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