Free Reeds

Free reed technology originates from the Chinese mouth organ, or sheng, and was quickly adapted to Western culture into many new instruments, like the harmonica and concertina. Free reeds are aerophones in which the sound is produced by air set into motion by a thin strip of material (reed) set into a slotted frame. The air can be supplied by the player's breath, bellows, or other air pump devices. When the supplied air adds pressure, the reed moves freely in the frame, vibrating the air to create sound. The National Music Museum's collection includes a wide range of harmonicas, accordions, and concertinas, as well as blow accordions, tuning devices, and other noise makers.