian

The word for harmonica in Italian is armonica a bocca (mouth organ) whereas the accordion in Italian is fisarmonica.  However, when Italians see a harmonica, they will pratically always wrongly call it fisarmonica.

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisarmonica

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armonica_a_bocca

Top
Mon, 01/31/2022 - 09:57
#5
UkuleleRob65
UkuleleRob65's picture
Offline
Level 6
Joined: 06/06/2014
Gob iron?

In some older writings the harmonica is referred to as a "gob iron." From, e.g., "gob," meaning a mouthful.

Next time you're on the bandstand ask your bandleader to introduce you as, ".... and please welcome on gob iron, _______" And see how many people head for the door. Or come up to the stage to take their money back out of the tip jar!

Top

Sign me up!

The low monthly subscription of $16.95 gives you full access! We accept major credit cards and PayPal.

Subscribe

Free Sample Lessons

After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.

  • Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
  • Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills

Contributors

  • Aki Kumar
  • Joe Tartaglia
  • Gary Smith
  • Mark Hummel
  • Joe Filisko

Site Links

  • About David Barrett
  • Accredited Instructors
  • Links
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
Hohner
© 2009 - 2022 David Barrett and the Harmonica Masterclass Co. for Bluesharmonica.com