How to Read Harmonica Tabs
Harmonica tabs tell you which hole to play and whether to blow or draw. The number is the hole, from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest). A plus sign, or a number on its own, means blow (breathe out); a minus sign means draw (breathe in). So +4 is blow hole 4 and −4 is draw hole 4. An apostrophe, as in −3', means bend the note down.
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
- A diatonic harmonica has 10 holes, numbered 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
- +4 or 4 = blow hole 4; −4 = draw (breathe in) on hole 4.
- One apostrophe = bend down one semitone: −3'; two = two semitones: −3''.
- Tab shows holes, not notes, so the same tab plays in any key of harmonica.
- Most harmonica tab has no rhythm: listen to the tune as you read.
How do you read harmonica tabs?
Read harmonica tab from left to right. Each number is a hole to play, from 1 at the low end to 10 at the high end. A plus sign, or a number on its own, means blow; a minus sign means draw (breathe in). Apostrophes mean bend the note down, and the | lines show where each bar starts.
Hold the harmonica with the numbers on top, so hole 1 is on your left. Then follow the tab one symbol at a time:
- Find the hole. The number tells you which hole: 4 is the fourth from the left.
- Blow or draw. + (or no sign) means breathe out; − means breathe in. Some tab uses B and D instead (4B, 4D), or arrows (4↑ for blow, 4↓ for draw).
- Check for bends. An apostrophe (′ or ') after the number means bend the note down. Leave these until you can play clean single notes.
- Look for chords. Numbers written together, such as +123 or (4 5 6), mean play those holes at once.
- Listen for the rhythm. Tab shows the note, not how long it lasts, so know the tune or play along with it.
What do the symbols in harmonica tab mean?
The main harmonica tab symbols are: a number for the hole, + or B for blow, − or D for draw, one apostrophe for each semitone of bend, and a letter o for an overblow. Holes written together are a chord.
| Symbol | Meaning | Example on a C harmonica |
|---|---|---|
| +4 or 4 or 4B | Blow (breathe out) on hole 4 | C5 |
| −4 or 4D or (4) | Draw (breathe in) on hole 4 | D5 |
| −3' | Draw 3, bent down one semitone | B♭4 |
| −3'' | Draw 3, bent down two semitones | A4 |
| +10' | Blow 10, bent down one semitone | B6 |
| +123 or +(1 2 3) | Blow holes 1, 2 and 3 together (a chord) | C E G |
| 4o or +4o | Overblow on hole 4 (an advanced technique) | E♭5 |
| | | Start of a new bar | – |
Different books and websites mix these styles, so check the key at the top of any tab before you start. The tab on Classfern’s harmonica play-along uses B and D (for example 4B and 4D) next to the hole chart, and our song pages use + and −.
Harmonica tab reader: type tab and hear it
Type any harmonica tab, or press an example. The reader says what each symbol means and plays it on a 10-hole harmonica in C. It understands +4, −4, 4, 4B, 4D and bends written with apostrophes (−3'). Spaces, commas and | lines are ignored.
Sounds are made in your browser. This tool never uses the microphone, and nothing is recorded, saved or sent.
How do you read harmonica tablature with bends?
In harmonica tablature, a bend is shown by apostrophes after a hole number. −2' means draw hole 2 and bend it down one semitone; −2'' means bend it down two. On a C harmonica, holes 1 to 6 bend on the draw and holes 8 to 10 bend on the blow.
To bend, you change the shape inside your mouth while you play, as if you were saying “ee” then sliding to “oo”, which lowers the note. Hole 3 on a C harmonica bends furthest: three semitones, from B down to A♭. Bends take weeks to learn, so tab for beginners leaves them out.
| Tab | Note | Bent from |
|---|---|---|
| −1' | C♯4 | draw 1 (D4) |
| −2' | F♯4 | draw 2 (G4) |
| −2'' | F4 | draw 2 (G4) |
| −3' | B♭4 | draw 3 (B4) |
| −3'' | A4 | draw 3 (B4) |
| −3''' | A♭4 | draw 3 (B4) |
| −4' | C♯5 | draw 4 (D5) |
| −6' | A♭5 | draw 6 (A5) |
| +8' | E♭6 | blow 8 (E6) |
| +9' | F♯6 | blow 9 (G6) |
| +10' | B6 | blow 10 (C7) |
| +10'' | B♭6 | blow 10 (C7) |
The full chart of every hole, with sound and all 12 keys, is on the harmonica notes chart.
Does harmonica tab work for every key of harmonica?
Yes. Harmonica tab shows holes and breath, not note names, so the same tab works on a diatonic harmonica in any key. Played on a C harmonica, +4 −4 +5 is C D E; on a G harmonica the same tab is G A B, so the tune simply sounds in G.
This is why tab is so popular: you can play along with a song in A by picking up an A harmonica and reading the same tab. Most beginner tab, including all of Classfern’s song pages, is written for a C harmonica.
How do you know how long to play each note in tab?
Plain harmonica tab does not show rhythm. To get the timing right, learn tunes you already know, play along with a recording, or use tab written under the words or under a stave of music, where each note’s length is shown.
Classfern’s harmonica play-along shows the tab on falling notes with the real rhythm, and wait mode stops until you play the right hole. Start with easy harmonica songs such as Hot Cross Buns, which uses only +5, −4 and +4.
Quick quiz: reading harmonica tab
Marked by Classfern 5 multiple-choice questions on the Classfern lesson engine. Your answers stay on this device.
Classfern’s free harmonica guides on lessonplanner.info also include the harmonica chord chart, harmonica song tutorials and how to clean a harmonica. Classfern is not connected with or endorsed by any harmonica maker.
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