If you're wondering what harmonica is best for Irish music, you're not alone. As a harmonica customizer and player deeply rooted in Irish traditional music, I often get asked this question. While many players reach for chromatic harmonicas or even tremolo harps for Irish tunes, I personally prefer playing Irish music on diatonic harmonicas.
In this post, I’ll walk you through my personal preferences, recommended brands, and the tunings that work best for traditional Irish melodies.
🎵 Why Diatonic Harmonicas Work So Well for Irish Music
The 10-hole diatonic harmonica is compact, expressive, and with the right tuning, incredibly versatile for playing Irish reels, jigs, hornpipes, and airs. While standard Richter tuning works for a lot of tunes, alternative tunings can unlock even more possibilities and smoother phrasing for ornament-heavy Irish styles.
🎯 My Top Choice: Seydel with Easy Third Tuning
My personal favorite tuning for Irish music is Easy Third tuning. This alternative tuning allows for smoother melodic runs, easier access to the notes commonly used in Irish traditional music, and makes octaves and chords more accessible.
The Seydel company is currently the only harmonica manufacturer offering Easy Third tuning as a standard option—and they do an outstanding job. Their harmonicas are high-quality, fully customizable, and available in just about any key, even as low as Low Low E. How cool is that?
If you're serious about playing Irish music on the harmonica and want a tuning that truly fits the style, Seydel with Easy Third tuning is hard to beat.
🎼 Richter Tuning for Irish Tunes
That said, Richter tuning (standard tuning on most diatonic harmonicas) still works very well for many Irish tunes. If you’re just starting out or prefer to stick with standard layouts, Richter is a great choice.
When it comes to buying a good Richter-tuned harmonica for Irish music, I recommend trying out Suzuki. Their harmonicas are beautifully made, with phosphor bronze reeds for excellent tone and durability. Many of their models also feature composite combs, which won’t swell like traditional wooden combs—a big plus, especially in humid environments.
🔧 What About Hohner?
Hohner is one of the biggest names in the harmonica world, and they certainly deserve a mention. Their Marine Band series is legendary, and many great players have used them for decades. However, I personally find the wooden combs on Marine Band models prone to swelling, which can lead to playability issues. I highly recommend you changing the comb if you choose to go with a Marine Band model.
If you want to stick with Hohner but prefer a modern build, check out the Hohner Rocket series. These harmonicas come with plastic combs and offer solid performance with good projection.
🧪 Try Different Brands & Tunings
Ultimately, the best harmonica for Irish music depends on your playing style, preferences, and simply what you like. I highly recommend trying a few different brands, models and tunings to find what works for you.
That said, my top recommendation remains Seydel—not only because they make excellent harmonicas, but because they offer the flexibility to explore tunings like Easy Third that can make a big difference when playing traditional Irish music.
📌 Final Thoughts
Whether you’re just starting your journey into Irish music on harmonica or looking to refine your sound, choosing the right diatonic harmonica is a crucial step. Start with a tuning that suits the music, pick a reliable brand, and most importantly—experiment. That’s how you’ll find the harmonica that feels like your voice in the music.