Learning to play the harmonica can be a daunting task for beginners. However, with the right techniques and guidance, mastering easy harmonica songs for beginners can be a rewarding experience. To start off, it is important to be familiar with the basics. Learning the chords, proper breathing techniques, and the basics of the harmonica are essential for any beginner. Once these basic concepts are mastered, it is time to move on to easy harmonica songs for beginners.
One of the most popular genres for harmonica playing is the blues. Blues is a great way to start off as a harmonica player. Learning some basic blues licks and riffs will give new players a feel for the instrument. Blues is often slow, making it a great starting point for harmonica players. Additionally, there are plenty of easy harmonica songs for beginners to choose from in the blues genre. These songs have simple melodies and repetitive structures, making them easy to learn. Beginners can find sheet music and tutorials for these songs online or in beginner harmonica books to help them learn how to play.
1. Oh! Susanna
To play "Oh! Susanna" on the harmonica, you'll need a diatonic harmonica in the key of C. Here are the notes you'll need to play for the melody:
-4 -4 5 -5 -6 6 -6 -5 5
-4 -4 5 -5 -6 6 -6 6 6
-4 -4 5 -5 -6 6 -6 -5 5 4
4 4 -4 4 5 -5 4
When you see a number with a hyphen before it (e.g. -4), it means to blow into the hole. When you see a number without a hyphen (e.g. 4), it means to draw or inhale through the hole. You can find tutorials and more resources online to help you learn how to play this song on the harmonica.
2. Amazing Grace
-4 -4 -4 -5 5
4 -4 4 4 3 3 4 4 5
-4 -4 -5 4 -4
3. You Are My Sunshine
4 5 5 -5 6 -6 6 You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
-4 5 5 -5 6 -6 6 You make me happy when skies are gray
6 6 6 6 -6 6 -6 6 You'll never know dear, how much I love you
-4 5 5 -5 6 -6 6 Please don't take my sunshine away
4. This Old Man
-3 -4 -5 5 -5 6
-3 -4 -5 5 -5 6
-4 -5 6 -6 7
-4 -5 6 -6 7
-3 -4 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 6 -5
-3 -4 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 6 -5
5. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
4 4 6 6 -6 -6 6
-5 -5 5 5 -4 -4 4
6 6 -5 -5 5 5 -4
6 6 -5 -5 5 5 -4
4 4 6 6 -6 -6 6
-5 -5 5 5 -4 -4 4
6. Silent Night
Silent Night is a beloved Christmas carol that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The song describes the serene and peaceful scene of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, with the night sky illuminated by a star shining brightly above. The lyrics convey a sense of calm and tranquility as the world sleeps in anticipation of the Savior's arrival.
Silent Night is often sung during Christmas Eve services and gatherings, evoking feelings of reverence and joy as listeners reflect on the meaning of the holiday. Musically, the song features a gentle melody and harmonious vocals, creating a sense of warmth and intimacy.
-6 -6 6 -6 7 -7 7
-6 -6 6 -6 7 -7 7
7 7 7 -7 7 8 -8 7
-6 -6 6 -6 7 -7 7
7. When the Saints Go Marching In
-4 -4 5 -5 -6 6 -6 5
-4 -4 5 -5 -6 6 -6 5
4 4 -4 -4 4 -4 5 -5
-4 -4 5 -5 -6 6 -6 5
8. Camptown Races
The traditional American folk song celebrates the excitement and energy of horse racing. The lyrics describe a lively event at the Camptown racetrack, where people gather to watch the horses compete and cheer on their favourites.
5 -4 5 -4
6 6 6 5 6 -6 6 5
-4 -4 5 -4 4
4 4 5 6 7
-6 -6 7 -6 6
6 6 6 5 6 6 6 -6 6 6
-4 -4 -4 5 -4 -4 4
9. Home on the Range
-6 -6 -6 7 -7 7
7 -7 7 -8 7 -6
-6 -6 -6 7 -7 7
10. Scarborough Fair
-4 -4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 -6 -6 6 -5 5
4 -4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 -6 6 -5 5
-4 -4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 -6 -6 6 -5 5
4 -4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 -6 6 -5 5
11. Drunken sailor
-6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -4 -5 -6
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 5 6
-6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -7 7 -8
7 -6 6 5 -4 -4
-6 -6 -6 -6 -4 -5-6
6 6 6 6 4 5 6
-6 -6 -6 -6 -7 7 -8
7 -6 6 5 -4 -4
12. Stand By Me
The soul track by Ben E. King is a about friendship, loyalty, and support. The lyrics express a plea for someone to stand by the narrator during times of trouble and uncertainty. Through its universal message of solidarity and companionship, the song conveys the idea that having someone to lean on can provide strength and comfort in difficult times. The song features a memorable bass-line, smooth vocals, and a melody that has resonated with audiences for generations.
5 6 -6 5 6
4 -4 5 -4 4
4 -4 5 4 5 -4 4 -4 -4 4
5 6 -6 5 6 -6 5 -5 5 5 -4 4
4 5 -4 4 4 5 -4 5 -4 4 4
6 -6 6 7 -7 -6 6 6 -7 5 4 -4 4
5 -4 4 5 -4 -4 4 5 -4 -4 4
5 6 -6 5 5 5 -6 6
13. Star Wars Main Theme
The iconic orchestral piece was composed by John Williams for the Star Wars film series. The theme serves as the opening music for each film and is strongly associated with the franchise.
3 3 -4 -5 5 -4 4 4 -4 5 -4 3 -3
3 3 -4 -5 5 -4 4 6 -4 -4
3 3 -4 -5 5 -4 4 4 -4 5 -4 3 -3
4 4 7 -7 -6 6 -5 5 -4 4 6
14. Super Mario Brothers Theme
The Super Mario Bros theme is the instrumental music associated with the popular video game franchise created by Nintendo. Composed by Koji Kondo, the theme is instantly recognisable and has become one of the most famous and beloved video game melodies of all time.
-7 -7 -7 6 -7 -8 5
6 -4 -3 5 -5 -5 5
-4 -7 -8 8 7 -8 -7 6 -6 5
6 -4 -3 5 -5 -5 5
-4 -7 -8 8 7 -8 -7 6 -6 5
-8 -8 7 -6 -7 -4 5 6 5 6 -6
-8 -8 7 -6 -7 9 9 9
-8 -8 7 -6 -7 -4 5 6 5 6 -6
-7 -6 6
6 6 6 6 -6 -7 6 5 -4
6 6 6 6 -6 -7
6 6 6 6 -6 -7 6 5 -4
-7 -7 -7 6 -7 -8 5
15. Unox reclame
The Unox reclame was produced by Unox, a Dutch food brand known for its soups, sausages, and other packaged foods. As the content of Unox commercials can vary widely depending on the specific campaign or product being promoted, there isn't a single song associated with all Unox commercials.
4 -4 5 -5 6 5 5 -4 4 -4 5 4
4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 7 -7 6 -6 6 5 -5 5 -4 4
16. Niet of Nooit Geweest
Niet of Nooit Geweest is a Dutch song by Acda en De Munnik. The title translates to "Never or Never Been." The song is about reflecting on missed opportunities and lost chances in life, particularly in relationships. The lyrics express regret over not seizing the moment or taking action when there was a chance for love or happiness. The narrator contemplates what could have been if they had made different choices and expresses a sense of longing for the past. The letter (b) = bend.
6 6 6 -6 6 -5 4
-4b 4 4
-6 6 -5 4 -4
6 5 -4 4
-4b 4 4
17. Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds (Travelers) is the main theme song of the video game "Outer Wilds." The game is an open-world exploration adventure set in a vast and mysterious solar system. The song captures the spirit of exploration and discovery as players navigate the cosmos and uncover the secrets of the universe. The music features sweeping orchestration and an ethereal melody that evokes a sense of wonder and awe.
3 4 5 4 -5 5 -4 4 -4
5 4 3
3 4 5 4 -5 5 -4 4 -4
5 6 5
18. The Piano Man (Intro)
The Piano Man Intro is a brief instrumental section that serves as the introduction to the song "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. It features a slow and melancholic piano melody, setting the tone for the narrative that follows in the main song. The intro sets the scene in a bar where the "piano man" plays music for patrons, capturing the atmosphere of late-night gatherings and the reflective mood of the narrator.
567 -5-6-7 567
-5-6 56 -5-6 56
45 -5-6 56 -5-6
56 -5-6
567 -5-6-7 567
-5-6 56 -5-6 56
34 -4-5 45
-3-4 34
19. Sweet Virginia Intro
Sweet Virginia by The Rolling Stones is a country-infused rock song that reflects on the ups and downs of life, particularly the experiences of love, friendship, and indulgence. The lyrics describe a group of friends who are enjoying themselves in a rural setting, perhaps in the state of Virginia, where they drink whiskey, smoke cigarettes, and share good times together. Despite the carefree atmosphere, the song also touches on themes of loneliness, regret, and the passage of time.
4 -4 4-4 5
5 -4 4 -4
4 -4 5
5 -4 4 -4
4 -4 5 6 7
8 -8 7
20. Wagon Wheel
Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker is a country-folk song that tells the story of a journey. The narrator is hitchhiking his way from New England down to North Carolina, longing to reunite with his lover. Along the way, he encounters various characters and experiences, including truck drivers and strangers offering rides, as well as moments of reflection on life and love. The chorus repeats the longing to "rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel," conveying a desire for comfort, familiarity, and connection. Musically, the song has a lively and upbeat tempo with a catchy melody, incorporating elements of folk and bluegrass music.
5 5 5 5 5 5 -4 -4 -4 -4
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 -4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5 5
5 -4 -4 -4 5 -4 -4 4
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 -4 -4 -4 -4
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 -4 4 4 4
4 4 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 -4 -4 5 5 -4 -4 4
4 5 5 5 5 5 5 -5 5 -4
5 5 5 5 5 5 -4 4 4
4 -4 -4 -4 4
21. Ode to Joy
Ode to Joy is a choral movement from the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125. The song is based on Friedrich Schiller's poem "An die Freude" ("Ode to Joy"), which celebrates the universal brotherhood of humanity and the joy of living.
5 5 -5 6 6 -5 5 -4 4 4 -4 5 5
-4 -4 4 4 -4 5 5 -4 4 -3 3 3
-3 4 4 -3 -3 3 3 -3 4 4 -3 3
-2 2 2 -2 3 3 -2 -2
5 5 -5 6 6 -5 5 -4 4 4 -4 5
-4 4 4 4 4 -4 5 5 -4 4 -3 3 3
-3 4 -3 3 3 3 3 -3 4 4 -3 3
-2 2 2 -2 3 -2 2 2
22. The Godfather
The Godfather Theme is the instrumental music composed by Nino Rota for the film "The Godfather." The theme sets the tone for the movie, which revolves around the powerful Corleone crime family and their patriarch, Don Vito Corleone.
5 -6 7 -7 -6 7 -6 -7 -6 -5 6 5
5 -6 7 -7 -6 7 -6 -7 -6 -5 5 -5
-4 -5 -6 -7 -8 7 -7 6
5 6 -5 -5 5 6 -5 -5 5 -7 7 -6
-6 -6 6 6 -7 -6 -5 5
5 6 4 -4 -4 -5 -4 5
5 -6 7 -7 -6 7 -6 -7 -6 -5 6 5
23. Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera)
Whatever Will Be, Will Be is a song that conveys a message of acceptance and resignation to fate. The lyrics explore the idea that worrying about the future is futile, as events will unfold as they are meant to. The phrase "que sera, sera" translates to "whatever will be, will be" in Spanish, emphasizing the theme of destiny and the inevitability of life's outcomes.
-7 7 -8 7 -7 -6 -7 7
-7 -5 6 -6 6 -3 5
4 -4 5 6 5 6 5 6 6 5 6 5 -6 6 -6 6 5 -5
-7 7 -8 7 -7 7 -7 -6 -7 7 -7 -5 6 -6 6 -3 5
7 -7 -6 -5 -6 -7 -8 7 -6 6 4 5 -5
-6 6 5 6 -4 6 -4 5 -5 -3 4 4
-4 5 -5 -3 4 4 4
24. Kiss Me
Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer is a sweet and romantic pop song that captures the feeling of falling in love. The lyrics describe a moment between two people who are drawn to each other, with the narrator expressing a desire for a romantic connection and affectionate gestures like kissing. This song is in the key of E flat.
-4 -4 -4 -4 4 -4 4 -3b 4
-4 -4 -4 -4 4 -4 4 -3b
-4 4 -4 4 -4 4 -4
-5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -5 5 -4
-56b -5b -4 -4 -4 4 -4 5 4 4
-5b -4 5 5 -4 5 -5 -4
-5b -4 -4 4 -4
-5b -4 5 -4 4 -4 5 -5b 5 -5b
-5b -4 -4 -5b 4 -3b -3 4
25. La Marseillaise (France National Anthem)
La Marseillaise is the national anthem of France. The song is a patriotic and revolutionary anthem that celebrates the values of freedom, unity, and defiance. The lyrics, written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in 1792, evoke the spirit of the French Revolution and the struggle for liberty against tyranny. The anthem calls on the people of France to rise up and defend their homeland against oppression, symbolizing the resilience and determination of the French people in the face of adversity.
3 3 3 4 4 -4 -4 6 5 4
4 5 4 3 -5 -4 -3 4
4 -4 5 5 5 -5 5 5 -4
-4 5 -5 -5 -5 6 -5 5
6 6 6 5 4 6 5 4 3
3 3 -3 -4 -5 -4 -3 -4 4
-3 4b 4 4 4 -3 4 -4
-4 5b 5 5 5 -5 6 -4
5b -4 4 4 4 5b -4 4 4 -3
6 6 6 5 4 -4
26. Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine is a playful and whimsical song by The Beatles that tells the story of a voyage aboard a fantastical yellow submarine. The lyrics describe a colorful underwater adventure filled with surreal imagery and characters, including the captain, crew, and various marine creatures encountered along the way. The song celebrates imagination, friendship, and the joy of exploring new worlds, both real and imaginary.
5 -5 6 5 -4 5 4
5 5 -4 4 -3 -3 5 5 -4
5 -5 6 5 -4 5 4
5 5 -4 4 -3 -3 5 5 -4
6 6 6 6 -6 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4
-4 -4 -4 -4 -4 4 4 4 4 4
The benefits of learning with tabs
Tabs are another great way to learn easy harmonica songs for beginners. Tablatures are simple diagrams that show which notes to play and which holes to blow and draw. While it is best to learn songs by ear, tabs can be a great learning tool. Additionally, tabs can provide a great way to learn more complex songs
Up next: How to play the kazoo (Tutorial)
