The diatonic harmonica such as the Marine Band, Blues Harp, Special Twenty and Golden Melody has ten holes, 20 reeds and only 19 tones. On a key of C, the tones are C, D, E, G, (G), B, C, D, E, F, G, A, C, B, E, D, G, F, A, C as you blow and draw through the holes numbered 1 thru 10. The tones span three full octaves and the low G is repeated on the draw 2 and the blow 3 holes. Simple songs can be played using these tones but the major scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C) can only be played in the middle octave, holes 4 thru 7. The lower and upper octaves require bending notes in order to hit the notes that are missing. Bending a note is simply changing your tongue position similar to the way you do when whistling. Bending notes is a necessity if you choose to play blues. It is possible to get 31 tones using bends and 37 tones, or complete chromatic scales thru 3 octaves using bends, over blows and over draws. Over blows and draws are like bends, except more stressful.
I created the following tab because they are limited to 3 characters and reside on any typing keyboard:
The characters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and T
designate the harmonica hole 1 thru 10 (T being ten).
The letter B designates a blow note and the letter
D a draw note.
The period designates a single bend (half step
bend).
The colon designates a double bend (whole step
bend).
The semi-colon designates a triple bend (step and
a half bend).
The OB is an over blow and the OD is an over draw.
The - between two numbers is a blow trill between
two notes.
The ~ between two numbers is a draw trill between
two notes.
Two numbers and a B is blow two notes.
Two numbers and a D is draw two notes.
A few examples :
3D: is a 3 hole draw double bend.
3D; is a 3 hole draw triple bend. (This is
the only triple bend on the harp)
TB. is a ten hole blow bend.
6OB is a 6 hole over blow.
4~5 is a draw trill using the 4 and 5
4-5 is a blow trill using the 4 and 5
23B is blow holes 2 and 3
12D is draw holes 1 and 2
The timing in the tab is based on counting the beats of a measure and dividing it up equally. The timing line appears OVER the TAB line as numbered beats of a measure divided into halves, 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + , or quarters 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a and sometimes thirds (a triplet) designated 1 T L 2 T L 3 T L 4 T L. This is the method of counting is used by drummers, like myself, probably because it is easily spoken. I use the underscore key _ to hold a note in the TAB line.
This is the tab for the low major scale using four beats divided in half. (Intermediate)
Timing Line> 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Tab Line > 1B 1D 2B 2D: 2D 3D: 3D 4B____
This is the tab for the middle major scale using four beats divided in half. (Novice)
Timing Line> 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Tab Line > 4B 4D 5B 5D 6B 6D 7D 7B____
This is the tab for the upper major scale using four beats divided in half. (Intermediate)
Timing Line> 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Tab Line > 7B 8D 8B 9D 9B TD TB. TB____
This is the tab for all the chromatic notes on a harp using four beats per measure divided in quarters.
1 e
+ a 2 e
+ a 3 e
+ a 4 e
+ a
1B 1D. 1D 1OB 2B 2D: 2D.
2D 3D; 3D: 3D. 3D 4B 4D. 4D 4OB
1 e
+ a 2 e
+ a 3 e
+ a 4 e
+ a
5B 5D 5OB 6B 6D. 6D
6OB 7D 7B 70D 8D 8B. 8B 9D 9B. 9B
1 e
+ a
2
3
4
9OD TD TB: TB.
TB_______________________________
Click here for a 147K WAV file of a three octave chromatic scale on a key of C diatonic harp.
Click here for a RealAudio file of a three octave chromatic scale on a key of C diatonic harp.
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