mouth organ

musical instrument

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The harmonica, also known as a mouth organ or mouth harp, is a free-reed wind instrument. It typically consists of metal reeds enclosed in a small frame. Players produce sound by blowing air through channels, causing the reeds to vibrate. Notes are played by alternately blowing and drawing air, and players can sound one or multiple notes simultaneously. Chromatic models feature a button to switch between reeds tuned a semitone apart, expanding the instrument's range. Virtuosos have inspired composers to write music for the harmonica, and it is also used in harmonica bands, including bass models. The harmonica is one type of mouth organ, with the Chinese sheng being an older example that influenced its design.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

6 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

wind instrument
The Romantic period
The sheng is a mouth organ consisting of free-reed pipes vibrating under wind pressure from a globular wind chamber into which the player blows. The pitch is determined by the reed itself, which activates vibrations in the surrounding air.
Read More
The sheng is a mouth organ consisting of free-reed pipes vibrating under wind pressure from a globular wind chamber into which the player blows. The pitch is determined by the reed itself, which activates vibrations in the surrounding air.
Read More