5 Easy Harmonica Songs for Beginners
How to Read Harmonica Tabs:
You may already know that you can play harmonica in both directions. When you inhale into the instrument, it produces blow notes; when you exhale, it creates draw notes.
Here I created my unique and practical tablature of harmonica. As you’ll see, there are two sections in each line. The upper section of the line is for draw notes, and the lower section is for blow notes. This approach makes it easy to follow and play.
To read the sheet music for blow and draw notes, use this approach:
A plus sign (+) next to the hole number means blow note, and the number means draw note.
For example:
4+ = 4 Blow
4 = 4 Draw
What’s Different Here, My Unique Approach to Harmonica Tabs:
What’s different here is my unique approach to harmonica tabs:
I use two rows to show the blow notes and the draw notes. The top row represents the draw notes in green color, and the bottom row shows the blow notes in red.
Then, you have the numbers which represent the harmonica holes.
Underneath these two rows, the numbers represent the song’s rhythm. For example, 1 2 3 4 shows this song’s rhythm is four beats per bar.
Easy Harmonica Songs:
Discover the joy of playing simple and well-known tunes on your diatonic harmonica. Practice a bit, and you’ll quickly learn to play five songs that will make you smile.
Here, I’ve collected five easy and popular songs you can quickly learn and play with practice and effort.
Most of these songs use the harmonica’s middle octave, making playing more accessible.
If you need to familiarize yourself with the harmonica note structure, you can just read this article about the notes on diatonic harmonica.
Easy harmonica notes for beginners:
Mary Had a Little Lamb:
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” is a famous kids’ song that helps teach rhyming to children. It’s also a popular song choice for those learning to play an instrument.
The melody is easy to remember, and the notes flow smoothly, making it easy to play without sudden jumps.
To play this song, you must know the notes C, D, E, F, and G in the middle octave (holes 4-6).
Jingle Bells:
Have you enjoyed listening to the renowned composition “Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the Way!”?
There is no denying that this American song has gained significant global recognition. James Pierpont composed it in 1857, and it has remained a beloved Christmas song.
We included this song in our easy harmonica songs because it is short, simple, and can improve your holiday music collection.
Ode to Joy:
Beethoven wrote the lovely “Ode to Joy” in 1824. It’s the final part of his Symphony No. 9.
The catchy tune features a repetitive motif, making it easy to grasp and commit to memory. This is why we have included it in our collection of simple harmonica melodies.
Happy Birthday To You:
Many people know the famous song “Happy Birthday To You.”It’s a simple tune that’s easy to learn and play. Why not consider learning this melody and delighting your loved ones on their special day?
To learn how to play “Happy Birthday” on the harmonica, check out this post for a detailed explanation.
When the Saints Go Marching In:
Our Easy Harmonica Songs collection concludes with “When The Saints Go Marching In.” This famous jazz song, sung by Louis Armstrong, comes from a black gospel spiritual that has changed over time.
Conclusion:
If you need help learning how to play the harmonica, feel free to send me an email. I would be happy to guide you on your musical journey. At Iman Music Studio, we offer harmonica lessons for people of all ages.
Happy Harmonica Playing 😊
Your harmonica instructor,
