# What is this musical instrument? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 5, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/1033608 "2026-10-05T22:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/1033608/1 "2026-10-05T22:30:58Z")
Title kinda says it all. It looks like a keyboard you blow in to. I get it…weird. But here it is: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xu4toGvFO_w/maxresdefault.jpg "Tedeschi Trucks Band - Sweet Virginia (with The Wood Brothers)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu4toGvFO_w&list=RDx2UHpkF63Mg&t=86/) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/1033608/2 "2026-10-05T22:32:53Z")
I forgot the SDMB does not let us timestamp a video. You can see the instrument being played at 1:25 in the video linked above. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/1033608/3 "2026-10-05T22:43:21Z")
That sounds like a melodica… _\*watches video\*_. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/1033608/4 "2026-10-05T22:48:22Z")
I am very near 60 years old. Kinda thought I’ve seen it all. Nope…dunno why but this one got by me my whole life till now. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/1033608/5 "2026-10-05T22:58:44Z")
I believe Elton John used one (not sure if he played it) on, “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues.” Looks like I spoke too soon; the video has a guy sitting on EJ’s piano playing a harmonica. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/1033608/6 "2026-10-05T23:13:49Z")
Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) is a fan of the melodica. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/1033608/7 "2026-10-05T23:40:20Z")
[Jon Batiste](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey52xSGQ7SA) is famous for playing the melodica. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/1033608/8 "2026-10-05T23:42:32Z")
Wow, did I ever mess up: not only was it a harmonica, it was Stevie Wonder playing it on the recording. Glad to see him finally getting work. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/1033608/9 "2026-10-05T23:48:51Z")
If you like the sound of the melodica, you need to check out Augustus Pablo. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/1033608/10 "2026-10-06T00:14:46Z")
The Hooters were named after the melodica, and you see one (and hear one) played in the video for “And We Danced”. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zB1Q-PfUvN0/maxresdefault.jpg "The Hooters - And We Danced") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB1Q-PfUvN0)