Listen to the melodica
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
How the melodica makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the melodica belongs to the free reeds and interruptive aerophones: air is periodically interrupted by a vibrating reed or blade – the accordion, harmonica, sheng and bullroarer.
More broadly it is one of the aerophones (wind instruments), where sound comes from vibrating air.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
The melodica is a handheld free reed instrument similar in sound to a pump organ, harmonica, or an accordion. It features a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. The keyboard usually covers two or three octaves. Melodicas are small, lightweight, and portable, and many are designed for children to play. They are popular in music education programs, especially in Asia. The modern form of the instrument was invented by Hohner in the late 1950s, though similar instruments have been known in Italy since the 19th century.
Other free reeds and interruptive aerophones
Accordion
Free reeds and interruptive aerophones
Harmonica
Free reeds and interruptive aerophones
Pump organ
Free reeds and interruptive aerophones
Siren
Free reeds and interruptive aerophones
Bandoneon
Free reeds and interruptive aerophones
Sheng
Free reeds and interruptive aerophones
Concertina
Free reeds and interruptive aerophones
Bullroarer
Free reeds and interruptive aerophones
Frequently asked questions
What does a melodica sound like?
Listen to 3 recordings on this page. As one of the free reeds and interruptive aerophones, its sound comes from the way air is periodically interrupted by a vibrating reed or blade.
What type of instrument is the melodica?
It is classified as free reeds and interruptive aerophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 412.132).
Sources & credits
- Melodica rakesofkildare by Melodicas – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Electra-Melodica-Hohner-1967 CC-BY Reuter-Schefczik by Christoph Reuter und Holger Schefczik – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Escala menor melòdica de Do en baix elèctric – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Wikidata Q512191 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Melodica – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by The original uploader was Ukulele at French Wikipedia . – CC BY-SA 3.0