Can harmonicas play chords?

Guitars and keyboards are the instruments that we most commonly hear playing chords in popular music, but the harmonica is unique in that it’s one of the few wind instruments that can also play chords.

What does a 4 draw mean on a harmonica?

On the diatonic harmonica, I use parentheses to indicate overblows and draws: (4) means play an overblow on hole 4.

What are the notes for harmonica?

The most common key of harmonica is the key of C. Here’s the note layout of a C diatonic harmonica: I’ve highlighted holes 4 to 7. Notice that the notes for these holes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C.

What are chords on a harmonica?

As a harmonica player, knowing a little about chords can help you understand how the notes you play relate to the chord sequences used in the songs you play and can also help you understand written music. The simplest type of chord has three notes and is called a triad. The root of the triad is the note you start from.

What is a IV chord on the harmonica?

IV chord (C): 1-2-3 blow (or any three blow notes). V chord (D): 1-4 draw tongue-block octave. VI chord (Em): 2-3 blow. Like I said above, you don’t have a full V or VI chord on the harmonica.

What are the easiest notes to play on the harmonica?

All notes are mainly in the middle register of the harmonica: holes 4 to 7, the easiest notes to play. These are simple songs, but to play them well you should have good control of all the notes in the middle register, both individually and while moving between holes.

What are the different keys of a harmonica?

Harmonicas come in a variety of keys ( click here for more about harmonica keys and note names ). The most common harmonica key is C, the notes on a C harmonica are shown below. In the diagram blow means the note when blowing into a hole, draw means the note when breathing in.