Country Tuning for Harmonica - Intro Lesson & Free Tabs
- Liam Ward
- 20 hours ago
- 6 min read
Ever heard of country tuning on the harmonica? It's a simple change to the tuning that opens up loads of new possibilities. You get a different set of notes and chords compared to standard Richter, which is what most of us start on. If you’re curious about expanding what your harmonica can do, country tuning is well worth checking out.
This free harmonica lesson explains what country tuning is, how it differs from standard tuning, and why it suits certain music styles. I'll also give you some simple harp tabs to help you get started.
What Is Country Tuning on Harmonica?
I know from experience that altered tunings can be scary to some harmonica players. Traditionally, we're a conservative bunch who sometimes struggle to adapt. But country tuning (also known as major seven tuning) is about as simple as they come so you won't get overwhelmed.
Country tuning is a very basic variation of the standard Richter tuning, designed to emphasise the major seventh chord tones. It shifts just one note to create a sound that fits well with country, folk, bluegrass and lots more styles of music. The main goal of country tuning is to make the harmonica more suited for playing melodies and chords common in these genres.
How Does Country Tuning Differ from Standard Tuning?
The standard diatonic harmonica has used Richter tuning as a default since the 1800s. In standard Richter tuning, the harmonica is set up to play a dominant seventh chord (that's a chord with a flattened seventh note) which works especially well for blues and rock music because it adds tension. Country tuning replaces this flattened seventh with a natural major seventh note giving the instrument a sweeter, more open sound.
Country tuning does this by modifying the 5 draw note, raising the flattened seventh note to a natural major seventh. On a key of C harmonica, this means moving the F note up to an F#. Here’s a breakdown of the differences:
Richter tuning - key of C harmonica (notice hole 5 draw is an F note):
Country / major seven tuning - key of C harmonica (notice hole 5 draw is an F# note):
The key difference is hole 5 draw, which changes from F to F#. This small change has a big impact on the overall sound and chord possibilities. Despite seeming insignificant, you will find it opens up a lot of possibilities when you start using it.
Bending on Country-Tuned Harmonicas
Because country tuning is very similar to Richter tuning, not much changes with the bends. All of the original bends are still possible. However, there is one big change: you can now bend the 5 draw.
This means you can still play the flattened seven note (e.g. F note on a C harp) by bending the 5 draw down a semitone, so you actually have the option of both notes (F and F#) without needing to overblow. This can be useful, however it is difficult to do smoothly and accurately so it still makes sense to use a standard harp for blues and rock music.
Why Use Country Tuning?
Country tuning is especially useful for players who want to:
Play country, folk and bluegrass melodies with a more natural major sound.
Avoid the bluesy flattened seventh note that dominates standard Richter tuning.
Access major seventh chords easily, which add a smooth, melodic quality to the music.
Explore new chord shapes and melodic runs that fit many styles of music.
Because the major seventh note replaces the flattened seventh, the harmonica sounds less tense and more open. This makes it easier to play clean, melodic lines and chords that fit well with acoustic instruments like guitar, banjo, and fiddle.
On a Richter harp, the ♭7 note on the 5 draw clashes with that sound. Raising it to the natural 7 makes it much easier to play a full major scale in second position which means you can play rich, emotional licks with a smoother, more melodic sound.
Bear in mind, though, that this all depends on context. The 'right' note depends on the song, chords and stylistic choices.
Free Country Tuning Harmonica Tabs
Here are some simple tabs to help you start playing on a country tuned harmonica in any key. Click on any of the links to go to the free tabs:
Tips for Playing Country-Tuned Harmonica
Practice the major scale: -2 -3// -3 4 -4 5 -5 6
Listen to country and bluegrass music to get a feel for how the major seventh note fits in.
Try playing along with guitar or banjo chords in the same key to hear how the harmonica fits in.
Experiment with happy songs that don't usually fit in second position.
Country Tuning vs. Major Seven Tuning - Which Name is Better?
The term 'country tuning' is a historical nickname based on early adoption, because the tuning was popularised by the great country harmonica player Charlie McCoy, who still uses it widely to this day. However, the name 'major seven tuning' is more accurate and technically sound.
This tuning is very useful in country and bluegrass since the major seventh is frequently required for fiddle-style lines, standard chord progressions and major-key ballads without blues inflection.
However, the usefulness of the major seven is definitely not limited to Nashville music, so for that reason this tuning is sometimes called 'Major Seven tuning'. That is literally what the tuning is all about: introducing a major seventh degree. From a theory standpoint, that’s the only thing that’s happened so it's technically precise and style-neutral to call it 'Major Seven tuning'
And, of course, this tuning will certainly not magically make you sound country; it's all about how you use it.
But I generally call it country tuning because I find that this is the more widely used name.
Advantages and Limitations of Country Tuning
So what are some of the good things - and bad - about this tuning?
Advantages:
It provides a fresh sound for country and folk players.
It's easier to play major seventh chords and melodies.
The sound is less 'bluesy tension', so there is more melodic openness.
Limitations:
It's not ideal for blues or rock styles that rely on the flattened seventh.
It can take time to adjust if you're used to standard tuning.
It may require a new harmonica or retuning if you want to switch between styles.
Where to Buy a Country Tuned Harmonica
In the video lesson, I am using a Hohner Special 20 country-tuned harmonica. You can buy one via the links below.
Hohner Special 20 harmonicas - country tuning (Amazon links):
I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you buy via one of these links. It's also possible to buy country-tuned harmonicas from other manufacturers such as Suzuki and Seydel.
How to Retune a Harmonica to Country Tuning
Because country tuning is so similar to standard tuning, many players retune their Richter harps themselves. If you want to convert a standard harmonica to country tuning, you need to raise the pitch of the 5 draw reed by a semitone/half step (on a C harp, this would be from F to F#). This requires careful adjustment or reed replacement. It’s best done by an experienced harmonica technician or by players comfortable with reed tuning. If you are interested in reed tuning, check out this video:
Please note: any adjustments you do are at your own risk and may harm your harmonica irreparably.
Final Thoughts
Country tuning opens new doors for harmonica players interested in country, folk and bluegrass music - but is also useful for many more styles. By replacing the flattened seventh with a natural major seventh, it creates a sweeter, more melodic sound. Whether you buy a country-tuned harmonica or retune your own, experimenting with this setup will definitely expand your musical range.
Thanks for studying with us today. See you again soon!
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