The first option puts 10 hole diatonic harmonica up onto your screen. It’s based off the Richter system of tuning, as you might expect, so it’s in the key of C. That’s the common tuning for folk and blues players.
There are two main way you can play it. First, click on it with your mouse (or touchpad). Secondly, there is an option where you can use keys from your computer keyboard. They both gives a real-world sounding reeds. Whichever way you want to approach it are fine for practicing.
How to Use the Virtual Harmonica
There are two clear areas of the interface that corresponds to one hole on the instrument. These correspond to blow notes (top half) and draw notes (bottom half). If you touch down on any of these zones and hold, the note will sound as long as your finger remain pressed against the zone. This mirrors drawing or blowing air through actual instrument. Rapid runs can be performed by dragging your cursor or finger across holes.
At the bottom there’s a visual readout of the note being played. You’re also given exact pitch in Hertz. It also tell you if it’s a draw note or blow note. This information is useful when mapping out scale shapes but is also handy when looking for particular pitches.
Typing on keyboard is usually the fastest option. Holes 1-10 are played using the number row from zero to ten, with the blow note playing each time. Draw notes is controlled via letter keys from Q to P in the correct order. With this layout, your fingers remains in natural position used when typing. If you get stuck, press the question mark key and it’ll display a handy control reference guide.
A selection of buttons sit below the instrument’s stage, which you can use to adjust the sound. The Blues lick button will play a brief, traditional bluesy phrase in the second position. This lets you hear what it sounds like in musical setting.
The Train chug button loops a basic rhythm that imitates a train’s engine. Try this out while learning how to alternate chords.
The Chord button switches on/off between double and single notes. In double mode each press trigger a pair of adjacent holes, as though your mouth were open wide. This allows you to create instant chords to accompany rhythms.
The master volume slider on the right let you adjust the overall volume of the app. Do this before playing as you don’t want to be caught out with your headphones on. You might of wanted to make it louder though…
The Fullscreen button makes the widget fill available screen. That means there’s a bigger surface area to hit with your fingers or your mouse, and you can concentrate on playing the instrument without distractions.
The How to play button will open a brief help section that explains how the thing work if you’ve forgotten.
The ability to bend also make it one of the best things to experiment with. If you’re using touch input, or even a mouse, just place your cursor over draw note and pull it further down the screen. Once you’ve held the draw note, move your cursor beyond bottom cover plate. As you do this you’ll hear the pitch drop. This demonstrates real-world draw bend. It’s key to the expressive way the harmonica sounds.
The readout will adjust as you apply the bend showing the number of cents by which you’ve bent the pitch. You can then visualize the extent of your pitch shift. It takes some practice but delivers a characterful addition to your performance.
Starting from middle of instrument is a good point to begin. Play notes as follows: blow four, draw four, blow five. That’s a C major triad. The notes are easily accessible on your fingertips.
When you feel confident playing single notes, switch to double chord mode. Then strum the bottom end of the harp. Finally, just experiment by sliding your cursor rapid over neighboring holes to produce a gliding sound. Make no mistake, there is no wrong way here. Explore entire harp to your heart’s content.
It’s intentionaly simple in design. It provides just enough to get rid of any complexity that doesn’t really matter and let you make music instead.
Are you a beginner? Are you a seasoned player? This is a place for you, too. It is a low pressure space where you can play around without worry.
Try the buttons. Turn up the volume. Make some sounds.
Once you’re ready, your own virtual harmonica is waiting.