Melodicas for Adults

When you think of a melodica, do you imagine it as a children’s instrument, typically used in elementary school?
Do you remember this?: Students carrying their blue or pink melodicas to school, filling the classroom with unison melodies. The simplicity of playing it by blowing and the 32 keys that cover most of the songs in a music textbook make it the perfect first instrument for music education.

Though it may seem like an instrument to leave behind after elementary school, the melodica can actually be quite stylish when played by adults. Take this video, for example, borrowed from Yamaha↓↓

How cool is this? The sound of the melodica adds quite an accent, doesn’t it? I had no idea it could be such an expressive instrument, controlled by the strength of your breath (remember playing it in elementary school, everyone blowing at the same volume because it’s hard for children to take breaths? Ah, memories!). Because it’s such a simple instrument that relies on breath to play melodies, it’s perfect for sessions and jams.

To reintroduce it, the melodica is a keyboard instrument that, like a harmonica, uses free reeds made of metal that produce sound when you blow into it. Unlike a harmonica, however, you cannot produce sound by inhaling.

We carry melodicas from our own brand and four other companies, with prices ranging from around 2,000 yen to 130,000 yen. This time, I’ll categorize them and introduce them by brand.

First, let’s start with the classic Yamaha! We offer two types:

Yamaha / P-32E Pianica 32-Key Melodica ¥5,180 (incl. tax)

And for those who need more keys, we also have a 37-key model!

Yamaha / P37D Pianica 37-Key Melodica ¥6,780 (incl. tax)

Here’s a must-watch video. Have you heard of the pianist Hayato Sumino? He is a professional pianist who graduated from University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Information Science and Technology. He’s one of those rare people who can excel at anything they do. While performing at concerts, he also uploads performance videos on YouTube under the name Cateen. His sweet looks are part of his appeal, and he has over a million subscribers! This particular Pianica appears in his performances. Take a look!

Isn’t it amazing? Gives you goosebumps, right? The comment section is filled with praise, so check it out. He even comments in the description, “The Pianica is so deep... I’m hooked!”
I should also mention that when you move up to a 37-key model, the design gets a lot cooler. It’s clearly intended for adults, with more subdued colors, in a good way.

Top: Maroon / Bottom: Black

By the way, the black one is the model used in the first video. Both are priced very reasonably, well under 10,000 yen.

Next, let’s introduce the brand Hohner, a famous German harmonica manufacturer. Here, I’ll show you some models with unique color schemes that are popular for their eye-catching appearance.

Hohner / Ocean Melodica ¥5,800 (incl. tax)

It really stands out on stage!

Continuing on, let’s look at Suzuki, the original brand for melodicas. Suzuki offers bass and soprano models as well. As expected of the original melodica brand, you can choose according to your part.

Let’s introduce some higher-end models here.

Suzuki / PRO-37 V3 with Ring Mount Option ¥31,800 (incl. tax)

This is an updated version of the professional model PRO-37v2, retaining the same tone while offering smoother sound production. It can play anything from soft, woodwind-like tones to powerful, brass-like sounds.

Now, I mentioned earlier that we have a top model priced at 130,000 yen. What could that be?
Well, here it is↓

Suzuki / W-37 Melodion ¥137,500 (incl. tax)

This model features a wooden cover made of mahogany, rosewood, and beech. It’s designed to harmonize with other instruments while providing a soft yet assertive tone, making it perfect for delicate expressions in genres like classical, musette, and jazz. Be sure to check out the video♪

So, after all these years, you might be hearing the word ‘melodica’ for the first time again. Did you sense its vast potential? You can browse our melodica selection here:

⇒ List of Melodicas

Thank you for reading!
Please note that the prices listed are as of July 8, 2022 and subject to change.