Key To Tab

DIATONIC HARMONICA

Blow / Draw

• 1B – Hole 1 blow
• 2D – Hole 2 draw

Bends

• 4D’ – Hole 4 first draw bend
• 2B” – 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

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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.