melodicas

The melodica is a free-reed aerophone played by blowing air through a mouthpiece into a keyboard-operated instrument. When a key is pressed, a valve directs air across a small metal reed, producing a musical tone. The instrument is sometimes called a keyboard harmonica or blow-organ. It was developed in the mid-20th century, with notable production by the German company Hohner, and has since become widely used in education and informal music-making.

Most melodicas have a compact rectangular body made of plastic, with a small keyboard on the top and a mouthpiece connected to the air chamber. Some models allow air to be supplied via a detachable mouthpiece or a flexible tube, enabling performance with a mic or external air source. The range typically spans about two to three octaves, depending on model. The tone is bright and reedy, somewhat resembling a cross between a harmonica and a small keyboard instrument.

In education, melodicas are widely used to teach basic keyboard technique, pitch, and musical notation. They are portable, inexpensive, and easy to learn, making them common in classrooms and music programs around the world.

In performance, the instrument appears in various genres, including reggae, pop, and indie music. Notable players include Augustus Pablo, who popularized the melodica in reggae and dub, contributing to its distinctive sound in recordings.