Harmonica Tabs in 3rd Position: All Levels of "Slant Harp" Tablature
- Liam Ward
- 3 days ago
- 13 min read
Each harmonica evokes a different feeling or atmosphere. If 2nd position is the classic blues sound of the harmonica then 3rd position is its darker, moodier cousin.
In this lesson I'll teach you what 3rd position actually means and give you loads of free harmonica tabs to get you playing in 3rd position right away.
What Is 3rd Position on Harmonica?
3rd position means playing in a key that is a whole step above the harmonica's labelled key.
For example:
Harmonica Key | 3rd Position Key |
C | D |
A | B |
G | A |
D | E |
This position is most commonly used for minor key songs, because the notes it makes available are very close to the minor scale. So if a song is in D minor, many players would choose a C harmonica and play it in 3rd position. This immediately gives you access to scales and note layouts that work beautifully for minor blues and modal music.
To learn more about positions, check out my Free Positions Guide
Why Is 3rd Position So Popular?
For many harmonica players, discovering 3rd position feels like unlocking an entirely new instrument. 3rd position has a completely different emotional quality. It's powerful, expressive and incredibly popular in blues, minor key music, jazz, rock and funk music.
Where 2nd position often sounds raw and aggressive, 3rd position tends to sound darker, smoother and more mysterious.
That's why so many modern blues and jazz harmonica players use it. Players like Howard Levy, Carlos del Junco and Jason Ricci have all used 3rd position to create incredibly expressive modern harmonica sounds.
The Most Important Thing About 3rd Position
In 3rd position, the central root note is one of the following:
1 draw
4 draw
8 draw
This is one of the biggest differences compared to 2nd position. These notes will suddenly feel like "home". Once your ears adjust to that tonal centre, the entire harmonica layout starts making more sense.
Why Harmonica Tabs Help in 3rd Position
3rd position can initially feel disorientating because the note relationships are different from standard blues harp playing.
Tabs help simplify the process by showing you where the melody notes are. They allow you to quickly internalise sounds that would otherwise take much longer to map out by ear.
Over time, those patterns stop feeling random and start becoming musical vocabulary.
Harmonica Tabs in 3rd Position:
What follows is a great collection of tabs to play in 3rd position. I've arranged them into levels, from beginner to advanced.
NOTE ON KEYS: I have included information on which key harmonica you will need to play along to the original song, but you can follow these tabs on any key of harmonica if you are playing unaccompanied.
Beginner 3rd Position Tabs (Mainly Easy Single Notes)
A Horse With No Name by America
Key: Em (D harp in 3rd position)
6 6 -6 -6 -6 6 -6 -6
On the first part of the journey
6 6 -6 -6 6 -6 6 -6
I was looking at all the life
6 6 -6 6 -6 6 -6 -6 -6
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
-6 6 -6 6 -6 6 -6
There was sand and hills and rings
6 -6 -6 6 -6 -6 6 -6 -6 6 -6
The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
-6 6 -6 -6 6 -6
And the sky with no clouds
6 -6 6 -6 -6 6 -6 6 -6
The heat was hot and the ground was dry
-6 6 -6 6 -6 6 -6
But the air was full of sound
6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 6 5 5 5
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
5 6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 6 5
It felt good to be out of the ra-in
6 6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 6 5 5 5
In the desert you can remember your name
6 6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 6 5 5 5
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
-6 7 7 -7 -6 6 6
5 6 -6 7 6
-6 7 7 -7 -6 6 6
5 6 -6 7 6
Feeling Good by Nina Simone
Key: Gm (F harp in 3rd position)
-4 -5 6 -6 -6 -4 -5 6 -6
Birds flyin' high, you know how I feel
-4 -5 6 -6 -8 -8 7 -6 6 -6
Sun in the sky-y, you know how I feel
-8 7 -6 6 -5 -4 -4 -5 6 -6 -5 -4
Breeze driftin' on by-y you know how I fe-el
-4 -4 -5 6 -5 -5 6 -6 -6 6 -6 7 -8 -6 6 -4 6 (-6)
It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new li-fe fo – o - r me
-4 -4 6 -5 -4 -4
And I'm fee-ee-lin' good
-4 -5 6 -6 -6 -4 -5 6 -6
Fish in the sea, you know how I feel
-4 -5 6 -6 -8 -8 7 -6 6 -6
River runnin' free, you know how I feel
-8 7 -8 7 -6 6 -5 6 6 6 6 -6 -5 -4
Blossom on the tree-ee-ee-ee, you know how I fee-eel
-4 -4 -5 6 -5 -5 6 -6 -6 6 -6 7 -8 -6 6 -4 6 (-6)
It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new li-fe fo – o - r me
-4 -4 6 -5 -4 -4
And I'm fee-ee-lin' good
-4 5 -5 6 -6 7 7 -8 7 -6 6 -6 -6 6 -6
Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean, don't you know
-4 5 -5 6 -6 7 7 (-8) -8 -8 -8 -8 -6
Butterflies all havin' fu-un, you know what I mean
-8 7 -8 7 -6 6 -4 -6 -4 6 -5 -4
Sleep in peace when day is done: that's what I me-an
4 4 -4 -5 -4 -4 -5 6 -5 6 -6 -6 -6-->-6/-->-4 -5 -4
And this old world is a new world and a bold world fo – o - or me-e
-4 -5 6 -6 -6 -4 -5 6 -6
Stars when you shine, you know how I feel
-4 -5 6 -6 -8 -8 7 -6 6 -6
Scent of the pi-ine, you know how I feel
-8 -9 -9 -8 -8 -9 -8 -9 -8 -6 6 -5 -4 -5 -6
Oh freedom is mi-ine, and I know how I fee-ee-ee-eel
-4 -4 -5 6 -5 -5 6 -6 -6 6 -6 7 -8 -6 6 -4 6
It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new li-ife fo-o-or me
-4 -4 6 -5 -4 -4
And I'm feeling good
Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles
Key: Dm (C harp in 3rd position)
-6 -5 6 -5 -4 -4 -4 -5 -5 6 6
Hit the ro-o-oad Jack, and don't you come back
-5 -6 -6 -8 -8 -9 -9 -8
No more, no more, no more, no more
-6 -5 6 -5 -4 -4 -4 -5 -5 6 6 -4 -4
Hit the ro-o-oad Jack, and don't you come back no more
House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals
Key: Am (G harp in 3rd position)
Note: you can miss out the bend if you can't play it.
-4 -4 5 -5 -6 6 -4 -4
There is a house in New Orleans
-8 -8 -8 7 -6 (6) -6
They call the Rising Sun
-8 -8 -8 5 -5 -5 -6 6 -4 -4 -4
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
-4 -4 -4 4 (-3//) -4 -4
And God, I know I'm one
-8 -8 -8 7 -6 6 -4
My mother was a tailor
-8 -8 7 -6 -6
Sewed my new blue jeans
-8 -8 -8 7 -6 6 -4 -5
My father was a gamblin' man
-4 -4 4 (-3//) -4 -4
Down in New Orleans
Mary Jane's Last Dance by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Key: Am (G harp in 3rd position)
Note: the original record is slightly out of tune (somewhere between A and Bb).
Solos:
00:35:
-6 6 -5 5 -4
-6 6 -5 5 -5 5 -4 (-4/->) -4
01:32:
-5 5 -4 4 -5 5 -4 (-4/->) -4
-5 5 -4 4 (-4->)-5 5 -4 4 -4
03:36:
-5 5 -4 4 -5 5 -4 -4/-> -4
-5 5 -4 4 -5 5 -4 4 -4
-6 6 -6 6 -5 6 -5
-6 6 -5 5 -4 5 -4
Poor Wayfaring Stranger (Traditional)
Key: Dm (C harp in 3rd position)
-4 -4 -6 -6 6 -6 6 -5 -4
I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger
-4 -6 6 -5 6 -6 -6
Trav’ling through this world of woe
-4 -5 -6 -6 -6 -6 6 -5 -4
There is no sickness, toil nor danger
-4 -5 -6 6 -5 -4 4 -4
In that bright land to which I go
-6 -6 7 -8 7 -8 7 -6 7
I'm going home to see my Father
-6 -6 7 -8 7 -6 6 -6
I’m going home no more to roam
-4 -6 -6 -6 -6 6 -5 -4
I'm just going over Jordan
-4 -6 6 -5 -4 4 -4
I'm just going over home
Scarborough Fair (Traditional)
Key: D Dorian (C harp in 3rd position)
Note: this is the Dorian mode, i.e. the minor scale with a raised sixth
-4 -4 -6 -6 -6 5 -5 5 -4
Are you going to Scarborough fair?
-6 7 -8 7 -6 -7 6 -6
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
-8 -8 -8 7 -6 -6 6 -5 5 4
Remember me to one who lives the-re
-4 -6 6 -5 5 -4 4 -4
She once was a true love of mine
St. James Infirmary by Louis Armstrong
Key: Dm (C harp in 3rd position)
-4 -5 -6 -6 -5 6 -6 -5 -4
I went down to St. James infirmary
-4 -5 -6 -6 -8 7 -6
And I saw my baby there
-4 -5 -6 -6 -6 -5 6 -6 -5 -4
She was stretched out on a long white table
-4 -5 -4 -6 -5 5 -4
So sweet, so cool, and so fair
The Exorcist Theme (Tubular Bells) by Mike Oldfield
Key: Am (G harp in 3rd position)
Main theme:
-4 5 4 -4 -5 6 5 -5 5
The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel
Key: Ebm (Db harp in 3rd position)
-4 -4 -5 -5 -6 -6 6
Hello darkness my old friend
4 4 4 5 5 6 6 -5
I've come to talk with you again
-5 -5 -5 -6 -6 7 7 -8 -8 7
Because a vision soft-l-y creeping
-5 -5 -6 -6 7 7 -8 -8 7
Left its seeds while I wa-as sleeping
-5 -5 -8 -8 -8 8 -9 -9 8 -8 7
And the vision that was planted in my brain
-8 7 -6
Still remains
-5 -5 -5 7 5 -5 -4
Within the sound of silence
The X Files TV Theme
Key: Am (G harp in 3rd position)
-4 -6 6 -6 7 -6
-4 -6 6 -6 -8 -6
-9 8 -8 7 -8 -6
-9 8 -8 7 8 -6
-4 -6 6 -6 7 -6
-4 -6 6 -6 -8 -6
-8 -6
Intermediate 3rd Position Tabs (Some Bends)
Apache by The Shadows
Key: A (G harmonica in 3rd position)
-4 -5 -6/ -> -6 6
-4 -5 -8 7 -6
-4 -5 -6/ -> -6 6
-4 -5 -8 7 -6
-6 -8 -6 -8 -7 -6 6 -6
-6 -8 -6 -8 -7 -6 6 -6
-4 6 -4 6 5 -4 4 -4
-6 -8 -6 -8 -7 -6 6 -6
-2// -3/ -3/ -3/ -3/
-2// -3/ -3/ -3/ -3/
-2// -3/ -3/ -3/ -3/
-2// -3/ -3/ -3/ -3/
-3// -1
-2// -3/ -3/ -3/ -3/
-2// -3/ -3/ -3/ -3/
-2// -3/ -3/ -3/ -3/
-2// -3/ -3/ -3/ -3/
-3//
-3/ -4 -5 5 -5 6 -6 6 -5 -4
-3/ -4 -5 5 -5 6 4
-3/ -4 -5 5 -5 6 -6 6 -5 -4
El Cóndor Pasa (If I Could) by Simon & Garfunkel
Key: Em (D harp in 3rd position)
-3// -4 -4/ -4 5 -5 5 -5 6 -6
I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail
-8 7 -6
Yes, I would
-8 7 -6
If I could
-6 6 -5 6 -5 -4
I surely wou-ou-ld
-3// -4 -4/ -4 5 -5 5 -5 6 -6 6 -5
I'd rather be a hammer than a nai-ai-ail
-8 7 -6
Yes, I would
-8 7 -8 7 -8 7 -6
If I only could
-6 6 -5 6 -5 -4 -6 6 -5 -4
I surely would, mmmm-mmm-mm-mm
Glory Box by Portishead
Key: Eb minor (C# harp in 3rd position)
Strings intro
-3// -4 -5 -6 -5 6 -4
-2// -2 3 -3// 3 3 -3//
I'm so ti-red of playing
-2 -2// -2 -2// -2 -2// -2 -3//
Playing with this bow and arrow
-2 -2// -2 -2// -2 -3// -3//
Gonna give my heart a-way
-2 -2// -2 -2// -2 -2// -3// (-1) -2 -2//
Leave it to the other g-irls to play
3 -3// -3// -3// -3// -2 -2// -3// -3// -2
For I've been a tempt-tur-ress too lo-ong
-4 -6 6 -5 -6 6 -5 6 -5
Just give me a reason to love you
-6 6 -5 -6 6 -5 6 -6 -5 6 -5 -4
Give me a reason to be-ee a wo-o-man
-5 6 -5 6 -5 6 -5 6 -5 -4
I just so wanna be a wo-o-man
The Pink Panther Theme
Key: Em (D harp in 3rd position)
-1/ -1 2 -2//
-1/ -1 2 -2// -3/ -3// -1 -2// -3// -3/// ---
-2 -2// -1 1 -1 -->-1/
-1/ -1 2 -2//
-1/ -1 2 -2// -3/ -3// -2// -3// -4 -4/
-1/ -1 2 -2//
-1/ -1 2 -2// -3/ -3// -1 -2// -3// -3/// ---
-2 -2// -1 1 -1 -->-1/
-4 4 -3// -2 -2// -1
-3// --> -3/// -3// --> -3/// -3// --> -3/// -3// --> -3///
-2// -1 1 -1 -1 --> -1/
We Will Rock You by Queen
Key: Em (D harp in 3rd position)
4 -4 -4 4 -4
Buddy you're a boy
-4 4 -4 -4 4 -4 -4 4 -4
make a big noise, playin' in the street
-4 4 -4 4 -4 6 -5 -5
gonna be a big man some day
4 -4 -4 -4 4 -4
You got mud on yo' face
4 -4 -4 -4
You big disgrace
4 4 4 4 -3// -2 -2// -1 -1
Kickin' your can all over the place
( 4 -4 ) -5 5 -4 4 -4 -4
(Singin’) we will we will rock you
-5 5 -4 4 -4 -4
We will we will rock you
Advanced 3rd Position Tabs (Lots of Bends and Overblows)
Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs
Key: F (Eb harmonica in 3rd position)
I chord:
-4 -4 -4 -5 6 -5
IV chord:
6 6 6 6* 7 6*
V chord:
-6 -6 -6 7 -8 7
Minnie the Moocher (The Blues Brothers)
Key: Em (D harp in 3rd position)
-1 -2// -3// -2 -2// -2 -3//
-1 -2// -3// -2 -2// -1
-1 -2// -3// -2 -2// -2 -3//
-3// -4 -5 -5 -4 -4 -3/ -3/ -3// -3// -2// 2 -1
-4 -5 -6 6 -5 6 -6
-4 -5 -6 6 -5 -4
-4 -5 -6 6 -5 6 -6
-6 -8 -9 -9 -8 -8 6* 6* -6 -6 -5 5 -4
Overture to Carmen by Georges Bizet
Key: Dm (C harp in 3rd position)
Main theme:
-4 -4 -4 -5 -4 4 4 -3// -3
-4 -4 -4 -5 -4 4 4 -5 6
6 6 6 6* 6 -5 -5 -4 5
6 6 6 6* 6 -5 -5 6* 7
6 6 6 6 -6 6 6* 6 -6 6
6 6 6 6 6*
The Godfather Theme
Key: Cm (Bb harmonica in 3rd position)
-3// -4 -5 5 -4 -5 -4 5 -4 -3/ 4 -3//
-3// -4 -5 5 -4 -5 -4 5 -4 -3/ -3// -2
-2 -3/ -4/ 5 -2 -3/ -4/ -4
-4 -5 7 6* -6 7 6* 6* -6 -6 -4/ -4
-4 -4 -4/ 4 5 -4 -3/ -3//
-3// 4 -3// -2 -2 -3/ -2 -3//
The Oompa Loompa Song (Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory)
Key: Fm (Eb harp in 3rd position)
-6 -4 -6 -4 -6 6 -5 6
Oompa loompa doompety doo
6 -5 5 -6 -6 6 -5 -4 5
I've got a perfect puzzle for you
-6 -4 -6 -4 -6 6 -5 6
Oompa loompa doompety dee
6 -5 5 -6 -6 6 -5 5 -4
If you are wise you'll listen to me
-8 -8 8 -8 -8 8 -9 8 -8 7
What do you get when you guzzle down sweets
-2 -2 -3// -3/ -3// -2 -3// -3/ 4 4
Eating as much as an elephant eats
-4 -4 5 -5 5 -4 4 -3/ -3// -3//
What are you at, getting terribly fat
-3/// 2 -2/ -3/// -3 5 -4/ 5
What do you think will come of that
-6 6* 6 -6 -5 6 5
I don't like the look of it
-6 -4 -6 -4 -6 6 -5 6
Oompa loompa doompety da
6 -5 5 -6 -6 6 -5 -4 5
If you're not greedy, you will go far
-6 -4 -6 -4 -6 6 -5 6
You will live in happiness too
-6 -4 -6 -4 -6 -4 -3// -3 -4/ -4
Like the Oompa Loompa Doompety do
-3// -3 -4/ -4
Doompety do
You Know I'm No Good by Amy Winehouse
Key: Dm (C harp in 3rd position)
-4 5 -5 -5 -4 -4 5 -4 -3/
Meet you downstairs in the bar and hurt
-3// -3// -4/ 5 5 -5 5 -4 -5
Your rolled-up sleeves in your skull t-shirt
-4 -4 -4 5 -5 -5 -4 -4/ -4 5 -4 -3/
You say, "What did you do wi-i-ith him today?"
-3// -3// -4/ 5 5 5 -5 5 -4 -5
And sniffed me out like I was Tanqueray
-4 -4 -4 -4 4 -3/ -4 -4/ -4
'Cause you're my fella, my gu-u-uy
5 5 5 5 -4 4 5
Hand me your Stella and fly
-5 -5 -5 -4 -5 -4 6 -5
By the time I'm out the do-or
-5 5 5 5 5 5 -4 4 5 -4 5
You tear me down like Ro-o-ger Mo-o-re
4 -4 5 4 -4
I cheated myself
4 -4 4* -4 4
Like I knew I would
-3// -5 -5 5 -4 -5 5 4 -3//
I told you I-I was tro-ub-le
-3 -4 -3 -3 -4 -4 4
You kno-ow that I'm no good
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