🎯 What is Harmonica Notes?
Harmonica Notes is an interactive practice app designed to help you learn and practice harmonica playing. It simulates a 10-hole diatonic harmonica with both draw and blow notes, allowing you to record your playing sequences and play them back to improve your technique.
💡 Perfect for Beginners
Whether you're just starting out or want to practice specific riffs, this app provides immediate audio feedback and helps you develop muscle memory for harmonica playing.
🎹 The Harmonica Grid
The main interface displays a 10-hole harmonica layout with two rows:
🔴 Draw Notes (Top Row)
Represented by negative numbers (-1 to -10). These are the notes you play by drawing air into the harmonica. The top row has a red tint to help you distinguish it.
🔵 Blow Notes (Bottom Row)
Represented by positive numbers (+1 to +10). These are the notes you play by blowing air into the harmonica. The bottom row has a blue tint for easy identification.
🎵 Note Display Options
You can toggle between showing hole numbers (-1, +2, etc.) or actual musical notes (C4, F#3, etc.) in the Settings menu. This helps you learn both the physical layout and the musical notation.
🎮 How to Play
🎯 Touch and Drag
To play notes, simply touch and drag your finger across the harmonica grid. The app will:
- Play the note immediately with realistic harmonica sound
- Record the note and its timing
- Highlight the active note with a visual effect
- Continue playing as you drag to different holes
⚠️ Recording Mode
When you start touching the grid, the app automatically enters recording mode. All your notes and their timing will be saved for playback later.
🎛️ Control Buttons
📝 Sequence Log
The horizontal scrollable area below the harmonica grid shows your recorded sequence as a series of note labels. Here's how to use it:
🎯 Tap to Play
Tap any note in the sequence to start playback from that point. This is perfect for practicing specific parts of a riff or song.
✏️ Edit Mode
When in edit mode, tap a note to select it (it will highlight in yellow), then tap a harmonica hole to replace that note.
⏱️ Timing Preservation
The sequence log preserves the exact timing of your original playing, including note durations and pauses between notes. This ensures your playback sounds exactly like your original performance.
⚙️ Settings
🎵 Key Selection
Choose the key of your harmonica from C3 to C5. This affects the tuning of all notes and ensures the app matches your physical harmonica.
📊 Display Options
Toggle between showing hole numbers (-1, +2) or musical notes (C4, F#3) on the harmonica grid. This helps you learn both the physical layout and musical notation.
🎯 Practice Tips
🎼 Start Simple
Begin with simple single notes and gradually work up to more complex riffs. The app is perfect for building muscle memory.
🔄 Practice with Playback
Record yourself playing a riff, then use playback to analyze your timing and technique. This helps identify areas for improvement.
🎵 Learn by Ear
Try to recreate songs by ear. Record your attempts and compare them to the original to develop your musical ear.
⏱️ Focus on Timing
Pay attention to the timing of your notes. The app preserves exact timing, so you can practice getting the rhythm just right.
🔧 Troubleshooting
🔇 No Sound?
Make sure your device's volume is turned up and not muted. The app uses the device's audio system to generate harmonica sounds.
📱 Recording Issues?
If recording doesn't start, try tapping the record button first, then touch the harmonica grid. The app needs to be in recording mode to capture your playing.
🎵 Wrong Key?
If the notes don't match your physical harmonica, adjust the key in Settings to match your harmonica's key.