I’m seriously considering trying out harmonica, but I’m afraid my hands, which already limit my piano ability slightly, might be too small to allow me to properly get this “cup” around the back of the harmonica I keep reading about. With hands not longer than 15cm (≈6 inches) from wrist to middle finger tip (and a middle finger length of 7cm/2. 5 inches), should I just give up now? How long is the average (10-hole diatonic) harmonica, and can I realistically expect to get a good hold on one. I was so pleased to find this — Everyone plays the harmonica differently. If you have small hands, that will only be one thing that you can’t do. There are many good harmonica players that don’t do hand effects by choice. Everyone has a different shaped mouth for all that matters. Ten percent of the population is genetically incapable of rolling their tongue into a tube. That doesn’t preclude anyone from playing the harmonica. It just prevents them from being able to perfectly imitate any other players. If it is an issue, you can purchase a Turbo-Lid, a Fan Fair, or a Pipe Humming harmonica, or a small harmonica. Most harmonicas are standard size. A Seydel or a Soul’s Voice is ever so slightly bigger in terms of the spacing between channels. They are all about four inches long. A Piccolo is smaller. I don’t own a Piccolo, but I understand that it is a real harmonica. Most of the key chain harmonicas are regarded as dog whistles. I own a puck, which actually plays very well. But I don’t get the sense that it is sturdy. I think I can blow it out intentionally if I try to. I own a Turbo Lid and a Pipe Humming harmonica. They don’t do a thing for me. I have average size hands for a man. One of my hands was recently fixed. It was broken and painful. But even now I just can’t get the hang of hand effects. It’s not all about big hands. You might not be able to get good hand effects even if you purchase any or all of these products. Just have fun. You can write me if you have any beginner questions. Look at my profile. I answer a lot of harmonica questions. I think you will find all the material you need to learn the harmonica in my profile. If you can’t play poorly and enjoy it all the same, I predict that you will not do well.
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