What Key Harmonica for the Blues? The only 6 keys you really need

Hello, this week's lesson is all about what keys of harmonica are useful for the blues and how to know what key you are playing in 2nd position. The harps you need for most blues are - A, Bb, C, D, F and G
Click here to get the positions chart and the rest of the lesson - wp.me/p5rtj9-Yk
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TIMESTAMPS
0:08 What Key Harmonica for the Blues?
0:56 6 Harmonicas You Really Need
3:58 Chart of all Harmonicas Keys and Position
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[@TomlinHarmonica]

✏ Get your FREE harmonica tab PDF and audio clips here 👉 foxly.link/b1gXth

[@nerenahd]

Man, this dude has everything I need about harmonica on his channel. I don't even bother going to others anymore. Great Tomlin.

[@TomlinHarmonica]

+Nerenahd Dhaneren thank you so much for your kind words!

[@FernandoLima42]

Nerenahd Dhaneren Same here!!!

[@RelativeConnor]

Same here

[@lilidivita6345]

Yes, he does.

[@dovlandzbaum5036]

Just watched this again because, even though I've been playing for 11 years, I enjoy your instructional vids so much, even the ones for beginners! One thing, though -- and if you've mentioned this somewhere else, I apologize -- when you want to jam with a band or even play with them on a well-known song, what you need to do is the opposite of what you talk about here: You have to ask them what key they're playing in and then count up four to find which harp you need. (Band key A = D harp, band key C = F harp, and so on.) I hope that helps someone; it still helps me!

[@GeoffsPhilsInfo]

Thanks Dov, for your information, Tomlin is great, but we are all learning, even makers Hohner in the early years put the wrong key stamp on one of their dual mouth piece (2 keys) harps, so I hear. and I heard on a different youtube channel a guy said there are three names for a Diatronic, also called Blues, and also called a Crossover! so much to learn.

[@pselden2103]

Good point - I label mine so the labels say what you just described. A white label with black letters works for me to find the right harmonica in the dark.

[@citizen2364]

1:21 deeper harmonica. A harmonica. You can Play with E key in 2nd position 1:55 higher harmonica. D harmonica. You can play with key of A in 2nd position

[@Sean-ng4eu]

Thanks buddy that's cleared that up so using a C diatonic harmonica to play with guitar in G in second position D-A A-E Bb-F G-D

[@sk22ng]

I only use sets of seven for the most part with harmonicas in the minor keys, lows, and a D flat on standby. number seven is the key of E to round out a set for all around playing. I spent thousands of dollars on harmonicas not including the investment in amps, mics, pedals and so on and never played or owned one in B major.

[@lilidivita6345]

Thank you so much for your lessons. They are brilliant. You are a music saint for harmonica beginners. I’m so grateful.

[@sunnyscott4876]

I will Never, Ever play with a band or a guitarist .....so other than liking the different sounds of the keys it doesn't really matter what key I choose, no ? I'm a 70 year old lady and I play just to learn something new and entertaining. I practice in my apartment, in the park and in my car . I started on a C Special 20. I just wanted to sound halfway decent. Am I right ?

[@TomlinHarmonica]

Hi Sunny, If you are only ever playing by yourself then you will never need to worry about the key. That said if, for example, you are learning a famous song and you want to check if you are playing it correctly it will be much easier to do so if you are playing in the same key as the original. Hope that helps. Best wishes, Tomlin

[@pauldavies9360]

it's fun to play along to backing tracks on KZbin too so you may want more than 1 harp

[@dumperdan3446]

Sunny Scott hell yeah my c is a special 20. My lows are crossovers and highs are specials!

[@b.j.thomas3264]

Sunny. I am the same way with playing alone (I've played drums 48 years and know a lot of guitar chords but am not much of an actual player). No musical friends or a band. I will be playing with a number of different key blues jam tracks so that will require different key harmonicas. If not for that reason I would want various keys for the sound. I don't like the C sound at all. I love he G tone. That is the real deal for me. Good luck! I'm still a primitive dabbler but some people think it sounds good. Not sure why.

[@Nastyveer]

Tomlin I've been playing harmonica for 7 months and I learned it on KZbin. Sometimes it's hard to play around as I don't have any music knowledge. Is it necessary to learn music theory or learn piano or guitar for basic understanding of it......... please let me know & thank you for all the wonderful lessons you have been posting ✌️

[@TomlinHarmonica]

+Harjodveer Singh Sandhu hello Harjodveer - it is definitely helpful to learn music theory but that doesn't mean you need to learn guitar or piano. I add theory into my lessons so you will pick it up as you go through.

[@kadijaish]

I ordered my first harmonica Hohner Big River in A tuning. Let's see how that goes I will subscribe to your channel now and start learning

[@kenpoulson]

Thanks Tomlin

[@thomaspick4123]

For second position, called cross harp, for the blues. Remember, guitarists like to play the blues in the keys of A and E. If playing with a piano player, they like to play in the keys of: C, F, and G. As the Brit says in his video, buy those harmonicas to be used for those keys. I like a Hohner harmonica with a plastic comb. I do not like a Marine Band, which has a wood comb. As the wood comb swells due to water absorption, it sticks out. This will shred the skin of your lips to pieces and hurt. Plastic combs do not swell and your lips glide over the plastic easily.

[@shwasywasy]

Went into the store and asked for a beginner harmonica and the guy has given me an E harmonica. GREAT

[@bruceboom7378]

im sure you can have lots of fun with it. find some songs in the key of B and play along!

[@cortcorletti4658]

Thank you so much!!!

[@d_walsh]

I'm gonna need to watch this a few times. Ive only had a C harp. And I want a lower note harp. So an "A" and a G ?

[@ROCKINGMAN]

My mouth organ is in E, the very one you don't talk about. Seems to work if the key is in B. It's a Lee Oskar harmonica, very resonant and great tone, better than others I've got.

[@roscius6204]

B major or minor? and is it an E minor harmonica?

[@ROCKINGMAN]

@@roscius6204 It states 'E Major Diatonic'. Can you tell about this one? Thanks.

[@roscius6204]

@@ROCKINGMAN So it seems given E maj and B maj have the same notes apart from the A your playing E maj with a flat 7th.

[@ROCKINGMAN]

@@roscius6204 I see, thanks for reply.

[@MegaBoomer666]

Thanks for the nice video and the table I myself play the most A, Bb, C and G major greetings from Germany

[@TomlinHarmonica]

Excellent selection! :-)

[@MelodiousEntertainer]

Those 4 are the only ones I have in my collection too. :)

[@davidarchibald3755]

Thanks

[@davidgagnon3781]

It's good to know what key your harp will play in second position. But wouldn't it be more useful for the student to know that if the guitar player says "I'm playing in E," to count up FOUR to know which harp to grab?

[@TomlinHarmonica]

Hi David, that’s a really good point; thanks for sharing :-)

[@d-ro3266]

Scott G 2nd position is a group of notes that sound good together. Positions all have a root note, and that’s what determines the position. So if you are playing blues in the key of A, you would need a D harp because the sounds work together. The root of second position on a D harp will sound very natural with a song(especially blues) in the key of A

[@distortzz]

Thanks man!

[@clarkewi]

Little Walter often used an E harmonica to play in third position with Muddy Waters. Some amazing recordings. So don't for get E harmonica.

[@TomlinHarmonica]

+clarkewi That’s a good bonus key no doubt. I didn’t know that Little Walter used it so much - thanks for the info :-)

[@NostalgiaDigital]

thank you! just about to receive my first A harmonica, cant wait 😊

[@user-sg5dr6dg7s]

Hi Tomlin, thank you for the amazing educational videos! I just got a beautiful C minor hohner harmonica as a Christmas gift and I have been trying to find out what songs would sound best on it. Till now I have been practicing on a C major harmonica. Let me know if you have any ideas.

[@raynavarrette5025]

Or you could get a 16 hole Chromatic which only comes is C and has all the keys in one harp but has a different sound for Blues. William Clarke sounded pretty close to a Diatonic on some of his Chromatic Blues songs.

[@TomlinHarmonica]

You totally could - I wish I could play chromatic convincingly....

[@georgevalente4223]

Then a harmonica that is easy to overblow...not a Lee Oskar ...but I like the plastic combs on the Lee Oskar.

[@mediaman46]

Lee Oscars list the 2nd position on their harps with the the 1st postion, that can help for the cross harp players

[@diegoespana225]

hey Tomlin, I know it's an old video but I hope you get to see this message or someone else can help answer my question. Is an A harmonica tougher to bend than a C? I'm trying to figure out whether to get an A or a D (I own a C harmonica). Great video as always, thanks.

[@gypsyosborne3211]

D

[@gypsyosborne3211]

Get d.promise

[@Doctor.T.46]

Really well explained Tomlin, it's really clear now. Many thanks.

[@notanotherguitarchannel]

When people ask why they need to learn music theory, this is why. Choosing the correct harmonica for a particular song. That's it.

[@roscius6204]

Keys come in minor, major and so on and so on. I'm a guitarist who's doing the research for a harmonica owning friend who never knows which key to pick up.🙄 where can I find a simple list for this? I understand that there is variable feel available around the 'position' but 2 or 3 options for any given key would be great. Lets say Bm 1 4 5.

[@oldchick]

My kid wants a harmonica that sounds like Midnight Rambler. Which one should I get?

[@spyralspyder]

I got A, D, Bb, C and G... Just need an F.... I think we ran into that problem and I played in 1st or 3rd on a song..... I need to take notes.

[@fabermcmullen1]

Do blues harmonicas have their own scale that different from a normal harmonica?

[@andrewbeattieRAB]

FYI, I write on the bottom of each harmonica case the date I bought it and the second position information: for example, on my C harmonica case, I wrote G C D.

[@jameshusmann1947]

Is a dB and C key the same in a country tuned harmonica

[@MrChegcelestialslides]

Sorry I missed the bit where you tell me what harp to use when playing in open g, please..

[@kartikmann_]

Wouldn't that be Key of C, crossnote?

[@MrChegcelestialslides]

@@kartikmann_ yes sir c

[@waynepetrevan]

OH NO!!!! my first harmonica was a G....so..now I'm lost..aw shucks

[@elainegoliszeski276]

Thank you. Great advice.

[@ricardocastillo5485]

I acknowledge I am ignorant and my questions are stupid and obvious to everyone else. However, when you are talking about C harmonica to play in G, or D to play in A, or whatever...you always mean major and not minor key, correct?

[@d-ro3266]

Ricardo Castillo for second position, yes. Srry for the late response lol

[@raymondmenz522]

1 C 2 A 3 D 4 Bflat 5 G 6 F.

[@b.j.thomas8606]

I just bought a Special 20 set & B Flat (late Christmas-early Bday) and i see that I didn't get an F. Is it important enough that I should order one now? (I am not much above beginner and jam alone Porch Style Blues and Jam Tracks). Don't play with others I just love other sounds besides the C! (My S20's are C-G-D-A-E-B Flat

[@nickjimenez4262]

So if i am playing a song on the guitar say in A minor what harmonica do i use?

[@mrtambourineman6107]

What about Dylan/Neil Young stuff??

[@jeffreybrenman1581]

Hi Tomlin - I am a beginner player and just discovered your channel and website. The printed chart you have on the link is confusing to me. You label the "harmonica key" as 2nd position and say you have to count up 5 keys to get to the song key. which is what the chart indicates. But I have a C harmonica (1st postion) that is labeled G (2nd position). Isn't the key you're calling the "song key" actually the 2nd position key on the harmonica? So to play a song in 2nd postion key of G, I'd pick up a C harmonica? Isn;t that correct?

[@quikjip]

Like you I'm only a beginner, but I played the piano for 30+ years and your claim makes fully sense.

[@andrewsokolsky2497]

Please explain why I wouldn't get a G harmonica instead of playing in second position on a C harmonica. Thank you!

[@TomlinHarmonica]

Hi Andrew, that is a great question. The quick and dirty answer is that the notes are laid out in an advantageous way to play in 2nd position. This is especially true for Blues music as you easily have access to the important Blues notes (b3, b5 and b7) which are not very easy to play in 1st postion (all overblows in the middle octave).

[@andrewsokolsky2497]

@@TomlinHarmonica Thanks for the prompt and clear explanation. If there are other reasons, please let me know when your time allows.

[@sklarlosangeles]

What harp would you use to play in Bflat with a piano player.

[@TomlinHarmonica]

+robert sklar hi Robert I would usually use an Eb I'm 2nd position or a an Ab in 3rd position

[@sklarlosangeles]

+Tomlin Leckie Thank you. And please don't forget us piano players. We like to play in F and B flat!!!!

[@jd56sierra]

David Bowie, Cracked Actor live at the Hammersmith Odeon '73. Is his harp in the key of A?

[@Myth337]

I'm sure you know what you're talking about but why you didn't mention an E harp? Does nobody play blues in the key of B? Love the videos, dude. Keep on chugging ;)

[@TomlinHarmonica]

+Myth337 some people play in B but it is not a super common key. These are just keys that will prepare you for the majority of situations

[@jmalinh2o]

I’m a little confused on what key harmonica to use with a song. Why can’t I just use a key of C harp to play along with a song that’s in that key? Why would I need to use a key of F harp to play a C in second position?..

[@prodoverjeff2876]

Once playing a wedding reception for my bass player, I was constantly disappointed because I WAS OUT OF TUNE!! I kept compensating picking up different harps. At the end of the set, THE FLAT TUNE LIGHT WAS ON!!! Lesson learned, trust no one, carry lots of extra harps.

[@1LightLoveness]

❤

[@BickSnarf]

This is a really random question but my harmonica doesnt sound bluesy it sounds like happy or formal and i have nfi why that is. Is it just the key the harmonica is in or am i missing something else

[@santer1]

what harmonica for minor blues? if the guitar is in e minor, what key harmonica do i use as crossharp?

[@bruceboom7378]

there are harps in minor, some ppl really like them, they are rarer, ive never tried them but they exist

[@jhoanmateus4298]

Hi. i have a question, i want to buy an harmonica bute I need a recommendation between Suzuki pro master m350 and hohner special 20 (it's for play Blues). (sorry, my English is so poor).

[@TomlinHarmonica]

+JHOAN MATEUS hi Jhoan, are you a beginner or a bit more experienced? Have you played any Suzukis before? I personally really like the feel of a Suzuki but the Hohner is also awesome.

[@jhoanmateus4298]

Tomlin Leckie hi, yes, i'm a benninger and never play with a Suzuki. I have a hohner blues band but is not good for play. I need an harmonica for "medium level".

[@billykid5076]

Honner special 20 all key's are easy to play Hohner 20 more openings so so it's easier to to play and louder l that's my. Suggestion.

[@seanmshields]

The song is in Gm. It’s the relative minor to Bb so it is the same 7 notes. Does that mean I would need an Eb for a Bb second position? Is that the right key to buy for Bb song?

[@czarcastic1458]

YES

[@narlexservomedifoundatio7335]

please help!!!!! what are the keys of music and how can one play in key of 'A' on 'D' Harmonica...???????

[@TomlinHarmonica]

+narlex pack all music is played in a key and it is important that you play in the same key as the music otherwise it will sound strange. For blues harmonica we tend to play in 2nd position for blues which means you are playing in a different key to the key of the harmonica.

[@drtone]

except ur SOL if guitarist/bassist/singer is tuned to Eflat

[@urwholefamilydied]

Wow... this is so counterintuitive as a guitarist. If I were playing in the key of A as a guitarist, I'd play the pentatonic in C (same as Am)... but you're saying if I was playing harmonica in A... i'd get a D harmonica?? Always a 4th away? Can anyone explain this phenomenon? I would never as a guitarist think about soloing a 4th from the key I was in. It would always be the key, or the minor equivalent (a 6th away).

[@iscurzer4175]

D maj has the same notes as A minor, so yeah, blues in guitar is minor, but the harmonica is in major.

[@urwholefamilydied]

@@iscurzer4175 No it doesn't. The key of D is D major, or it's relative minor B minor. A minor is the same notes as C major.

[@LuvBlues64]

Thanks for this Tomlin,very informative.I have all of those keys appart from the F,it is too high for my liking.I'm thinking about getting a low F,or maybe one of the hohner or Seydel harps with more holes like the Steve Baker Special.Are these worth getting and can you play along to music in standard C with them? I'm sorry if this is a daft question.

[@TomlinHarmonica]

I agree with you about the F being really high. I used to hate them but as soon as you play with a band they sound awesome. They cut through :-) I've not tried any of the extended harps - would be intrigued to hear you thoughts when you get one. Drop me an email [e-mail]

[@ziggy6313]

Lee Oscar or Seydel session steels are amazing and worth it for the price with stainless steel reeds for longer life.

[@TomlinHarmonica]

+Karen Henkels excellent info Karen - thanks for sharing :-)

[@ziggy6313]

Thanks Tom I just received my new Lee Oskar Natural Minor Am. I like it's sounds and I'm enjoying learning its charms. I also have a Major diatonic C. A Seydel summer session steel in G and another summer steel in D. I can't seem to find the one I can play along with popular songs. As I am a beginner. But its fun having a variety.

[@olrailbird]

I figure this the other way round, as I need to know which harmonica to pick up for whatever key the band is in. Count up FOUR, starting with the key the band claims to be using -- if they say C, you count C-D-E-F. Pick pick up your F harp. If they say F, count F-G-A-Bb. D goes D-E-F-G. E is E-F-G-A. G is G-A-Bb-C. If the key is A, then A-B-C-D. Let's say the tune is Bb - then Bb-C-D-Eb. Lol! Yes, it's a little weird. Eb (think Stevie Ray Vaughn) is Eb-F-G-Ab. The band doesn't care which harp you're holding -- you need to hold the harp in the band's key.

[@TomlinHarmonica]

This is also a really good thing to know - thanks for sharing :-)

[@jerryvan6153]

OK I stumbled upon this informative video that is almost what i was looking for. It may exist and i may not have found it. Anyway. I still think of myself as a beginner even after plt of hours of loay over the years and I have 2 harps C and A. I am starting to pick up on 3-4 positions. Now the meat of the question. If i am wanting to play along with blues tune Suppose it is in Am, does it take much work to get a good sound out of the C harp by trying to exploit playing the "relative key" is it a waste of time or something worth the effort?

[@TomlinHarmonica]

Hi Jerry, I wouldn't recommend playing the relative minor of the harp key because your root note is a 3 draw whole step bend which needs to be absolutely spot on to work.

[@jerryvan6153]

I may have found a very tasty exception to the rule. Grab your C harp and play along with Artie Shaw's 'Nightmare'

[@jbro1166]

So if the band are playing the chords A D and E, only them - what harmonica do you play.? I would have thought Harminica A….

[@ricardoa5626]

Hi Tomlin, do you think a Chromatic harmonica (hohner chromonika 270 12 holes ) is recommend to play blues ?? or other chromatic model, like the chromonika 260 (10 holes), the reason is because I alreday have 1 special 20 in "A" an 1 Marine Band 1896 in "C" and I dont like them at all for blues, (mainly the problem is they are very short in tones scales), do you think a Hohner Cromatic is recommended for blues (regarding bending tones) ??? Thanks for the excellent content videos Nerenahd Dhaneren

[@TomlinHarmonica]

Hi Nerenahd - that is a great question. Traditionally a 10 hole diatonic is the most common instrument used for Blues. The chromatic harmonica is sometimes used to play 3rd position (D minor) blues and that sounds pretty cool too . Here is a great lesson from Jason Ricci on this subject - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGmZYYqop9eFg68

[@tylerdurden1734]

But I've got 7 spaces in my new harmonica case!! Lol

[@pjo1964]

So add E then and you'll have the common 7 harp set.

[@bewimotos]

dang i just bought mine in key of D.. there where no keys of c :(

[@TomlinHarmonica]

I'm sorry to hear that willy but you will also find the D useful :-)

[@dropstandup5943]

If I have an A key harmonica that means that the guitar player can play in E. But you said in "second position" and I don't understand what does that means :/

[@dropstandup5943]

I just found your video about positions :D thanks anyway

[@skudlugs]

so you do not play along to a C backing track with a C harp?

[@Krizrax]

No, not if you use second position. A C harp in second position plays in G. Tomlin has a vid explaining about second position somewhere on the channel.

[@myemail4142]

Yes its ok counting up from the harmonica you have to hand, but in reality YOU will be finding the right harmonica to play with the band, NOT you telling the band what key to play in! So really you need to count DOWN from what key the band is in.

[@PrabhatSharma123]

"or if you had a weird guitarist in your band" tht made me laugh so damn hard

[@duaneberry3298]

Someone like Robert Fripp.

[@LarryShone]

Why do we need to play in second position? If you have to play in D then why not play a D harmonica?

[@pauldavies9360]

it's to do with the way the harp is set up. its going to sound more bluesy and way easier to bend in 2nd pos.

[@ivanprskalo9415]

I'm a weird guitarist haha. 0:43

[@TomlinHarmonica]

Lol - that's ok :-)

[@ivanprskalo9415]

I am I think and advanced beginner and I was wondering, could modes be played on the harmonica.

[@mehulshah1451]

What keys are needed to play Indian music.

[@mikeelek9713]

When you said, "How am I going to remember all of these keys?," I had to laugh, because I was thinking that exact thing at that very moment.

[@tommorrisey3999]

Now ... how many different wristwatches do you need? 😂

[@finklloyd1809]

oh man.. while watching this i only wanna press on that pimple on your nose.. but good vid!!

[@vickybernier5098]

I need help with ´all I want is you’ tabs on harmonica

[@MrSYL12]

Hello threre I play kind of Pop Rock Reggae Ballads RocknRoll. Plz tell me what Harmonicas shud I go for, I right now have Fender, Yonberg, Suzuki, SP20, Golden Melody, CX12 Chromatic Jazz, Lee Oscar. Manji in the key of A B C D E F Lf Bb F# Aminor Cminor. Your help wud be very much appreciated.

[@vikitheviki]

I have a weird guitarist hahaha

[@TomlinHarmonica]

+kaxitaksi lol, I know what that is like :-)

[@klaus-peterscheucher6118]

I know a weird one too!))))

[@Bigbuddyandblue]

Ah! So the harp key to use is the 4 of the guitar 1-4-5 key

[@tonyglover11]

What a pity Farage comes up in the ad before the video. Very off putting.

[@ayoubhaddioui9769]

But I don't care about any guitarist at the back. All I care about is myself singing and my vocal cords, so I got C, D, E major which means G, A, B in 2nd position. Got the same keys for natural minor harps, Am harmonic, and G, A for 1st position. That's what I'm comfortable with. Fellows, think about your throat first if you sing too, but if you don't then C, D, E are enough for you; the most used ones.

[@sunnyscott4876]

What do you need if you are never going to be playing with a guitarist ?

[@TomlinHarmonica]

What I said in the video Sunny ;-)

[@jessegaronband]

Most blues bands play in flatted keys. Any harp player worth their salt owns a harp in every key for every situation!

[@dovlandzbaum5036]

It's always good to have more harps, but the most common blues key is E, I believe, not E flat.

[@herbertwells8757]

This is either a video for three-year-olds or microcephalic adults. In any case, If you’ve got a sax in your group, you’re very likely to find yourself playing in flat keys. For that matter, anyone who can’t or won’t play in all twelve keys has no busines calling himself a musician.

[@DP-hw9uq]

Solution is: get rid of the guitarist!😂

[@bianhaaa]

stop look like angry

[@kelvinsmith6854]

Nobody plays blues in the key of F

[@bazindy1551]

FACT CHECK : There are actually 30 keys ... (not 12)

[@odinnhrafnsson6267]

Hahaha weird guitarist

[@pauleliot6429]

NO offense brother but most of us players sound very similiar. Not a good thing. We must find our voice.

[@lilidivita6345]

Thank you so much for your lessons. They are brilliant. You are a music saint for harmonica beginners. I’m so grateful.