In order to play arpeggios, you need to know: Harmonica players play arpeggios as substitutes for chords that are impossible to play on the diatonic harmonica they’re using.įor instance, if you wanted to play an E minor chord, you would instead have to play an arpeggio containing the notes of the E minor chord: E, G, and B. An arpeggio is a version of a chord in which you play the notes of a chord separately rather than simultaneously. Since the number of actual chords that can be played on a diatonic harmonica is very limited, harmonica players usually play chords as arpeggios. Harmonica players such as Bob Dylan and Neil Young have popularized this style of playing harmonica chords Playing Arpeggios Instead of Chords If you’re already a guitar player, for example, you might play harmonica chords as a solo over a chord progression on the guitar. Instead, you’ll likely play chords as part of your harmonica solos. The limited number of chords that the diatonic harmonica can produce makes it unlikely that you’ll ever use the harmonica to play chords as accompaniment for another instrument. If the chords you play match these descriptions, you’re likely playing the right notes. It should sound dark and brooding, entirely unlike the C major chord. Try playing the D minor chord next (draw 4–5–6 or 8–9–10). The chord you play should sound bright, happy, and resolved. Start with the C major chord by following the steps above. Unless you’re familiar with the different sounds of major, minor, and seventh chords, it may be tough to tell whether you’re playing the right notes of the chord. Move the harmonica to align holes 1–2–3 with the area that your lips cover.Įxhale from your diaphragm to blow notes 1–2–3 and sound the C major chord. Since your mouth and lips cover 3–4 holes naturally, you’ll only need to shift the harmonica in order to position the right holes to your lips. To play chords, use the same hand and mouth positioning that you’d use for tongue blocking, but keep your tongue at the bottom of your mouth, away from the holes.
#Harmonica tabs how to
How to Position Your Mouth to Play Chords The fifth and final chord you can play on the C harmonica is called a “B minor-seven flat-five,” a chord that combines the qualities of a minor and a seventh chord. The chords you can play, and the notes you must play simultaneously in order to sound them, are:Ĭ major: Blow holes 1–2–3, 4–5–6, or 7–8–9 On the C harmonica, it’s possible to play at least one of each of the three main types of chords.
Seventh chords: Sound unresolved and somewhat dissonant-neither bright nor dark The Chords of the C HarmonicaĪll harmonicas, including diatonic harmonicas, are capable of producing at least a few chords. The most popular types of chords are major, minor, and seventh chords. For instance, some chords sound harmonious and pleasant, while others sound jarring or foreboding. The Main Types of ChordsĬhords come in a wide variety of types based on the specific notes they contain.
#Harmonica tabs series
For instance, a piano player might play a series of chords, called a chord progression, while a guitar player plays a solo over those chords. Chords are most often played as accompaniment to other instruments. A chord is a set of three or more notes sounded simultaneously.