Introduction

Harmonicon is a rhythm game for real harmonica. You play an actual diatonic or chromatic harmonica into your computer’s microphone; Harmonicon listens, detects the pitch you’re playing in real time, and scores it against a chart scrolling across the screen — the same idea as any note-highway rhythm game, except the “controller” is an instrument you already own (or are learning), and every note you score is a note you actually played correctly.

The goal isn’t just a high score. Harmonicon is built to teach blues and jazz harmonica through play: a structured Lessons curriculum takes you from your first clean single note through bends, chords, and improvising over a 12-bar blues, and every scored mode gives you honest, per-technique feedback (not just “hit” or “miss”) so you know exactly what to practice next.

What’s in this book

• Getting Started — installing Harmonicon and getting your microphone working.
• Playing — the 2D and 3D scored modes, free-play Jam Session and its instant Generate a Jam backing, and the Bending Trainer ear-training drill.
• Lessons — the guided curriculum, unit by unit.
• Song Editor — for authoring or editing your own charts.
• Settings — Options, input-lag calibration, and visual themes.
• Controls Reference and Troubleshooting for when something doesn’t behave the way you expect.

If you’re brand new, the in-game Guided Tour (Main Menu → Help / About → Tutorial) gives you a click-free, under-a-minute walk through every top-level screen — including a few live seconds of actual gameplay — a good first stop before diving into this book.