Watching our favorite musicians play, we can dream of learning to play like them. Our list of beloved musical instruments might include a banjo, a piano, a guitar, drums, and a violin. Practically there is everything except the harmonica. The harmonica seems easy to play because of its miniature size. But it’s a little more complicated than it looks. Even if you already know a musical instrument, playing the harmonica is a kind of a challenge. Are you ready to take it on? If so, you should look at this overview to choose the best harmonica set.
5 Best Harmonica Set Options Reviewed
In this section, I share my experience of using the harmonica and my friends’ impressions. Moreover, I suggest you read my personal top 5 harmonica sets.
1. Fender Midnight Blues Harmonica: Best Blues Harmonica Set
| Brand: | Fender |
| Item Size: | 8.62 x 6.02 x 2.6 inches |
| Item Weight: | 2.01 pounds |
| Material Type: | Bronze, Stainless Steel, Brass, Plastic, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene |
| Keys: | A, Bb, C, D, E, F, and G |
A friend of mine knows how to play the guitar, but he recently had a new hobby, the harmonica. He bought this set to learn how to play. The first impression was especially striking as the harmonica looks stylish and weightless. It is unusual to hold a musical instrument of a larger size. But the most important thing is the clear, deep sound.
It’s hard to focus on the disadvantages, given the cost of this set. A beginner should be satisfied, as they get everything they need in one harmonica box set to start playing right away. This set includes harmonicas in different tones and a protective cover that provides ventilation and allows harmonicas to dry quickly. Besides, the manual contains songs for beginners. Conveniently, you don’t have to search for sheet music or simple tunes on the Internet or anywhere else.
The diatonic harmonica is designed to play almost any type of music. It is versatile. This set of 7 harmonics in different tones opens up limitless possibilities for playing.
Fender has been creating musical instruments since the 1940s. The manufacturer is constantly improving its goods and demonstrates perfect quality. Famous artists such as Kurt Cobain have repeatedly appeared in their concerts with the instruments of this brand. No wonder newcomers to music trust Fender.
- Price
- Deep and clear sound
- Material quality
- Not detected
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2. Set Hohner PBH7 Piedmont Blues: Best Cheap Harmonica Set
| Brand: | Hohner Accordions |
| Item Size: | 9.5 x 4 x 2 inches |
| Item Weight: | 2 pounds |
| Material Type: | Fabric |
| Keys: | A, Bb, C, D, E, F, and G |
My colleague bought this set for herself as her first starter kit, and she wanted a good but budget-friendly harmonica. This set has 7 of them in different tones.
The reeds are of good quality brass. These are often inherent in more expensive harmonica models. The only thing that is a little confusing is the rough plastic. It takes some time to get used to playing. Also, after unpacking, the plastic emits a slightly pungent smell. So, it is better not to start playing right away and let the odor evaporate.
Hohner has allowed you to create music for both amateurs and professionals since 1857. The German company produces musical instruments in different price ranges so that everyone can afford the pleasure of playing their favorite musical instrument.
- Price
- Set of 7 harmonics of different tones
- Convenient case
- Plastic cover
3. Fender Blues Deluxe: Best Beginner Harmonica Set
| Brand: | Fender |
| Item Size: | 11.42 x 7.48 x 3.54 inches |
| Item Weight: | 1.75 pounds |
| Material Type: | Brass, Plastic, Metal, Polyvinyl Chloride |
| Keys: | C, G, A, D, F, E, and Bb |
I bought this set as a gift for my friend’s son. He was looking for a starter kit for beginners. Why did I choose this particular one? First of all, look at the case. It looks presentable as a gift. Besides, the case is fairly compact, so it’s easy to take with you anywhere. The set consists of 7 diatonic harmonics that you can use to play music in such styles as blues, folk, blues, jazz, rock, and country. A beginner needs to try them in different playing styles to find what they like best.
Yes, this blues harmonica set is not the cheapest, but it is worth every penny spent. The quality is truly outstanding. The harmonics are nice to hold, make great sounds and respond well. Thanks to the sturdy case, one does not have to worry about properly preserving musical harmonics.
In general, the Fender brand has improved its quality so much that professional musicians more and more often recommend its instruments. That also applies to the set that I bought as a gift.
- Excellent quality materials
- Set of 12 harmonics of different tones
- Convenient case
- Price
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4. East Top Diatonic Blues Harmonica Set: Best Full Harmonica Set
| Brand: | East Top |
| Item Size: | 3.98 x 1.06 x 0.79 inches |
| Item Weight: | 3.1 pounds |
| Material Type: | Phosphor bronze reeds, brass reed plate with electroplate, brass cover with electroplate, ABS comb |
| Keys: | A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, Ab |
My friend gave me this set for my birthday. Of course, I couldn’t resist playing it right away. I was amazed by the quality of sound and response. The harmonica body is comfortable to the touch, and playing it is an absolute pleasure. I can not miss the exciting vintage design of these harmonics, so if you are an aesthete, you will definitely appreciate it. I have wanted a complete set of 12 harmonics for a long time. I play each of them periodically, and they are my favorite now.
The harmonica comb is made of ABS plastic, so I’m not worried about the instrument getting ruined by moisture. The brass plates and phosphorite bronze reeds give the harmonica a clean, bright sound.
East Top has been offering high-quality harmonica players for over 20 years. I was genuinely excited to get their set in my collection.
- Excellent quality materials
- Set of 12 harmonics of different tones
- Design
- Not detected
5. Swan 24-Hole Polyphonic: Best 24-Hole Harmonica Set
| Brand: | YUEKO |
| Item Size: | 11.02 x 7.87 x 1.57 inches |
| Item Weight: | 2.75 pounds |
| Material Type: | Abs, Silver |
| Keys: | C, D, E, F, G, A, B |
I recommended this set to my cousin when she picked a harmonica for her husband. He already plays a 10-hole harmonica, so she was looking for something new. The harmonica with 24 holes allows one to experiment with sound while playing freely. The harmonics sound great, and the split reeds give an intriguing volume to the sound. The set includes harmonics in 7 different tones, so it opens up a lot of room for imagination.
This instrument is of high quality, so it will please its owner for a long time. The harmonica cover is made of stainless steel and protected against corrosion; the comb is made of ecological plastic. It is safe for people and resistant to moisture.
These harmonics by the Chinese brand Swan are sold in an elegant case. The item itself looks expensive and works accordingly.
- Excellent quality materials
- Set of 7 harmonics of different tones
- 24-hole
- Convenient case
- Price
Best Рarmonica Set Buyer’s Guide
Harmonica sets are popular among beginners and professionals alike. After all, it is convenient and often rewarding. Starter harmonica kits for beginners are usually sold with the necessary tools to take care of the musical instrument. Also, some kits have a small self-guide with popular tunes for easy learning. In addition, harmonica cases often look very stylish. It’s a fantastic idea for a lasting gift or an accessory that will decorate the interior of a musician’s home. I will tell you about some of the valuable features of the harmonica bundle in this section.
How to choose the best chromatic harmonica
You need to know about the types of harmonica set and how they differ. Below, you will find their essential characteristics.
How many harmonics in a set should I choose, 7 or 12? What is the difference?
If you buy a single harmonica, you may notice that they usually have the letters A, C, etc., on the body. They indicate the tonality of the harmonica. Beginners should buy a harmonica in C tonality, as this is the most common key in the notes of many simple and popular songs. Kits include harmonics in several different tones. Which one is best for you depends on your skills and what kind of music you want to play. With the 7 harmonica sets, you get instruments in A, Bb, C, D, E, F, and G. With the 12 harmonica set, you can get a complete set in all possible tonalities A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, Ab.
What is the difference between 10 and 24-hole harmonics?
The 10-hole harmonica is the most popular type, as both beginners and professionals use it. Although the second name of this harmonica is blues, you can use it to play any tune. This name is because this instrument became popular during the blues era. The 10-hole diatonic harmonica has all the keys of the “white grand piano” notes. There is also diatonic harmonica in major and minor.
The harmonica with 24 holes is called the Tremolo. Its peculiarity is that on each note, there are 2 reeds slightly apart from each other. This harmonica has the notes only of the white keys of the piano. The advantage of this harmonica is that it is easy to learn, even without musical talent. Double reeds help to create a more enveloping sound. However, the lack of some notes is very limiting for some genres of music.
The benefits of buying a set from a single harmonica
The advantage of a set may be that you don’t have to buy harmonics in different tones from time to time. Instead, you will always have a set of harmonicas with you. Professional musicians sometimes buy harmonica sets of all tonalities just in case. You never know which harmonica might lose its tuning at the most inopportune moment or lose it altogether. There is a spare set for this case.
FAQ About Harmonica Sets
Here I want to share answers to common questions I get from beginners. They should bring some clarity to the question of using harmonica sets.
How to play a harmonica set?
Suppose you have a set of harmonics in 7 different tones. Each harmonica usually has a sticker with a letter indicating the tone. Sometimes this letter can be engraved on the body itself. Since you are a beginner, you will probably start playing with the most common C key. As you master the instrument, you can play other tones. If you use a self-study or video tutorial, you should get an explanation of which key to play a particular tune.
How many harmonica keys are in a set?
The harmonica package includes the number of harmonics corresponding to the keys. Since the maximum number of keys is 12, this is the largest possible set you can have. But not everyone needs all 12 keys, so packages can have 3 or 5 harmonics. The 7-harmonica set is one of the popular ones because it includes instruments of the most popular tones.
Allow Yourself Some Variety
Harmonica sets will be helpful both for beginners and professionals. If you are serious about playing the harmonica, I think you can safely buy a set of at least 7 harmonicas of different tones. Yes, this purchase requires a bit more investment, but you get a good starter kit with all the necessary attributes. You got an overview of harmonica from the most famous brands. They make their goods from durable materials, so they will please you with quality music for a long time.
Do you already own a harmonica, or will this be your first purchase? Which set did you like best?
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