The main reason is that for the beginning harmonica player, even if they already read standard musical notation, it won’t do them much good – this is because when you are playing the harmonica you can’t see what note you are playing. That is, you can’t see what note hole you are on.

You can easily tell if you are inhaling (“draw” in harmonica language) or blowing on that hole, but not which note it is, unless you are very well trained in at least relative pitch, if not perfect pitch.

So, as a result, harmonica tabs dominate the harmonica world.

Of course, once you are really oriented toward harmonica playing you can then apply your music notation reading skills.

Another reason for the domination of harmonica tabs is the sort of oral tradition that harmonica playing has. Harmonicas are played by all sorts of people, all over the world. They carry harmonicas in their pockets, pouches, purses, backpacks, and play whenever they feel like it or whenever it feels like it would do them (or someone else) some good.
This sort of playing doesn’t require reading notes, by any means. In fact, in the Blues tradition, very few players read music at all.

Our Harmonica Tabs system

On HARMONICA.COM the harmonica tabs system we are using is very simple:

If just a number is given, then it is a BLOW note

If there is a “-” sign in front of the number then it is a DRAW note

For example, with this sort of harmonica tab,

just the number 4< is a BLOW note
and -4 is a DRAW note
Now, there are lots of other harmonica tabs systems. There’s even one that uses the opposite meaning for the minus sign. We use our system because it has been around the longest. You’ll see lots of books with up and down arrows, or circled and non-circled numbers.

The main thing is that with all these harmonica tab systems they are giving you the note hole NUMBER, and are letting you know when to BLOW or DRAW.

In most cases, it really helps to either know the song, or else have a recording of the song using the harmonica tabs that are given.

On the following harmonica tab pages, that’s exactly what we do for you. Enjoy!

Comments (26)

Negm

July 25, 2014 at 5:55 pm | #

Can I have taps of le valse d’amelie ?

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  July 30, 2014 at 4:39 am | #
  
  Not familiar with that one Negm. Try a google search. jp
  
  Reply
Gordo

September 6, 2014 at 4:19 am | #

where can I get the notes to play Gershwins “Rhapsody In Blue” for harmonica I have only simple C and G

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  October 1, 2014 at 3:01 am | #
  
  Gordo…Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue can be bought as written music. Then you can look at the layout of a C and G harmonica and find out where the notes are. jp
  
  Reply
Andrea Rose .

October 8, 2014 at 8:51 am | #

Hey JP , I ‘ve brought a chromatic hormonica to learn and play bt basically i realli find this stuff hard n complicated , i 12 hole harmonica

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  October 10, 2014 at 5:11 pm | #
  
  I am confident if you try my lessons with a 10 hole diatonic you will find it much easier. I recommend the Hohner Special 20 which you can find at my harmonica store: https://www.harmonica.com/hohner-harmonicas. jp
  
  Reply
shannon

February 28, 2015 at 4:54 pm | #

Do you have tabs for the Christian song 10000 reasons?

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  March 31, 2015 at 8:05 pm | #
  
  Not familiar with this one, have you tried a google search? jp
  
  Reply
Mark

June 13, 2015 at 3:22 pm | #

Are all these Tabs played on a key of C harmonica? I didn’t see where they say which harmonica to use. I’m a newbie to this and trying to learn some songs. I have a set of seven Hohner harmonicas.
C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb.

Thanks,
Mark

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  June 17, 2015 at 1:20 am | #
  
  Hey Mark, these songs are not all originally played in the key of c, however you can play them in any key you wish, just follow the tabs. If you wish to know the exact keys you can probably find them in a google search. Have fun with it! jp
  
  Reply
Vincent

June 28, 2015 at 1:16 am | #

Hey JP, I just got a tremolo C harmonica. What would be your recommended first steps for me to learn to play it? Thx

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  July 17, 2015 at 5:05 pm | #
  
  You will want to find an instructor for the chromatic harmonica. I only teach the 10-diatonic harmonica. I love to work with you if you are interested in this type of harp. jp
  
  Reply
David

July 7, 2015 at 5:34 am | #

I don’t like most harmonica sets..I find they are usually made in China….some ate good though…I like hohner and Lee.

Reply
Alfonso

July 13, 2015 at 7:36 am | #

Hi JP, have you tried to play “rude” of Magic!? which armonica should I use and if you can send me the chords would be great. I cannot find it anywhere. Thanks

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  July 17, 2015 at 6:52 pm | #
  
  I’m sorry but I’m not familiar with that tune. jp
  
  Reply
Pierre

October 28, 2015 at 7:25 am | #

Can i have the tab for “haste to the wedding” (The corrs).
Thanks a lot JP.
Best regards. Pierre (from France)

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  December 2, 2015 at 1:23 am | #
  
  I’m not familiar with that one. But have you tried a google search? jp
  
  Reply
Smithc402

November 4, 2015 at 2:13 am | #

Hi, I desire to subscribe for this web site to obtain latest updates, therefore where can i do it please assist. cdggffgeeecbakae

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  December 2, 2015 at 1:21 am | #
  
  Just go to https://www.harmonica.com and enter you email address. I’d be happy to send you lots of great harmonica stuff. jp
  
  Reply
jim

January 30, 2017 at 1:11 am | #

can anyone give me the tabs foe ‘ae fond kiss’ by R. Burns

Reply
Elvis Barrios

May 19, 2017 at 1:10 am | #

Hello JP,
Trying to find vivaldi concerto for lute in d major. Please help me, its the song that the boys play around the campfire in the movie, the cowboys with john Wayne

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  May 21, 2017 at 4:27 am | #
  
  Have you tried a google search? jp
  
  Reply
Karen Tennebekk

June 5, 2017 at 12:57 pm | #

Wher can i find the taps of “marry did you know”?

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  June 23, 2017 at 4:57 pm | #
  
  Great song, try a google search. jp
  
  Reply
Alex

May 18, 2018 at 10:14 am | #

How can these tabs not give the key the song is in? And then the corresponding key of harmonica to use to play cross harp?

Reply
- JP Allen
  
  June 8, 2018 at 9:45 pm | #
  
  Sorry Alex, but you can play these songs in any key using the harmonica tabs. jp
  
  Reply