Top Hohner Melodicas (Airboards): Popular instruments for learning and performance

Top Hohner Melodicas reviewed here, including the Hohner Airboard melodicas.

Introduction

The Melodica is not only easy to learn, its quite expressive, can be used to play anything from classical to rock, and is very easy to carry around. This wind instrument has a unique sound, you can produce single notes or chords, and it can be played as solo or an orchestral instrument blending beautifully with other instruments. The good thing about the German reeds is that they’re nice and responsive. You don’t have to blow too hard to produce decent volume.

The melodica is played like a piano, its inexpensive, compact (can be taken anywhere easily). Its commonly used in schools for music instructions.

Can you already play a music instrument and want to learn to play an alternate lead instrument? Do consider the Melodica. Its perfect for guitarists, mandolinists, banjoists, etc., and you can even play it without having to remove your main instrument.

If you already play the piano or keyboards, you’re going to find the transition to the Melodica very easy.

Played like a piano, and sounding similar to a harmonica or accordion, you can use it as a solo and orchestral instrument, as it blends beautifully with other instruments. Be it classical, rock or any other music – the Melodica adds its own personality.

Hohner Melodicas: Comparison Chart

When it comes to melodicas, Hohner is sort of of a leader in that category and has a wide range of products to offer.

Here are the top melodica’s available from Hohner:

For Performers:

• Hohner Superforce 37: 37-keys
• Hohner Fire melodica: 32-keys (Black and red keys and a shiny red body)
• Hohner Ocean melodica: 32-keys (blue body)
• Hohner AB37 Airboard RASTA: 37-note melodica (design and color captures the SPIRIT of REGGAE)
• Hohner AB32 Airboard RASTA: 32-note melodica
• Hohner Airboard37: 37-note melodica (stylish Aztec pattern, multicolor)
• Hohner Airboard32: 32-note melodica

For Students:

• Hohner Kids Airboard HKAIR25: 25-Key Portable Keyboard (recent model, multi-colored design)
• Hohner Performer 37: 37-key melodica
• Hohner Student 32: 32-key melodica
• Hohner Student 26: 26-key melodica (available in various colors)

Best Hohner Melodicas

Hohner S37 Performer 37 Key Melodica

The Hohner S37 Performer 37-Key Melodica is a three octave professional sounding instrument suitable for students as well as advanced players. It produces a rich accordion-like tone. Tonal range is F3 to F6. Deluxe padded zipper case, mouthpiece and extension hose included.

• Pros: 37 Keys (most melodicas have fewer keys), rich sound, Easy to play, doesn’t take a lot of air so breathing is easy. Great for practicing.
• Cons: A bit heavy. Bit of clicking noise. Even though the sound producing mechanism seems good quality, the cover is plain plastic.

Who Is It For?
If you know how to play a piano/keyboard, you can easily adapt, it requires mush less breath to play. You get cheaper meldocas’ as well but this one is for those who want a better sounding melodica (advanced players). You can give it as a birthday present to kids, and even use it for music therapy.

Review
The Hohner Performer 37 Key Melodica is a hand-held wind instrument with 37 piano style keys, and its tonal range is F (below middle C) through F. A Deluxe padded zipper case, mouthpiece and extension hose are included with the purchase (for playing flat on a table or stand).

It features durable bronze reeds that won’t loose their pitch. Sensitive reed response, smooth keyboard action, plays cleanly. For the price, the Hohner S37 is a pretty good instrument.

Here are some reviews of REAL users.

Not Just For Kids
The keys are perfectly in tune, and play wonderfully, the action is perfect – very smooth. The three octaves is good enough to pretty much play anything. It feels very professional.

Serious Instrument
As mentioned, this is a professional instrument, and you can use it for gigs and even for recording purposes. You could use a Midi keyboard but this one is way too expressive, depending on your skills and breath control.

Take it Anywhere
This one feels more like a real instrument compared to some of the 32 key beginner models that are available. My son (plays the piano) always takes it along when out on holidays, and entertains.

The Hohner Performer 37-Key melodica is sturdy, sounds great, and is fun to play, and produces clear & precise sound as you play the notes.

Watch: Hohner S-37 Performer 37-Key Melodica Video Demo

Features of the Hohner Performer 37 Key Melodica

• Hohner Melodica, 37 Piano Style keys
• Bronze reeds (German made)
• Dimensions: Length: 21″, Width: 5.75″
• Blowing tube: blowing tube, Ergonomic mouthpiece: ergonomic mouthpiece
• Model: S37

Buying Links & Prices

• Buy on zZounds

Hohner 32-Key Piano Style Melodica

Hohner 32F, Red 32-Key Piano-Style Fire Melodica is a great instrument for the Beginner Music Student. This instrument is fun to play and perfect for anybody who wants to start playing the melodica. In fact its of a better quality and will suit experienced players as well; it has a great sound & action and the included case is also of very good quality. This Hohner melodica is available in Black, Blue & Red colors.

• PROS: Affordable, good combination of quality and price
• CONS: Some notes could be slightly out of tune (you’ll require an electronic tuner to notice it)

This Hohner 32-Key piano style melodica is compact, has a range of over two and one half full octaves (covers soprano or alto notes). The 32 keys start from F” below middle “C”.

Available for a low price, it can be used by the growing/amateur musician as well. In fact, you can even use it to spice up your home recordings, with its unique sound/timbre.

This one comes with two mouth pieces. With the short one, you hold the instrument with one hand and play with the other hand. With the long mouth-piece, you can actually keep the melodica on a table and play it just like any small keyboard.

Most popular musical instruments today either run on power or are too loud or are just not portable. And though those can be your primary instrument, a melodica can be a great second musical instrument, especially if you like wind & keyboard instruments.

Here’s a demo of this melodica.

Here are the main features of the Hohner 32F Melodica:

• It has 32 piano-style keys starting with “F” below middle “C”, range of over two and one half full octaves for playing soprano or alto.
• You also get a Deluxe carrying case, mouthpiece., Mouth piece extension hose included
• Available in three colors – Black, Blue & Red

Buying Links & Prices
Overall, the Hohner 32-Key piano style melodica is a great musical Instrument for the beginner music student, easy to play and reasonably priced. The 32 keys give it a decent range, and you can play a cool melody line with it.

Buy on Thomann | Buy on Amazon.co.uk | Buy on Amazon.de

Hohner Melodicas: Buying guide

When it comes to melodicas, there are only a few brands that produce these instruments, and one of them is Honer.

Hohner is a German musical instrument manufacturer and has a good reputation among musicians and users. The melodica was invented by Hohner added to their catalogue somewhere in the 1950s. It went on to become a popular instrument and soon other brands also started producing similar wind instruments.

The best thing about this instrument is that its easy to learn, play and is quite expressive. School going children find it easy to take a melodica to school because of its compact size.

How deep is your love on melodica Hohner superforce