A harmonica in which a slide is shiftable for placing openings of a mouthpiece in communication with selected chambers formed in a body of the harmonica and communicating with reeds carried by reed plates which extend over the body chambers. The slide is in direct slidable contact with the mouthpiece and body and has a low coefficient of friction with respect thereto, so that no guiding structure is required to guide the slide. The reed plates are situated between covers which are formed with sound chambers respectively communicating through the reeds with the body chambers, these sound chambers having rear openings. These covers may be provided with forward openings respectively communicating with the sound chambers and the covers are provided with controls for selectively opening and closing these forward openings. Also, the slide is shifted by the operator through a mechanism which requires the operator only to displace a manually operable member through a fraction of the distance that the slide is moved.
A harmonica has sound producing chambers of varying lengths and volumes formed on opposite sides of the harmonica body in a staggered alternating arrangement along the body length. Body depth exceeds chamber depth, and a transition zone in each chamber expands the cross section to connect with a fully dimensioned mouthpiece opening.
A harmonica is provided with three diatonic reed harps vertically aligned in a single housing. The three diatonic reed harps are in communication with a central mouthpiece. The reed harps are in different keys. Two movable sliders block the air channel to two of the three reed harps at any one time. The sliders are caused to move to blocking or unblocking positions through the actuation of a pair of buttons. The first button and the second button engage and disengage elongated slide members which are aligned in horizontal relation with each of the three diatonic reeds, either blocking or unblocking the air passage therethrough, thus preventing their ability to make sound. Through manipulation of the pair of buttons, the user may select any one of three harps to play. When both buttons are disengaged, the central harp is open, and the top and bottom harps are blocked. When the front button is engaged, the lower harp is open, and the top and middle harps are blocked. When the rear button is engaged, the top harp is open, and the middle and bottom harps are blocked. This arrangement permits the performer to play in any one of three keys during a performance while employing a single harmonica.
