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Melodica

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A Hohner melodica

The melodica is a free-reed instrument similar to the accordion and harmonica. It has 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. Pressing a key opens a hole, allowing air to flow through a reed. The keyboard is usually two or three octaves long.

Types of Melodicas

Tenor melodicas are the most common type of melodica. The left hand holds a handle on the bottom, and the right hand plays the keyboard. Tenor melodicas can be played with two hands by inserting a tube into the mouthpiece hole and placing the melodica on a flat surface.

Soprano and alto melodicas are thinner than tenors and are designed to be played with both hands at once; the left hand plays the black keys, and the right hand plays the white keys.

Bass melodicas also exist, but are less common than other types.

Popular melodica manufacturers include Hohner and Samick.

  • The rock band R.E.M. featured melodicas in songs Find the River and Boy in the Well. The latter included a melodica solo.
  • In recent years, British musician Damon Albarn has frequently used the melodica, most notably with animated band Gorillaz. In their self-titled debut album the instrument heavily features in the popular singles Clint Eastwood, and Tomorrow Comes Today. Albarn's other uses of the melodica can be found on Blur's 1999 album 13, with the instrument playing Mellow Song's main hook, and his solo album Democrazy. This may be why the melodica is listed as one of Gorillaz cartoon singer 2D's interests on MTV Cribs.
  • The band Faith No More uses this instrument as well. It is played by Mike Patton, the vocalist, during the songs "Midnight Cowboy" and "This Guy's in Love with You".
  • The melodica is also featured in the song "Cash Machine" by British band Hard-Fi, played by singer songwriter Richard Archer, which opens the group's debut album "Stars of CCTV".
  • Other bands, such as Cake and The Magic Numbers, also use the melodica. Although Cake's Vincent DiFiore has played the instrument on one recent song ("End of the Movie", from 2004's Pressure Chief) and used it in their music video for "The Distance", the Magic Numbers have a full-time melodica player, Angela Gannon.
  • Musical comedy duo member Chris Hardwick (of MTV's Singled Out fame) plays the melodica on Hard 'n Phirm's debut album Horses and Grasses.
  • In live shows, The Decemberists have been known to bring a melodica out on occasion, in particular for The Tain.
  • Ben Folds used a Melodica on the song "Smoke" both live and in the studio.
  • Jon King of the British post-punk band Gang of Four frequently played a melodica in their earlier records.
  • A sample of a melodica is on John Frusciante's (Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist) album named Curtains. It is played near the end of "A Name".
  • Jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette doubled on melodica on his debut recording as leader, 'The DeJohnette Complex' from 1968.
  • New Order's opening to "Love Vigilantes" features a prominent melodica solo, as well as "Your Silent Face".
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