Harmonica Tablature
Andy Wilson harmonica tablature is free and can be downloaded as a pdf. All pieces include standard notation and tablature. Harmonica tablature reads as follows:
Diatonic harmonica tablature:
Diatonic harmonica tablature consists of 3 elements. The first element tells you which hole number to play on the harmonica. The second element tells you whether to blow or draw. The third element represents a bent note.
Hole number - The number of the hole to be played
Blow or Draw - The capital letter following the hole number. B for blow, D for draw
Bent notes - A slash following the capital letter indicates a bent note. A backslash (\) indicates a note that is bent one half step. A vertical slash (|) indicates a note that is bent one hole step. A slash (/) indicates a note that is bent three half steps. Note - The three half step bend (/) is only available on hole 3 draw.
Examples: 2B indicates hole 2, blow. 4D\ indicates hole 4 draw, bent one half step. 3D| indicates hole 3 draw, bent one hole step.
Note: Since the diatonic harmonica is a transposing instrument, all standard notation is written transposed. Regardless of the key of harmonica used, it is written as if it were a C harmonica.
Chromatic harmonica tablature:
Chromatic harmonica tablature consists of 3 elements. The first element tells you which hole number to play on the harmonica. The second element tells you whether to blow or draw. The third element tells you to depress the trigger.
Hole number - The number of the hole to be played
Blow or Draw - The capital letter following the hole number. B for blow, D for draw
Trigger - a plus sign (+) indicates that you should depress the trigger.
Examples: 7B indicates hole 7, blow. 9D+ indicates hole 9 draw, with the trigger depressed.
Note: The chromatic harmonica contains many duplicate notes, resulting in alternate hole choices. 4B and 5B are both C, as are 8B and 9B. The same goes for 4B+, 5B+, 8B+, and 9B+ on the C#. Fs are available as E#s and Cs are available as B#s. Tablature for scales are written as I would play them, but there can be many more possibilities.
Transcriptions:
Sonny Boy Williamson's solo on "Good Evening Everybody"From the album: "One Way Out"
This is an excellent example of low register first position blues playing. |
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Scales:
Blues scales for Chromatic HarmonicaThese scales are designed to get you started playing the blues in all twelve keys. The notes of the scale can be re-ordered to create solos in the blues without regard to chord changes.
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Chromatic scale for Chromatic HarmonicaThe complete chromatic scale in all octaves for the 12 hole, chromatic harmonica.
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