Instrument: Harmonica (free-reed aerophone)
Orchestra Type: Wind
Brand: Toysmith
Purchased: Circa February 2025
Price: ~$5
I previously had a harmonica, but I had lost track of it. Shortly after joining a clown club, I began looking for small musical instruments to carry in my pockets.
Can I play music with it? Not really. For the most part, this is a small toy that I just like to play with occasionally. I can pretend to play along to songs in private, but I’m almost certain anyone dropping by would find I’m off-key or playing too many chords at once.
I picked this up at a local toy shop (Play Favorites) on impulse after losing my Johnson Harmonica. These things are fairly cheap, as you can buy a 10-pack for $14 online, often advertised for children’s holiday parties. Mine is marked “Made in Haui’An, China.” Picking up the harmonica, the first thing you’ll notice is how lightweight it is. The top and bottom covers, and the comb, are translucent green. The reed plates appear to be nickel-plated silver, and the blow and draw reeds are brass. The numbers are embossed into the plastic and can be felt with your fingertips to tell which side is up.
Translucent Harmonica
I have since found the other harmonica. I don’t have much ear trained to the differences between harmonica tones, and they sound fairly similar to me. However, one note of warning: with plastic, my dog, Gwinn, could chew through and crack one side. However, it’s still air-tight and plays normally.
