| Yes, believe it or not, there is a bass harmonica (also known as the bass harp). The harp at right is a Hohner Double Bass (348), which has a two-octave, fully chromatic range, starting with EE (the lowest note on a string bass or bass guitar). This model is made with two hinged bodies, the lower having all the natural notes, and the upper having all the sharps/flats. Each hole has two reeds tuned in octaves (i.e., it is an "octave" harp), and it is "all blow" (you don't get a different note - or any note - by drawing). |  |
 |
The bass harp is not exactly a common instrument... It was more popular several decades ago, when harmonica ensembles were more common (often consisting of a lead harmonica - typically chromatic, a chord harmonica, and a bass harmonica). |
| Bass harmonicas are made by Hohner,
Huang,
and a few others. Some "bass harps" (and some "contrabass harps")
are actually pitched an octave above the Hohner and Huang models
- check before you buy!
For more information on the bass harp, see Danny Wilson's excellent site, especially Bass Harp 101. |
 |
| Back to the Compendium
Copyright ©2000 by Grant D. Green |