About the origination of the harmonica many stories go around. The phenomenon harmonica was described for the first time about 3000 years ago in China. The shape of the harmonica today is quite different from the ones in the early days. However, the principle is still the same. All instruments have "free vibrating reeds". The vibration will start by blowing the "play pipe". This creates the sound of the harmonica.

The harmonica as we know today was developed at the beginning of the 19th century. The main difference between the old and the new harmonica is that you can also inhale to create sound. In this period the diatonic harmonica was originated. We know the diatonic harmonica also under the name "Blues harp".

Experiments with the "Bel harmonica" and the "Trumpet harmonica" failed, but the invention of the chromatic harmonica , half way the 20th century did add a new dimension to harmonica playing. Next to all the whole notes you could also play the half notes. One of the first well known chromatic harmonica players was Larry Adler, followed by Jean Baptiste "Toots" Thielemans from Belgium. He gave the harmonica a place in jazz music.