Suzuki Olive C-20 10-hole diatonic harmonica

Introducing the Suzuki Olive 10-hole diatonic harmonica

The Suzuki Olive C-20 is a premium 10-hole diatonic harmonica designed for players who want expressive tone, advanced responsiveness, and a modern aesthetic. Sharing its core design with the critically acclaimed Suzuki Manji, the Olive offers a perfect balance of traditional warmth and cutting-edge innovation, making it a standout choice for serious musicians and hobbyists alike.

Unlike the Manji models, which are tuned in a'compromised' just intonation, the Olive C-20 is tuned in equal temperament, making it particularly good for playing melody, and more suited to pop and jazz styles than country or blues.

Modern tone meets natural warmth

At the heart of the Olive is a solid wood composite comb, crafted from resin reinforced with natural wood fibers. This innovative material provides the resonant, organic tone of wood while being completely resistant to moisture — ensuring consistent performance and long-term durability in any playing environment.

Clear, expressive sound and dynamic response

The Olive features phosphor bronze reeds and longer, thicker reed plates for enhanced projection, smooth bending, and a dynamic playing range. The tone is rich, balanced, and responsive — perfect for expressive soloing, delicate melodies, or gritty blues lines. From soulful lows to brilliant highs, the Olive delivers clarity and control across the full range.

Stylish, durable design

With stainless steel cover plates in the popular ProMaster style, the Olive offers a comfortable grip and smooth handling. Its distinctive green finish isn’t just for show — the colour is naturally achieved during manufacturing, giving the instrument a unique look that stands out while remaining elegant and professional.

Versatile performance across genres

Whatever style you're playing in, the Suzuki Olive responds beautifully to subtle dynamic variation but can hold its own at fortissimo too! Its tone is warm yet precise, making it ideal for modern performance as well as traditional styles.

How are Suzuki harmonicas labelled?

When choosing a harmonica, it’s important to know how the key is labelled—and Suzuki makes it simple. Unlike some brands that label their instruments by the second position (often used for blues), Suzuki harmonicas are labelled according to the first position, also known as straight harp. This means the key printed on the harmonica is the key you get when playing melodies in first position. The handy table below shows you the corresponding keys for playing in each position. For example, if you want to play in the key of C in second position (C mixolydian), you need an F harmonica.

• First position - standard major scale, ideal for folk melodies and simple pop songs
• Second position - mixolydian mode, perfect for the blues
• Third position - dorian mode, lending a darker, minor soundscape