The earliest known harmonicas were made of bamboo and were called sheng. These instruments had a single reed and were played by blowing air through a hole in the side of the instrument. In the 1820s, a German instrument maker named Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann developed a harmonica with multiple reeds. Buschmann's harmonica was called the "Mundharmonika" and it quickly became popular throughout Europe.
In the 1850s, the harmonica was introduced to the United States by German immigrants. The harmonica quickly became a popular instrument in the American South, where it was used to play blues, folk, and country music. In the early 20th century, the harmonica was adopted by jazz musicians, and it has since become a staple of jazz music.
Today, the harmonica is played all over the world and it is used in a wide variety of genres of music. The harmonica is a versatile instrument that is easy to learn to play, and it is a great way to express yourself musically.