Alto Melodica

by Hohner

Product Features

• Sound is deeper and richer than the soprano.

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• ASIN: B000MOMO62
• Item model number: HM-901
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,406 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

Melodica made by Hohner has a metal body and scientifically-tuned reeds. Range covers 2 full chromatic octaves starting at F below middle C. Includes instructions and colorful leatherette carrying case. Sound is deeper and richer than the soprano.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not a keyboard instrument., January 12, 2007

By 

Matthew D. Deming "mddeming" (Charleston, WV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Hohner makes two very different types of instruments, both called Melodicas, and people who confuse the two types are unhappy. The so-called "piano" style IS a keyboard instrument with wind power, making it a cousin of the accordion or organ, while the 900/901-style is, in fact, a wind instrument with keys, perhaps closer to a keyed recorder or other woodwind.
For a traditional keyboard player, the 901 alto could be almost as uncomfortable as trying to play a saxophone like a piano, while someone coming from a woodwind background would find the transition much easier. My suggestion: Those who are committed to their keyboard technique should buy the piano-26, piano-32, or similar model, while realizing that the 900-series requires a woodwind-like fingering technique for mastery.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars red and green hohner melodicas, November 19, 2006

By 

Dr. Rob - See all my reviews

I have to strongly disagree with the previous reviews of this melodica. I believe that the button styling of the red and green versions hohner melodicas have the best design a melodica can have. Obviously, it doesnt feel exactly the same as a normal keyboard, but to the extent that it shouldnt matter to a real musician. The thing i like about the button layout, is that its accessable from both sides, therefore both hands, unlike any other melodica. And no, you don't have to just play the black keys with your left hand, the white with right, its easy to reach all the keys from either side. It allows you to more fully immerse yourself in the musical expirience, keeping a rythym with one hand while soloing around with the other, or keeping a nice rythym with both hands, or even doing some bass riffs with one hand and messin around with the other. I highly recommend the button style melodica to the adventurous musician. What's the fun in one handed playing?

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great-- especially for whistle/recorder/flute players!, December 28, 2007

By 

Constant Reader (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews

Last year I bought a piano-keyboard melodica, which I liked, but, as someone much more comfortable playing Irish flute, tin whistle, recorder, and sax, I found it a bit of a challenge. What I really wanted was to be able to hold the keyboard like a whistle/recorder and use both hands to play the keys. But with the style melodica I had this was very difficult. Then I discovered these small-key Hohner models (alto and soprano)! I love them. They may indeed require some adjustment for traditional keyboard players, but for those who come from blown-instrument backgrounds they are extremely easy to adapt to and offer a great new world of sound. I really love the fact you can play multiple notes at once-- something that just can't be done on the flutes/whistles. You really can make great music on these models (I love playing Celtic music on them)-- but if you want to play them like a piano you'd probably be happier with one of the full-sized key models that you can finger in just the same way. For everyone else, I'd actually recommend these models over those with the larger keys.