# Jazzy Gamer Instruments The 8-Bit Harmonica Features an Actual NES Sound Card By Michael Hines | Published 2014-01-14 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/8bit-harmonica References: [technabob](http://technabob.com/blog/2014/01/12/8bit-harmonica/) & [youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLpDXkMQmcc) Gamers who can remember a time when blowing into cartridges was a thing will be all about the 8-bit Harmonica. YouTuber Basami Sentaku has created a harmonica that uses the sound chip from an [NES](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/open-source-games-console). The result is an instrument that lets you jam out to the sounds of [classic 8-bit video games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/riki-8bit-game-collection). While you can't exactly play the intro to "Piano Man" on this harmonica, you can recreate the coin sound effect from "Super Mario Bros." The 8-bit Harmonica is technically not the first [NES-inspired instrument](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nes-version), nor is it the first NES-inspired harmonica. Still, the cartridge harmonicas in the past have been designed not to play game sounds but music. The 8-bit Harmonica stays true to its name, playing only sounds from a bygone era of gaming. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.6/10 - Popularity: 44% | Activity: 85% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Inventions](https://www.trendhunter.com/inventions) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Retro Gaming Instruments:** Opportunity to create more musical instruments that use sound chips from classic gaming consoles. - **Nostalgic Gaming Accessories:** Potential market for gaming accessories that evoke a sense of nostalgia for classic video game sounds. - **Musical Recreation of Game Sounds:** Innovation opportunity to create instruments that specifically recreate sounds from popular video games. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Music Instrument Manufacturing:** Manufacturers can explore creating instruments that incorporate sound chips from classic gaming consoles. - **Gaming Accessories:** Opportunity to develop gaming accessories that replicate the sounds and experiences of classic video games. - **Video Game Sound Design:** Sound designers can focus on recreating and altering sounds from retro video games for musical use. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Nostalgic Gamer Keyboard Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/8bitdo-retro-wireless-mechanical-keyboard.md) - [Tiny Retro Gamer Consoles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/open-source-games-console.md) - [Nostalgic Song Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/80s-and-90s-hum-the-song-game.md) - [Nostalgic Gaming Console Radios](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nintendo-radio.md) - [Retro-Inspired Handheld Game Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/super-pocket-neogeo-edition.md) - [Retro Handheld Consoles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modretro.md) - [Electronic String Instruments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/harmoni.md) - [See-Through Cartridge Gaming Consoles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modretro-m64.md) - [Vibrant Retro Handheld Gaming](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pocket-classic.md)