Ever have an interest in trying your hand at blues, jazz, rock, or even country music? The good news is, there is one small, portable instrument that you can take into almost any music genre: the harmonica. This little mouth harp is extremely versatile. Not only can you take it with you wherever you go, but because it is such a small, compact size it is much more resistant to damage and normal wear and tear on the road when traveling.
However, just because this instrument can fit in the palm of your hand, doesn’t mean you should underestimate its power. The harmonica actually produces quite a loud, striking sound for such a small device. It offers a springy, bright sound that can provide a unique quality to any song you play along with.
On top of that, the harmonica can be purchased and played in multiple different keys. For example, if you are jamming with a group of musicians and they are playing a song in the key of C, then you would simply pick up your key of C harmonica and play along with them. While you can achieve other keys with advanced bending maneuvers, the harmonica is great because you can pick up your instrument for whatever key the song may be in.
But if you think playing the harmonica is hard to learn, well, then you would be wrong. In fact, the harmonica is a fantastic instrument for new beginners and players and is very fun to learn. With enough practice, new musicians with no music background whatsoever can become very good at the harmonica in a short amount of time depending on how much time you are willing to commit to practicing.
From there, the harmonica becomes more advanced as you become more comfortable playing it. Once you get down the basics of playing a single note, then you can start to add in tongue blocking and tongue slides to enhance your musical performance from there.
Ready to pick up the harmonica now? While finding the right instrument can be fun and exciting, it can also be overwhelming with the number of different products, styles, and manufactures on the market. Of course, you want a high-quality instrument, but not something too advanced if you are a beginner looking to advance your skill. This article will take you through a review and guide of the Hohner Ocean Star Harmonica – the best Hohner Ocean harp for sale.
Why Buy a Hohner Ocean Harmonica?
Hohner Ocean harmonicas are fantastic for beginner level and even professional level players. They offer a high-quality sound but for an affordable price, and are small and comfortable to sit in your hand. Hohner is known for having the monopoly on the harmonica industry and for good reason – their products are also built with high quality materials and advanced technology only delivering the top quality products to their customers.
The Hohner Ocean Harmonica is very similar to its sister product, the Hohner Accordion Marine Band harmonica. Both of these harmonicas are known for producing a bright, clean sound with their highly responsive reeds and airtight design. On top of that, the Hohner Ocean harmonica is much less expensive than the similar Hohner Accordion Marine Band harmonica.
About the Hohner Ocean Harmonica
The Hohner Ocean harmonica comes with many incredible features and design qualities. For starters, it is built with a smooth, rounded design making it easy to hold and fit in the palm of your hands. This harmonica is actually a tremolo harmonica tuned to the key of C with 48 holes and 48 responsive brass reed plates. The tremolo harmonica is unique in that it offers a different sound than the traditional diatonic or even chromatic.
The tremolo can still be played in almost any music genre but is usually seen being used for special effects to songs, and even on the classical stage. The tremolo has found a unique niche in the harmonica world and continues to offer us a one of a kind harmonica experience. It is worth noting, however, that tremolo harmonicas traditionally cannot be bent to reach other keys or notes. It plays simple melodies and does not require highly advanced maneuvers to be good at. In fact, this is a great go-to option if you are a beginner player or new to music entirely.
Features
The Hohner Ocean harmonica comes with many features that are attractive to new players or even advanced players alike:
- Sleek design makes it easy to hold.
- Stainless steel cover plates keep your instrument safe during travel.
- Brass reed plates make for a responsive sound.
- It is careful airtight design will make it easy to play.
- 48 holes and 48, 0.9mm brass reed plates.
- Comes with ABS comb to prevent moisture damage as you play.
Pros
- Comes with a durable plastic carrying case and cleaning cloth.
- It is one of Hohner’s most affordable, professional harmonicas.
- It is durable and holds up against normal wear and tear as you play.
- It is solo tuned, referred to as “Asian tuning”, as opposed to the standard Richter tuning.
- Comes in the key of C.
- Mouthpiece and comb are made of ABS plastic to prevent moisture damage and make for more comfortable playing on your lips and tongue.
- Sounds like an expensive harmonica but for an affordable price.
Cons
- Requires regular maintenance and cleaning for performance.
- The tremolo can be hard to jam along with other musicians.
Conclusion
The Hohner Ocean harmonica is one of the best harmonicas that Hohner provides their customers. Only being released four years ago, this harmonica is fairly new to the Hohner family but is already making a big wave in the harmonica world. For the incredibly low price, this tremolo harmonica is a great options for beginners, those new to music, and those looking to take their harmonica playing skills from diatonic or chromatic to the tremolo harmonica.
Since it comes with double holes and reed plates, the tremolo offers a very unique and pure sound that can’t be found amongst other harmonica models. That is why it is such a great option amongst beginners and those curious about the tremolo harmonica – its clean, responsive sound, and easy playability just may surprise you!