Classic Blues Songs You Can Play on a B♭ Harmonica: Full Guide
- Liam Ward
- Apr 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 16
A key of B♭ (B-flat) harmonica provides a great balance of the deep and rich lower register with a punchier top octave. For this reason it is one of my personal favourites and has been very popular over the years in blues music.
This article lists great blues songs that were recorded using a key of Bb harp.
Make sure to check out the following guides to learn about other keys:
Using a Key of B♭ harmonica for Blues Music
Most blues is played in 2nd position (cross harp). On a B♭ harmonica, this means the key of F. If this sounds confusing, check out my free Guide to Harmonica Positions.
Since 2nd position is the default, I will indicate in the table below only when the song is played in something other than 2nd position.
Classic Blues Songs Using a B♭ Harmonica
Here is a list of more than 50 great blues songs by legendary blues harmonica players, all of which use a key of B-flat harmonica:
Title | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Ah'w Baby | Billy Boy Arnold | |
Ain't No Need To Go No Further | Paul Butterfield | |
All Night Long | Muddy Waters | |
Astatic Stomp | George 'Harmonica' Smith | |
Baby Scratch My Back | Slim Harpo | |
Basin Street Blues | Charlie McCoy | |
Big Leg Mama | Little Walter | |
Blue Midnight | Little Walter | |
Blues Leave Me Alone | Kim Wilson | |
Boogie | Little Walter | |
Breathtakin' Blues | Rhythm Willie | (4th position) |
Cha Cha In Blue | Junior Wells | |
Chasin' The Gator | William Clarke | |
Chicago Breakdown | Doctor Ross | |
Chickasaw Special | Noah Lewis | |
Christo Redemptor | Charlie Musselwhite | (3rd position) |
Country Boy | Muddy Waters | |
Dead Presidents | Little Walter | |
Don't Get Around Much Anymore | Big Walter Horton | |
Easy (I Almost Lost My Mind) | Big Walter Horton | |
Everything Gonna Be Alright | Paul Butterfield | |
Forty-Four | Howlin' Wolf | |
Gina's Groove | William Clarke | |
Help Me | Sonny Boy Williamson II | |
Hound Dog | Big Walter Horton | (3rd position) |
I Got Love If You Want It | Slim Harpo | |
I've Got To Be With You Tonight | Slim Harpo | (3rd position) |
Improvisation in Cm | Indiara Sfair | (3rd position) |
Juicy Harmonica | Rod Piazza | |
Little Queen Bee | Slim Harpo | |
Live The Life I Love | Muddy Waters | |
Lonesome Bedroom Blues | William Clarke | |
Long Distance Call | Muddy Waters | |
Lost in a Dream | The Paul deLay Band | |
My Babe | Little Walter | |
Ninety Nine | Sonny Boy Williamson II | |
Ora-Nelle Blues | Little Walter | |
Poor Boy | Paul Butterfield | |
Quarter To Twelve | Little Walter | |
Rock Me | Slim Harpo | |
Sad Hours | Little Walter | |
Saturday Night Blues | William Clarke | |
Screamin' And Cryin' | Muddy Waters | |
She Moves Me | Muddy Waters (Little Walter) | |
Sittin' On Top Of The World | Howling Wolf | |
Steady | Jerry McCain | |
Steady Roll | Hazmat Modine | |
That's It | Little Walter | (3rd position) |
The Hucklebuck | James Cotton | |
The Stuff You Gotta Watch | Muddy Waters | |
They Call Me Lazy | Lazy Lester | |
West Helena Blues | Kim Wilson | |
Work Song | Paul Butterfield | |
You Don't Have To Go | Jimmy Reed | |
Young Fashioned Ways | Muddy Waters | (3rd position) |
I hope this table has helped you to find some great blues harmonica songs to play on your Bb harp!
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