Octave Harmonicas
Fri, 03/24/2023 - 21:15
Hi David and everybody!
First, I would like to say that harmonica are an inspiration that changed my life!
These days I came across a harmonica model, "octave", watching videos, I fell in love with the sound...
I would like an opinion on which keys to buy, in order of priority, especially for blues... as they are expensive, I thought about buying one or two a year.
Thank you all!
Nexo
Nexo:
The only downside to octave harps is that they don't bend well at all. I have a C Seydel Club Steel that I love, and take on hikes, vacation trips, etc., just for fun. (And used in one cabaret show where the music director wanted that sound.) But with the double sets of reeds, bending notes doesn't work. Also, some octave harps are tuned more like tremolo harps, and some are like Richter-tuned diatonic harps. So if you're used to playing a standard 10-hole Richter-tuned blues harp, Seydel's Concerto Steel is the way to go for an octave harp.
The bottom line: Octave harps are great for different types of music, particular folk tunes. But if you're focused on blues, they aren't that useful. They do sound really nice, though! Just be sure to check the manufacturer's tuning charts for any model you're interested in to make sure you understand how it is tuned, and how that might affect what you use it for.
Hope this provides some useful info.