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I have harmonica questions!!! I have a 12 hole one, and i need to know which direction the numbers go!1 more 2?

Questions:

1. Which direction do the numbers go? does it go left to right as 1,2,3,4.. or 12,11,10,9,8.. or something way different?

2.On/In the in of the holes, there are little dots(assuming they're screws), they only have it on one side, do I play it with the "dots" on top or the bottom?

1 Answer

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  • 1 decade ago
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    The conventional way to play harmonica is with the numbers on top, which makes the notes get higher from left to right. But, there is no reason you can't play upside down. However, once you learn how to play, you won't be able to switch, no one can play upside down and right side up, so make your decision carefully.

    Things to consider:

    If you do "hand wah" (opening and closing your hands while playing so make a tremelo effect (incorrectly called vibrato), it's better to have the palms of you hand by the low notes. So, if you hold the harmonica in your right hand, its better to play it upside down. If you hold it in your left hand its better to play it right side up.

    If you ever decide to play chromatic harmonica (with the button on the end), the button will be on the right if you play right side up. There's no reason you can't play a chromatic upside down, but you'll need to use your left hand to work the button (although you can likely switch where the button is, depends on the model harmonica).

    On a piano or xylophone the notes go from low on the left to high on the right, so playing harmonica upside down might be confusing if you also play piano.

    If you like to be different, playing upside down be cool.

    It really doesn't matter.

    Source(s): Played harmonica for 50 years, taught for 40.
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