Image: Grégoire Maret.
Find out more about Grégoire Maret and his Jazz Trio at château d'Ainay-le-Vieil.
The harmonica
Diatonic or chromatic, the harmonica stands out for its apparent simplicity. Based on the free hip principle and inspired by an ancient Chinese instrument, the sheng, the modern harmonica is said to have been invented in Germany around 1820. The diatonic harmonica is a single-blade instrument with 10 holes. It produces the notes of the diatonic major scale over a range of 3 octaves. However, its tonal range is limited, which is why it is available in all twelve major keys. The more recent chromatic harmonica, with its twelve holes and twenty-four divisions, can play the entire chromatic scale. This is why it is often preferred in classical music and jazz.
Source : wikipedia