Another style of playing, cross harp, is a system in which a diatonic harmonica is played in a key seven half-steps up from the key in which the harmonica is tuned, e.g. a C harp played in the key of G. This produces a blues scale with a flatted seventh and has the advantage that the most important notes can be bent in the low end, producing a fluid quality and great expressiveness (see chart below). Much the opposite of straight harp, cross harp emphasizes the draw notes. Obviously, this style of playing fits well in blues, rock, country blues, and many other styles.

We've not yet touched on techniques associated with playing other kinds of harmonicas with differing scales, nor have we delved into the rich history of musical styles in which the harmonica has flourished. Obviously, these topics are lengthy in their own right, so we'll save them for another time.

The harmonica is an amazingly simple, yet diverse and adaptive instrument. Its ability to slide easily among a variety of styles makes it a welcome addition to almost any musical gathering. Music Folk is proud to offer a wide variety of diatonic, chromatic, Hohner and Lee Oskar harmonicas.

Note: Join us for a harmonica workshop on Sunday, March 9 with St Louis' own harmonica guru, Sandy Weltman.

Acknowledgement: Much of the material for this article was derived from Harmonica Americana by Jon Gindick, the Hohner website, several smaller websites, and interviews with local players.