Q: What kinds of music have harmonica in them?
A: Harmonicas have been used in almost all styles of music. Of course pop, country, blues, folk music and jazz are the most obvious styles, but harmonicas are also heard in reggae and hip-hop settings. Also in classical music harmonicas are used, but unfortunately here the harmonica is often considered an inferior instrument. Also in classical music harmonica is a bit of an overloaded term. It can refer to lots of exotic instruments that can sound more notes at the same time, and that are not regularly found in a symphonic orchestra (glass harmonica). There used to be a special music style for harmonica bands based upon the trio of bass, chord and chromatic, but unfortunately it is not played a lot anymore -- BB
Q: What kind of harmonica is used in the different styles?
A: In the following music styles diatonic is mainly used: Blues, Country, Folk, Rock and Roll. In the following music styles chromatic is mainly used: Classical, Jazz, although nowadays in Jazz diatonic harmonicas are also used. However, these are played fully chromatically, using overblows/overdraws or special valves. Bass and Chord harmonicas are rarely found in modern music, however sometimes they are used. An example is the Bass harmonica used in the Beatles' song "Mother Nature's Son". Tremolo and octave tuned harmonicas are used mostly in "traditional" or folk music.
