How to play Bruce Springsteen's Best Harmonica Solos - Free Boss Harp Tabs

Jeremy Allen White playing harmonica in the movie Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Hello! To celebrate the release of the Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, I’ve tabbed out 14 of the best harmonica solos from The Boss himself.

Bruce Springsteen's harmonica playing is raw, emotional, and unmistakably human - the perfect reflection of his songwriting. Though he isn't one of the most technical harmonica players, his style is undeniable and the haunting solos from The River, Thunder Road and many more play a big part in his show.

Whether you're a lifelong fan or just discovering his music through the new film, this is your chance to grab your harp and dive into some of Springsteen’s most soulful moments!

Springsteen Harmonica Trivia

• Springsteen first started playing harmonica in the late 1960s, inspired by folk icons like Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie.

  
  

• The harmonica outro on Thunder Road was recorded in a single take.

  
  

• If you ever see him live, listen closely: he often tweaks the harp parts slightly from the album versions, adding spontaneous bends and “dirty” chords.

What key of harmonica does Bruce Springsteen use?

Bruce Springsteen uses a range of harmonica keys on his songs. For each song, I will tell you the key of harmonica you will need to play it like The Boss.

You'll be able to play most of his songs with harmonicas in the keys of G, A, D and F.

If you need to buy the right key of harp for the song you love, here are some handy links. You don't have to use this link; if you do I get a small commission which helps to support free lessons like this one.

►KEY OF G HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3Z55kH4

►KEY OF A HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3OsrsoG

►KEY OF D HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3YIuvxX

►KEY OF F HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/4fG0HcA

There is also one song below which uses a key of Eb harmonica.

►KEY OF Eb HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3Zli5NL

A Note Before You Start

Any Bruce Springsteen harmonica tab should come with a little disclaimer: his playing is beautifully messy. That’s part of what makes it so powerful.

When I write out harp tabs, I try to give you a clear version of what he’s playing - but Bruce often leans into rougher, chordal sounds, or slides into bends that are tricky to capture on paper. So treat these tabs as a launch pad, not a limit. Feel free to experiment, loosen up your embouchure, and play with the same energy and emotion that make his music so timeless.

With that said, here are my free harmonica tabs for Bruce Springsteen's best songs. Enjoy!

Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

The River - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF D HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3YIuvxX

-4  -->-4/  --> -4      5  -5  

-6    6  -5   -4/-->-4

-6   6  -5  6  -4/-->-4

I also have a free lesson for The River - click here

Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF F HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/4fG0HcA

Intro:

1     2     3     4 -> 6 

5   -5   5   4   3

-45   45

-45 -> -45/     -56   56  45  56   -56   56  45  56  -45   45 -> 6

I also have a free video lesson for Thunder Road - click here

Devils & Dust - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF D HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3YIuvxX

Solo (2:30):

-34 34

-5 -5/ -5 5 -4 4 -4 4

-5 -5/ -5 5 -4 4 4

-34 34 -4/—>-4—>-4/—>-4 -4 4 -34 34

-4 4 -45 -4 4 -34 34 34

-6 7 -6 6 -6—>-6/—>-6 -6 -6/ -5 -6/—>-6—>-6/ -5

-5 5 -34 34 -4 4 3 -4 -4 -4 4 -34 34

The Ghost of Tom Joan - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF D HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3YIuvxX

Intro:

-> 7

-5    5    4  

-4   4

Solo 1: (02:16)

-> 6    7   6

-5    5    5  -4  4  -3   4  

(3)  -3   -4  4  -3   4

Solo 2: (03:34)

-> 6    7   8

-5    5    5  -4  4  -3   4  

-4      -4   4    -3

4   4   -4   4    -3  4

-> 6     8  7

-5    5    5  -4  4  -4   4  

-5  4   -4       -4   4   -3

4    4   -3   3  -3   4   (3)

The Promised Land - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF G HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3Z55kH4

Intro:

6   6 6   -6 -6  6  6

-6  -6  —> -4 -4    -4 -4  5 -4  4 4

Top tip: try bending into the -4 and -6 notes to add emotion!

No Surrender (live version) - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF F HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/4fG0HcA

Intro:

->5 ->6

-56   5   -4/->-4    4

-4/->-4 (4)   5   6    7

-56    56    -45/->-45   45

Middle solo (2:43):

->6(7) 

-56   56    -56    56    -456    456

-4/->-4     4    

-45   56      4   -4/->-4

Outro (4:13):

->56       -56   56    -456    456 

-45/->-45     (5)   67        -4/->-4    

45 -> 7     -7->-6    6(7) 

This Hard Land - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF G HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3Z55kH4

Intro:

-4  4     -4  4     -4  4  4

-5  5   -4

5  -5  5  5

-4  4    -5  5     -5  5   5

-4  4   3       5  -5  5  4

Mansion on the Hill - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF D HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3YIuvxX

Intro:

6 -> 5  -5  6  -6  6

6 -> 5  -5  6  -6  6

-5  5  -5  -5  6  -6  6

5  4  -4  5  -5  5  -4  4

Atlantic City - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF A HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3OsrsoG

Solo 1: (0:52)

8 -6 -> -6/ -> -6 6 6 -6 -> -6/ -> -6 6 -5 5

8 -6 -> -6/ -> -6 6 -6 6

Tougher Than The Rest - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF F HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/4fG0HcA

Outro:

4   4   -4   4   4

-5   5   4   -4/ -> -4 

-4/ -> -4   5   5   -5 -> -5/ -> -5    5

-5 -> -5/ -> -5    5    4   -4/ -> -4     4   -3/ -> -3

4   4   -4   4   4

-5  -5 -5   5   4   -4/ -> -4 

-4/ -> -4    -4/ -> -4    4   4  

-5        -5   5   -5  5  4   -4/ -> -4 

4     4

4   4   -4   4   4

-5   5   4   -4/ -> -4 

(repeat to fade out…)

Terry's Song - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF G HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3Z55kH4

Solo: (2:14)

4  4   4  -4   4  4

-4   4   4  -4   4

-5   5   5   5  5 -4   4

-4  4  4  -4  4  -4

-> 6  6  6   5  -5  5   5

-4   4    -4  4    4     -4   4

-4  4  4       -5  5  (4) -4  4

-2   -4  -5  5  4

This Land is Your Land - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF G HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3Z55kH4

Intro:

4  -4  5  -5 

-5  5  -4   4  

5   -4

4  -4   5    

4  -4  5  -5

-6—>-6/—>-6  5  -4    4

5   -4

5  -5  -5   5  -4   4

My Father's House - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF D HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3YIuvxX

Solo 1: (2:09)

4  -4  3    5    4   -4      -4  4  -4   4   (3)

Solo 2: (3:40)

-> 5  -5  4    5    4       -4    4 

-> 5  -5  4    -5   5     6     -6   6   5   -6    6

5   -4   4  -4    -5  -4  4      -4   4  4

5   -4  4  5     5  -4   4   -4      -4  4   4  4

Gypsy Biker - Bruce Springsteen harmonica tabs

►KEY OF Eb HARMONICA: https://amzn.to/3Zli5NL

Intro:

-4/ -> -4    (4 ->) 5     -5    (5 ->)  4    5    -5   (5->) 4   -4/ -> -4

Bruce Springsteen Harmonica Tabs - Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this harmonica lesson on Bruce Springsteen songs for harmonica.

Click here for more free Bruce Springsteen harp tabs!

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