General

The Hohner HOM2101X Penta Harp features an alternative, diatonic tuning in A-minor, so entry-level harmonica players can easily play through scales on the first try. Most harmonicas have the standard Richter tuning, where the notes of a major chord are arranged so they can be blown while the four other notes of the scale are drawn, making it easier to play chords by blowing or drawing multiple holes at once. This takes a lot of training and technique to master, but with the Penta Harp, Hohner flip this standard on its head. This smart harmonica has been tuned to a minor pentatonic scale, so by blowing and drawing each hole in succession, a full minor pentatonic scale is played.

A Perfect Beginner's Harp

The innovative tuning of the Penta Harp removes the need to learn techniques like note-bends and overblowing - which are techniques developed to pull a wider note range out of the Richter tuning. Instead, players are handed a fully laid out, classic blues scale, where just playing separate notes is enough to weave solos. Even playing octaves is made easier, since the notes sit so close together - in fact, this harmonica actually makes it hard to play the wrong note - which is exactly why it might be less popular among experienced harp players. In short, the straightforward technique of the Penta Harp has been designed for other musicians, like guitarists and pianists that use the harmonica as an extra melody-maker.

Comprehensive Design

While it might take some getting used to, seasoned harmonica players also have a lot to gain here. For a start, every note can be bent and overblown to reach every note from the chromatic scale. While the note placement is a little less intuitive than the Richter scale when playing chords, more technically advanced players will be able to pull out less common chords with greater ease. A pocket-sized revolution, the Hohner HOM21 Penta Harp comes complete with a protective case.