Ways to learn Diatonic and Chromatic harmonica

1.The easiest way to learn any musical instrument is to listen to a tune and at the same time playing it. Presupposition is to know handling all the 12 keys of the western music plus modes by just one harmonica, or having all the available or at least the most used keys.

2.Another easy way is to find YouTube videos playing songs on a key same as that of your harmonica.

3.Another easy way is to download tunes in midi files and by using software like the MIDINOTATE one (this is what I have been using for learning guitar and harmonica). This software can load any midi file (written on any key) and in short time we transpose it to the desired key.

4.A helpful tip is using, from the beginning of learning, Ready Drums Beats to accompany the tunes played on any harmonica key. Such Ready mp3 beats I have uploaded in the address:
Harmonica]Harmonica.
In the future it is better to miss some notes than miss the rhythm of the tune. (I have implemented these beats isolating the drums from tunes by the software Magic Editor.)

5.Another way is using tablature, those non-standard systems that use:
Numbers, underlined numbers, arrows, minus and plus signs, colors, etc.
I myself avoid tablatures because I believe it is a fake advertisement of private musical schools. This type of notation is much more difficult to read, especially when speed is involved. But in spite of these disadvantages many adopt them.I would only recommend tabs when learning slow pieces or short Blues Licks-Riffs.

6.Harmonica tab has a number of draw backs, such as the lack of timing and there is no, up to now, a standard and other musicians will never understand harmonica tab or might have never heard about it before ( Me I heard about harp tabs 10 months ago I started harmonica).
I believe having the melody in your mind and especially knowing to whistle it you’ll for sure play it after some practice.

7.I recommend reading standard notation as opposed to the hopelessly limited amount of music in tab form.

8.But tablature combined with standard notation would probably be the ideal for written harmonica music.

9.So if the standard notation isn’t understood by someone who has not dealt with it, it can become extremely helpful for him, by standard notation and tablature at the same time.

10.I found on Internet the address : http://www.harpingmidi.com/]Harping Midi Player Home Page a software on which you can load any MIDI file and the same time it plays it presents Diatonic or Chromatic harmonica tab respectively. If anybody has used or will use it let us know if it is true or fake.


Greetings from Syros – Greece
Stefanos