Harmonica Reeds are made from brass or stainless steel springs with one end connected to an airway slot; when played, their free end alternately blocks and unblocks it in order to produce sound.
Harmonica players can alter the notes played by standard diatonic harmonicas by changing their embouchure to force the reeds to resonate at a different pitch; this process is known as bending.
The Song
Billy Joel first released Piano Man in 1973 as his debut hit single and it remains popular today. Lyrically, it depicts Joel’s experiences as a lounge musician; its key of C makes it easy to learn on harmonica! Playing rhythms together requires both skills; I will teach you both in this lesson! -> Discover how to master Piano Man on harmonica like an expert!
The Chords
Piano Man is an ideal song to begin learning the harmonica with. It boasts an accessible melody, straightforward chord progressions and sing-along feel – yet don’t be fooled into thinking it is easy – remember the harmonica is not simply “blow-and-breathe,” it takes practice and dedication to play well!
A harmonica comprises five parts: two outer cover plates, two brass reed plates with 10 reeds each and a comb made from plastic or wood with mouth holes. A harmonica reed is typically made of bronze, stainless steel or brass and secured at one end over an airway slot at its other end; when played, its vibration creates sound when the player blows or breathes in through their mouthhole.
When an air hole is blown or breathed into, a harmonica produces a note corresponding to its location on the reed plate (known as key). Harmonicas come with various keys which can be changed using techniques like tongue blocking and hand effects.
There are two basic categories of harmonicas: diatonic and chromatic. Diatonic harmonicas have only ten holes and are typically sold by key (C, G etc). A chromatic harmonica on the other hand contains all 12 notes of the scale as well as both blow and draw capability.
Chords are groups of three or more notes played simultaneously to accompany other instruments. While harmonica players can produce chords, most tend to concentrate more on melodies.
Most harmonicas only offer three chords, but orchestral melody harmonicas with all twelve chromatic notes laid out on a single row can be purchased. These instruments are known as polyphonias; though some label them as chromatic harmonicas.
A good harmonica should feature long reeds to allow its player to cover as many holes of the instrument when blowing or breathing in. This ensures a full sound when either blowing or breathing in is done and makes switching between playing modes simpler.
The Rhythms
Harmonica players need an uncanny rhythmic sense that separates the pros from amateurs. Billy Joel is one of the greatest examples of such talent; his timing skills are beyond compare.
Piano Man features three-quarter time, also known as Waltz Time. To practice its rhythm, simply press play on the audio track and either follow along or clap along. This will help you develop an ear for this particular rhythm before moving on to its harmonica part.
Rhythm (from Greek rutmos, meaning “any regular recurring movement or symmetry”), commonly known by its Greek equivalent rhythmos, refers to any natural phenomenon cyclically repeated from microseconds (as with song lyrics), seconds, minutes and hours – even years – lasting over time.