How to play harmonica - Quiz
  • 1. What is the standard tuning of a diatonic harmonica called?
A) Tremolo
B) Pentatonic
C) Richter
D) Chromatic
  • 2. What is 'bending' on a harmonica?
A) Straightening the comb
B) Cleaning the reeds
C) Polishing the covers
D) Altering the pitch of a note
  • 3. Which harmonica key is best for playing blues in E?
A) A
B) G
C) C
D) D
  • 4. What is the term for playing single notes clearly on a harmonica?
A) Embouchure
B) Trilling
C) Vibrato
D) Chording
  • 5. What is a draw note?
A) Breathing in
B) A slide
C) A high-pitched note
D) Breathing out
  • 6. What part of the harmonica vibrates to produce sound?
A) Cover plates
B) Screws
C) Reeds
D) Comb
  • 7. What is the most common type of harmonica for beginners?
A) Diatonic
B) Chromatic
C) Orchestral
D) Tremolo
  • 8. What is the purpose of the comb?
A) Supports the reeds and channels air
B) Adds resonance
C) Protects the reeds
D) Amplifies the sound
  • 9. What is tongue blocking?
A) Sticking your tongue out while playing
B) Blocking the air holes with a finger
C) Using the tongue for vibrato
D) Using the tongue to isolate notes
  • 10. What is a 'chord' on a harmonica?
A) A high-pitched note
B) Playing a single, sustained note
C) A sequence of notes
D) Playing multiple notes at the same time
  • 11. Which playing style is known for using complex chords and melodies?
A) First Position
B) Second Position
C) Straight Harp
D) Third Position
  • 12. What is the purpose of the cover plates?
A) Hold the harmonica together
B) Protect the reeds and shape the sound
C) Amplify the sound
D) Provide a place to grip
  • 13. Which is a common way to clean a harmonica?
A) Tapping it gently on a surface
B) Using compressed air
C) Boiling it
D) Washing it with soap and water
  • 14. What is 'vibrato' on a harmonica?
A) A loud, forceful sound
B) A fast series of notes
C) A subtle wavering in the pitch
D) A deep, resonant tone
  • 15. What is the basic function of a chromatic harmonica's slide?
A) To control volume
B) To access semitones
C) To change keys
D) To add vibrato
  • 16. What is the term for the 'home' key when playing straight harp?
A) Third Position
B) Fourth Position
C) First Position
D) Second Position
  • 17. What's a common harmonica technique used to create a 'wah-wah' sound?
A) Tongue blocking
B) Hand effects
C) Bending
D) Overblowing
  • 18. What is 'overblowing' and 'overdrawing'?
A) Breathing exercises
B) Methods for cleaning the harmonica
C) Techniques to play notes outside the diatonic scale
D) Ways to increase volume
  • 19. How many holes does a standard 10-hole diatonic harmonica have?
A) 12
B) 8
C) 14
D) 10
  • 20. What is cross harp (second position) commonly used for?
A) Folk
B) Country
C) Classical
D) Blues
  • 21. What is a harmonica rack used for?
A) Cleaning harmonicas
B) Amplifying the harmonica's sound
C) Storing multiple harmonicas
D) Holding the harmonica while playing another instrument
  • 22. What is the primary difference between a tremolo and a standard diatonic harmonica?
A) Tremolos only play chords
B) Tremolos have a slide
C) Tremolos have two reeds per note, slightly out of tune
D) Tremolos are made of plastic
  • 23. What harmonica key should you use for playing along to a song in the key of G using cross harp?
A) C
B) D
C) A
D) G
  • 24. Which is a good practice for beginners to improve their embouchure?
A) Play fast runs
B) Play chords loudly
C) Isolate single notes
D) Overblow frequently
  • 25. What is the 'root' note in first position?
A) The highest note on the harmonica.
B) The lowest note on the harmonica.
C) The name of the key of the harmonica.
D) A note you can't bend.
  • 26. What does 'diatonic' mean in the context of harmonicas?
A) Containing only notes of a major scale
B) Containing all 12 notes of the chromatic scale
C) Specifically for playing blues music
D) Made of plastic
  • 27. What is the function of gapping reeds?
A) Replacing the reeds
B) Adjusting the reed spacing for optimal response
C) Polishing the reeds
D) Cleaning the reeds
  • 28. What should you do if your harmonica reeds become unresponsive or 'dead'?
A) Clean and/or gap the reeds
B) Boil the harmonica
C) Throw it away
D) Oil the reeds
  • 29. What key is a 'low' harmonica?
A) Plays lower notes than a standard harmonica of the same key
B) Made of a cheaper metal.
C) Only plays minor scales.
D) Requires more air to play.
  • 30. What is the 12-bar blues progression?
A) A bending technique
B) A type of harmonica
C) A common chord progression used in blues music
D) A harmonica tuning method
Created with That Quiz — a math test site for students of all grade levels.