Introduction: Teach Yourself to Play Harmonica
Don't play an instrument? Learn the Harmonica, it's easy, cheap, portable, and sounds great.
Below is a collection of easy songs and their respective audio files.
The songs are written out in very easy to follow number system:
#1 = hole 1 of harmonica
#2 = hole 2
etc.
and for each song you can play the .mp3 audio file to hear the rhythm to play it at. The mp3 for each song is below the song notation.
You don't have to play at the same speed as the audio file. Just use it to know how the song goes.
Using this simple method, you don't need any musical background to learn. Just start playing according to the numbers and according to the beat you hear when you play the audio file.
You can carry around your harmonica and practice it anywhere if you put the audio and song notation on your phone. You can also print out some song notation and store the print out folded up in your harmonica's case.
Enjoy.
Supplies
You'll need a harmonica
Step 1: Song #1: Down in the Valley
3 4 -4 5 4
Down in the val-ley,
5 5 -4 4 -4
The val-ley so low.
3 -3 -4 -5 -4
Late in the eve-ning,
-3 4 -4 4
Hear the wind blow.
Attachments
Step 2: Song #2: Dixie
6 5 4 4 4 -4 5 -5 6 6 6 5
I-i wish I wa-s in the land of cot-ton,
-6 -6 -6 6 -6 6 -6 -7
old times there are not for-got-ten
7 -8 8 7 6 7
Look a-way! Look a-way!
6 5 6 -4 5 4
Look a-way! Dix-ie Land.
6 5 4 4 4-4 5-5 6 6 6 5
I-n Dix-ie La-nd whe-re I was born in,
-6 -6 -6 6 -6 6 -6 -7
ear-ly on one fros-ty morn-'in
7 -8 8 7 6 7 6 5 6 -4 5 4
Look a-way! Look a-way! Look a-way! Dix-ie Land.
6 6 7 8 -8 7 -6 7 -6 -8 -6 -8
Then I wish I was in Dix-ie, Hoo-ray! Hoo-ray!
6 7 8 -8 7 -6 -7 7
In Dix-ie Land, I'll take my stand
-6 6 5 7 5 5 -4
to live and die in Dix-ie;
5 4 5 -4 -6 6 5 7 8 -8 7
A-way, A-way, A-way down South in Dix-ie,
5 4 5 4 -6 6 5 8 7 -8 7
A-way, A-way, A-way down South in Dix-ie.
Attachments
Step 3: Song #3: Shenandoah
3 4 4 4 -4 5 -5 -6 6
Oh Shen-an-doah, I long to hear you,
7-7 -6 6 -6 6 5 6
A-a-way, you rol-ling riv-er,
6 -6 -6 -6 5 6 5 -4 4
Oh Shen-an-doah, I long to hear you,
-4 5 4 5 -6 6
A-way, we're bound a-way,
4 -4 5 4 -4 4
'Cross the wide Mis-sour-i.
Attachments
Step 4: Song #4: Unchained Melody
7 -8 7 -8 8 7
Oh, my love, my darling.
7 6 -7 -8 8
I've hungered for your
7 -8 7 5 -5 6
touch along lonely times.
7 -8 7 -8 8 7
Time go by so slowly
7 6 -7 -8 8 7
and time can do so much.
-8 7 7 9
Are you still mine?
-9 8 7 6
I need your love;
-8 7 6 5
I need your love.
-7 -6 -5 -4 -8 7
God speed your love to me.
-5 6 -6 7 -7
Lonely rivers flow
-7 -7 -6 -5 -6 6
to the sea, to the sea
-5 6 -6 7 -8 8 -8 6
To the open arms of the sea.
-5 6 -6 7 -7
Lonely rivers sigh,
-7 -7 -6 -5 -6 6
wait for me, wait for me.
-5 6 -6 7 -8 8 -8 7
I'll be coming home, wait for me.
--repeat,
ending at "...God speed your love to me."--
Attachments
Step 5: Song #5: Breath on Me
5 5 5 -5 4 5
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
6 -5 5 -4 5 -4
Fill me with life a-new,
5 -5 -6 6 5 5 -4 -5
That I may love what Thou dost love
-4 4-3 4 5 -4 4
And do what Thou wouldst do.
31 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
A new version of HarpNinja has just been released for Diatonic (10-hole or blues/country/folk/reggae) harmonica. http://www.harpninja.com/wp/app/harpninja-diatonic-harmonica/
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
....don't forget to mention prices range from $20-$30 for the HarpNinja ap!
8 years ago
I bought a cheap Non-numbered harmonica, how do i know which numbers are where?
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
1 will be the lowest note, 10(or the last whole) will be the highest :)
8 years ago on Introduction
You might also try the following:
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/beginning_harmonica.html
9 years ago
Also try: http://www.harmonica.com/ and this page: http://www.harmonica.com/how-to-play-the-harmonica-714.html
10 years ago on Introduction
Try Harmonica Software app HarpNinja which is designed for beginners/intermediate players. Bluestime has a good review of version 1.0.
11 years ago on Introduction
Anyone interested in learning blues harmonica should also check out Adam Gussow's channel on youtube. youtube.com/user/KudzuRunner.
If I ever get decent with a diatonic, I might try a chromatic like the one in the picture up there. Don't want to make it more confusing than it is by mixing the two right now. LOL
11 years ago on Introduction
Does anyone know from which site can i learn how to play harmonica of 48 holes
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Sounds like a tremolo harmonica. Don't know much about them, but I did find this:
http://www.tremoloharmonica.com/
11 years ago on Introduction
awesome harmonica, it it yours? i have a gold and green one but yours is classy
16 years ago on Introduction
hey, anyone know how to change the format of the file so i put it on my ipod...it wont work as a .rar?
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
a .rar file is like a .zip file: it's a compressed folder. It's not a music file. To open a .rar you'll need either a free demo version of winzip or winrar, look them up on google. When you use oen of these programs to open the .rar, you will see all of the lesson files (written music and sound files) within.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
You can use "jZip it is free and the same as winzip
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Or you can use zipGenius or 7zip. Both are free, 7zip being opensource.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
make an account at www.pspiso.com , and you can download the full version free.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Win RAR is good, because when the free trial runs out, you can still have the program. It may ask you to buy the Software, but the trial still works. I've had it for 5 years!
13 years ago on Introduction
i just buy my self a harmonica. and thanks to you now i can learn to play it properly thanks..
14 years ago on Introduction
the page you posted look great! thanks
14 years ago on Introduction
Something I discovered when I was in the Navy is that a clip for a standard issue 45 caliber pistol is almost exactly the same size as a Hohner Marine Band Harmonica. Two, one of each of two keys, would fit in the two pocket clip holder that goes on the web belt. You could have a whole string of them, one in each key, plus sharps, flats and minor keys in a Chewbacca-like bandolier.