How to change reeds & retune harmonicas

Dan Treanor demonstrates how to retune a harmonica by replacing the reeds.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• harp
• harmonica
• change
• reeds
• retune
• blues
• dan
• treanor

[afrosippi]

Could be a lot of reasons. The reed might be worn out and cracked. The reed itself could be off set in the reed slot. Hold the reed plate up to the light. You should be able to see space on both sides of the reed and slot. If not reset the reed so that you do see space. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[afrosippi]

I harvest most of my reeds from old dead harps. I've been playing for over 40 years so I have quite a stash. If the reed isn't vibrating it's probably off set in the reed slot. Hold the reed plate up to the light. If the reed is offset you'll see it. Use reed wrench and tweek it either left or right so that you can see light on both sides of the reed. This is a common problem when replacing reeds but easy to fix. Good luck and good harping!

[rockndaddy]

Very informative, I'll have to pickup those tools and see if I could do this. When I started playing Marine Bands were $3.25. Sometimes it seems when I put in the new Lee Oskar reed plates it doesn't seem to blow as well as the new harp would. Seems like the whole harmonica has aged and doesn't respond as well as a new harp. Do you feel this way to when you put on a new reed, What is the best way to clean the whole harp to get all that gunk out from everyday playing?

[afrosippi]

Lee Oscars have always played a little hard for me. I still like them. When I build a harp I spend a good deal of time gapping and setting the reeds. I want my reeds to be loose with fairly high gaps. I want the tip of the reed to sit above the reed slot higher than normal. I just tap my harps out, put them upright in a harp case I have.

Cheers,

Dan

[RussianMadMan]

Hello, I have just recently picked up a Blues Harp 532/20 Ab, and I believe that I may have put one of the reeds out of tune, I read all of those sites and I was just a lil more scared of actually breaking a reed or something So i was wonderin if you would please make a "More in Depth" movie on just how to retun the harmonica, I am also wonderin whats the difference from a Harp and a Harmonica?

Thank you for your time.

[afrosippi]

When I get a little more time I plan on doing a more indepth video on swapping reeds. A harp and harmonica are one and the same. Just 2 words to describe the instrument. I've heard it called a "Harpoon", "Mississippi Saxaphone", "Pocket Rocket", "Blues Harp", "Lickin' Stick", all cool nicknames.

Cheers,

Dan

[omegotrd]

Hi there, anyone knows where you can buy replacement plates for Hohner Marine Band Key C harmonica? I used mine for less then a month and 2 out of 10 holes stopped working ( Thanks for help!

[moabel2020]

IF I HAVE NO SOUND IN HARMONICA HOW CAN A FIX?

[Janus9909]

whoops - sorry about the double-post.

[Janus9909]

Fantastic - been looking for a good guide on this for ages. Also, just wondering - what's that song that's quickly played when you're talking about the soloist and Little Walter?

[Janus9909]

Fantastic - been looking for a good guide on this for ages. Also, just wondering - what's that song that's quickly played when you're talking about the soloist and Little Walter?

[aristottlesdeathwish]

Wow. This was really informative. As someone who just started playing the harp, this was really helpful.

[san5a89]

is there a specific reason why a reed can't vibrate? I've tried to tune it but now it doesn't play...!

I'm not an expert...