Key To Tab

DIATONIC HARMONICA

Blow / Draw

  • 1B – Hole 1 blow
  • 2D – Hole 2 draw

Bends

  • 4D’ – Hole 4 first draw bend
  • 2D” – Hole 2 second draw bend
  • 10B” – Hole 10 second blow bend
  • 3D”‘ – Hole 3 third draw bend

Phrasing

  • 2D 3D play 2 draw  and 3 draw as separate notes
  • 2D..3D run 2 draw into 3 draw (slur)
  • 3D’..3D scoop into 3 draw from below (first draw bend in hole 3)
  • 4D….. sustain 4 draw
  • ….4D play 4 draw after the down beat
  • 1D..gliss..4D glide from 1 draw up to draw 4 (glissando)
  • 4D..gliss..1D glide from 4 draw down to 1 draw (glissando)

Multiple Notes

  • 1B-2B-3B play 1 blow, 2 blow and 3 blow together
  • 2D-3D-4D play 2 draw, 3 draw and 4 draw together

Splits and Octaves

  • 2D-5D play 2 draw and 5 draw together (4 hole split)
  • 1D-4D play 1 draw and 4 draw together (4 hole split and octave)
  • 7B-10B play 7 blow and 10 blow together (4 hole split and octave)
  • 3D-7D play 3 draw and 7 draw together (5 hole split and octave)

Trills

  • 4D~5D trill between 4 draw and 5 draw
  • 8B~9B trill between 8 blow and 9 blow

Overbends

  • 5B# 5 hole overblow
  • 7D# 7 hole overdraw

Suggested or Passing Notes

(6B 7B) 6 blow and 7 blow can be sounded in passing but are not essential

_____________________________________________________________

CHROMATIC HARMONICA

A hole number with B or D is played with the slide open (shutter out). The tab will resemble the basic diatonic tab above. So 3D is 3 draw with the slide open. 12B is 12 blow with the shutter open.

A hole number with B or D followed by # means play with slide closed (shutter in). For example 3D..3D..3B..2D# So 3 draw open, 3 draw open, 3 blow open and 2 draw closed. Here the notes are dotted,  so they run into each other (slurred) as in the diatonic tab above.