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
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
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