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Harmonica Notes A What Are The Notes On A Harmonic 1

Harmonica Notes a What Are the Notes on a Harmonic 1

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xiaoboshi
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177 views

Harmonica Notes A What Are The Notes On A Harmonic 1

Harmonica Notes a What Are the Notes on a Harmonic 1

Uploaded by

xiaoboshi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Free 5 part series

"How to Succeed
with Harmonica"
Many beginning players are confused about harmonica notes, particularly since some of them Sign up here to get it
appear to be missing. This articles shows the notes on a harmonica, and the reasoning behind
their layout. Name:

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Harmonicas come in a variety of keys (click here for more about harmonica keys and note names).
The most common harmonica key is C, the notes on a C harmonica are shown below. In the Submit
diagram blow means the note when blowing into a hole, draw means the note when breathing in.
This note layout is called the Richter tuning, is used for most harmonicas and is shown below.

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Blow C E G C E G C E G C
Draw D G B D F A B D F A

Check out the Tony Eyers Trio!


Look at holes 4 to 7. The notes from these holes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, which make up a C
major scale. Not surprising for a harmonica in the key of C.

However holes 1 to 4 are different. Starting from hole 1, the notes are C, D, E, G, G, B, D, C. Very
confusing. Unlike holes 4 to 7, these lower notes do not make up a major scale. However look at
blow notes 1 to 4, which are C, E, G and C. These notes make a C major chord. Blow into the first
4 holes to get this chord. Can you hear how these notes seem to agree with each other when
played together?

Now look at holes 4 to 7. The blow notes are also C, E, G and C. Another C chord. Similarly, the
blow notes for holes 7 to 10 are also C, E, G and C. Yet another C chord. So, all the blow notes on
a C harmonica come from the C chord. This is no accident, and is the reason why harmonica blow
notes are arranged this way.

Similarly, the draw notes on holes 1 to 4 are D, G, B and D. These notes all come from the G
chord, which is a very important one when playing in the key of C. Blow and draw repeatedly on
holes 1 to 4. Can you hear how the two chords seem to match each other?.

Providng these chords in the bottom 4 holes whilst allowing a major scale in the middle holes is the
basic reasoning behind the Richter tuning system used on most harmonicas.

As outlined above, arranging the harmonica to provide chords means that some notes are
missing, particularly in the bottom holes. However a common harmonica technique called
bending allows these missing notes to be played.

Bending harmonica notes involves changing tongue position, mouth shape and breath pressure,
and is often very challenging for harmonica students. Detailed instructions for bending notes are in
the online lessons at my Harmonica Academy site.

Bending a note lowers its pitch. Bending is done mostly on the draw holes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, and blow
holes 8, 9 and 10. The diagram below shows the notes commonly obtained through bending on a C
harmonica.

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Blow C E G C E G C E G C
Blow bend Eb F# Bb
Draw D G B D F A B D F A
Draw Db F# Bb Db Ab
Draw F A
Draw Ab

The regular blow and draw notes for the C harmonica are shown in bold. Looking at the draw
bends, notice that a single extra note is available from holes 1, 4 and 6. Some players also bend
draw hole 5 a little, but strictly speaking an extra note is not available by doing this.

The 2 hole draw allows two extra bent notes, while the 3 hole draw allows 3 extra bent notes.
Controlling all of these notes takes much practice, but is a skill known to most advanced players.

A single extra bent note is available from blow holes 8, 9 and 10. A very small group of players can
get two distinct bent notes from the 10 blow.

Even more notes are available using an advanced technique called overblowing.

Given that 12 harmonica keys are available, each with different notes, the task of remembering
them all would appear overwhelming to new players. Good news. It is not necessary to remember
all of the notes. Many players would be hard pressed to name them, especially for the less
frequently used keys.

Most players instead remember scale degrees. These are closely related to the do re mi fa so la
ti do, which many learn at school. This technique allows tunes and solos to be understood without
needing the note names for specific music keys. There is much more to this than outlined here.
Suffice to say however that an elephants memory is not required to progress with the harmonica.

All that is needed is a love for the instrument, persistance, good instruction and like minded musical
peers. All of these can be found.

Tony Eyers 2012-15

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