Harmonica Chord Chart
A C harmonica plays a C major chord when you blow any three holes next to each other, because every blow note is C, E or G. Drawing holes 1 to 4 gives G major (D G B D), draw holes 2 to 5 give G7 (G B D F), and draw holes 4 to 6 or 8 to 10 give D minor (D F A).
Updated · By the Classfern Music Department
Works in the UK and the US. This version uses UK words and school years (bar, semitone, KS2, Year 4); the US version uses measure, half step and grades. · US version of this page
Key facts
- Blowing any three holes next to each other on a C harmonica gives a C major chord.
- Draw 1 2 3 4 = G major (D G B D); draw 2 3 4 5 = G7.
- Draw 4 5 6 and 8 9 10 = D minor (D F A).
- On any key of harmonica, the blow chord is the key chord and the low draw chord is a fifth higher.
- No bending is needed for any chord on this page.
What chords can you play on a harmonica?
On a C harmonica you can play C major by blowing three holes together, G major by drawing holes 1 to 4, G7 by drawing holes 2 to 5 and D minor by drawing holes 4 to 6 or 8 to 10. These are chords I, V, V7 and ii in the key of C.
| Chord | Holes | Tab | Notes | In the key of C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C major | Blow 1 2 3 | +123 | C E G | I |
| C major | Blow 4 5 6 | +456 | C E G | I |
| C major | Blow 7 8 9 | +789 | C E G | I |
| G major | Draw 1 2 3 4 | −1234 | D G B D | V |
| G7 | Draw 2 3 4 5 | −2345 | G B D F | V7 |
| D minor | Draw 4 5 6 | −456 | D F A | ii |
| D minor | Draw 8 9 10 | −8 9 10 | D F A | ii |
| B diminished | Draw 3 4 5 | −345 | B D F | vii° |
| D minor 6 | Draw 4 5 6 7 | −4567 | D F A B | ii6 |
Two-note chords sound good too. Blow 4 and 5 together (C and E) or draw 3 and 4 (B and D) make sweet thirds. Holes 4 and 7 blown together, with your tongue covering 5 and 6, make a C octave: a big, full sound used in folk and blues.
Hear every harmonica chord
Press a chord to hear its holes together, or “one by one” to hear each note. The sound is a simple harmonica-like tone made in your browser.
One note at a time
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How do you play chords on a harmonica?
To play a chord on harmonica, relax your lips and cover three or four holes at once, then blow or draw gently and evenly. Keep your mouth wide and your jaw loose so all the reeds sound together. Chords are easier than single notes, so many beginners start with them.
- Open your mouth wider than for a single note, about the width of three holes.
- Place it over holes 1, 2 and 3 and blow gently: that is C major.
- Keep the same mouth shape and draw (breathe in): that is G major.
- Rock between blow and draw in a steady beat to make a train sound, one of the oldest harmonica tricks.
- Move up to holes 4, 5 and 6 and do the same. The draw chord there is D minor.
What chords does a harmonica play in other keys?
Every diatonic harmonica uses the same holes for its chords. The blow chord is always the key of the harmonica, draw 1 to 4 is the chord a fifth higher, and draw 4 to 6 is the minor chord a step above the key. So a G harmonica blows G major and draws D major.
| Harmonica key | Blow chord (any 3 blow holes) | Draw 1 2 3 | Draw 4 5 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | G major (G B D) | D major (A D F♯) | A minor (A C E) |
| A♭ | A♭ major (A♭ C E♭) | E♭ major (B♭ E♭ G) | B♭ minor (B♭ D♭ F) |
| A | A major (A C♯ E) | E major (B E G♯) | B minor (B D F♯) |
| B♭ | B♭ major (B♭ D F) | F major (C F A) | C minor (C E♭ G) |
| B | B major (B D♯ F♯) | F♯ major (C♯ F♯ A♯) | C♯ minor (C♯ E G♯) |
| C | C major (C E G) | G major (D G B) | D minor (D F A) |
| D♭ | D♭ major (D♭ F A♭) | A♭ major (E♭ A♭ C) | E♭ minor (E♭ G♭ B♭) |
| D | D major (D F♯ A) | A major (E A C♯) | E minor (E G B) |
| E♭ | E♭ major (E♭ G B♭) | B♭ major (F B♭ D) | F minor (F A♭ C) |
| E | E major (E G♯ B) | B major (F♯ B D♯) | F♯ minor (F♯ A C♯) |
| F | F major (F A C) | C major (G C E) | G minor (G B♭ D) |
| F♯ | F♯ major (F♯ A♯ C♯) | C♯ major (G♯ C♯ E♯) | G♯ minor (G♯ B D♯) |
Which harmonica chords do you use for the blues?
For a 12-bar blues on a C harmonica, play in second position (the key of G): draw holes 1 to 4 give the I chord (G), blow holes 1 to 3 the IV chord (C) and draw holes 4 to 6 stand in for the V chord.
The true V chord in G is D major (D F♯ A), which needs a bend on a C harmonica, so draw 4 5 6 (D F A) is the usual beginner stand-in. The full 12-bar pattern is on the easy harmonica songs page, and blues backing tracks are on metronome and backing tracks.
Quick quiz: harmonica chords
Marked by Classfern 4 multiple-choice questions on the Classfern lesson engine. Your answers stay on this device.
Classfern’s free harmonica guides on lessonplanner.info: harmonica notes chart, how to read harmonica tabs and the harmonica play-along. Classfern is not connected with or endorsed by any harmonica maker.
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