This　paper　presents　a　high　quality　harmonic　excited　linear　predictive　(HE-LPC)　speech　coder　operating　at　2　kb/s　based　on　a　harmonic　excitation　model　with　two　bands.　The　system　incorporates　novel　features　such　as:　combined　pitch　detection,　residual　harmonic　matching　voicing　determination,　extraction　and　interpolation　of　residual　harmonic　magnitudes.　Subjective　listening　tests　indicate　that　this　coder　has　same　quality　as　that　of　Federal　Standard　MELP　coder　at　2.4　kb/s　whatever　training　database　is　from　Chinese　or　English.　©2004　IEEE.