Richter-tuned harmonica

Musical instrument Blues harp The Richter-tuned harmonica, 10-hole harmonica (in Asia) or blues harp (in America), is the most widely known type of harmonica. It is a variety of diatonic harmonica, with ten holes which offer the player 19 notes (10 holes times a draw and a blow for each hole minus one repeated note) in a three-octave range. The standard diatonic harmonica is designed to enable playing chords and melody in a single key. Because of this design, playing in different keys requires the player to have a separate instrument for each key they play in. Harps labeled G, A♭, A, B♭ or B start (on hole 1 blow) below middle C, while those labeled D♭ through F♯ start above middle C (C4). Here is the layout for a standard diatonic harmonica, labeled C, starting on middle C (C4): Although there is a three-octave distance between 1 and 10 "blow", there is only one full major scale available on the harmonica, using holes 4 through 7. The lower holes are designed around the tonic (C major) and dominant (G major) chords, allowing a player to play these chords underneath a melody by blocking or unblocking the lower holes with the tongue. The notes most important in the key (the