The best of the woodwinds

        Hello again to another post of my music blog. Today, I will cover my next favourite instrument and it's category, the harmonica, which belongs to the woodwinds. Played by vibrating a reed, with the exception of a flute, it contains instruments like the clarinet, bassoon, oboe, and saxophone. I myself play a clarinet and can give a player’s perspective about this category. I like woodwind instruments because of their ability to blend the sounds with each other, they provide a nice melody to the band and only buttons are needed to play. The primary role of the saxophone was and still is, to blend the differences between the woodwinds and brass and balance the orchestra for example. The instruments are simple the play due to only pressing buttons to reach different notes. The woodwinds are the melody because they play in the treble clef and the treble clef has higher notes which is the melody.

Tenor Saxophone

Alto Saxophone

        With a signature curving u-shape and a harbour horn sound, the saxophone is known as the most popular and favourite wind instrument. There are many models of the saxophone, ranging from the smallest E flat sopranino saxophone, to the massive contrabass saxophone, the most famous is considered to be the tenor saxophone. The saxophone is made of brass, plastic and cork and is primarily used in jazz and orchestras and military bands. Invented by Adolphe Sax in 1841 and patented in 1846, it was invented because of balancing issues between instrument sections. String instruments couldn’t be heard over the winds and brass overpowered the woodwinds creating an unbalanced and unblended sound between the instruments. The alto saxophone is keyed in E flat, and the tenor saxophone is keyed to B flat, which are the two most common saxophones.

Diatonic Harmonica

Chromatic Harmonica

        The harmonica, also known as the mouth organ, is one of the most interesting and efficient instruments ever produced in my opinion. It is small enough to fit in a pocket, has an overall range of three octaves and can be played by inhaling and exhaling air. The harmonica is the only known wind instrument to be played that way. This instrument is most commonly used in blues, country, rock, and certain symphonies. The first harmonicas were being rolled out in the 1850s by Matthias Höhner, a German clockmaker. The idea of the harmonica originated from an ancient Chinese instrument called the Sheng, which is a hollowed out gourd containing up to 36 air pipes. The harmonica is made of metal in which the cover plates are made of aluminium and the reeds are made of brass. The place where the reeds are held is called the comb and is made of plastic.

Tenor Saxophone Reeds

Harmonica Reeds

        A strange thing about woodwind instruments are that some of them are made of brass or another type of metal. Prime examples are the saxophones and harmonicas. The saxophones are made of brass, yet use a reed to play notes. The harmonica is also made of metal and plastic and the reeds are made of brass. The prerequisites of being a woodwind instrument are that it uses a reed or was made of wood. I therefore believe that the saxophone and harmonica are woodwind instruments.

        In conclusion, I like woodwind instruments because they blend well together, they have great melody, and are easy to play due to having only keys to play. The melody between woodwinds sound great when blended well together because they sound as one. For the keys, woodwinds don't have to change their mouth shape or pinpoint where to place their fingers.

See You Later

A compilation of other woodwinds used in an orchestra. 

Works Cited

Enjoy Music - Play Hohner - Special 20 Classic. 2015. Online Photograph. Web. 4 June 2015.

http://www.playhohner.com/instruments/harmonica/diatonic/progressive-series/special-20-classic/

Estrella, Espie. Saxophone History. 2015. Web. 4 June 2015.

http://musiced.about.com/od/lessonsandtips/a/saxhistory.htm

Learn about Saxophone History. 2011. Saxophone Players Guide. Web. 4 June 2015.
http://www.saxophone-players-guide.com/saxophone-history.html

Harmonica Sessions. n.d. Online Photograph. Web. 4 June 2015.
http://harmonicasessions.com/?p=234

HighSchoolMusicAus. Woodwind Instruments. 22 May 2011. Youtube. Web. 4 June 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OjqeyOvC1c

MandoHarp - Hohner Chromatic Harmonica. n.d. Online Photograph. Web. 4 June 2015.
http://www.mandoharp.com/Harmonicas/091041-HC_Hohner_270_C/index.html

Rico Tenor Sax Reeds #2-3 Pack. 2015. Online Photograph. Web. 4 June 2015.
https://www.long-mcquade.com/17406/Band/Woodwind_Reeds/Rico/Tenor_Sax_Reeds_2_-_3_Pack.htm

Saxophone. 30 September 2008. New World Encyclopedia. Web. 4 June 2015.
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Saxophone

Saxophones Dawsons Music. 2015. Online Photograph. Web. 4 June 2015.
http://www.dawsons.co.uk/orchestral-instruments/woodwind-instruments/saxophones

The History of The Saxophone. n.d. The-Saxophone.com. Web. 4 June 2015.
http://www.the-saxophone.com/history-of-the-saxophone.html