Easy 3rd Harmonica Tuning: Starter Guide
- Liam Ward
- Apr 21
- 7 min read
Easy 3rd is a simple custom tuning configuration for diatonic harmonicas, enabling you to play more easily in third position. Hence the name!
Need help understanding positions? Check out my free guide: Intro to Harmonica Positions
Two altered notes make Easy 3rd tuning great for playing minor blues, Dorian-mode Irish tunes and minor key melodies in reggae, funk, jazz and much more.
What Is Easy 3rd Tuning?
Easy 3rd is a modified harmonica tuning designed to make playing in 3rd position feel more natural and accessible.
On a standard harmonica, 3rd position can feel awkward at first. You need good bend control to play in the bottom octave and some notes won't be where you expect them to be. Getting a smooth, flowing minor scale takes a bit of work - this is where Easy 3rd Tuning can really help.
Easy 3rd tuning tweaks two of the reeds so that:
More of the scale is available without bending
The layout feels more logical for minor playing
You can focus on phrasing instead of fighting the instrument
It won't completely solve all your problems - any altered tuning is a compromise - but it reduces the difficulty significantly for minor-key playing in 3rd position.
Easy 3rd Tuning Chart
The best way to understand Easy 3rd tuning is to compare it with the normal layout of a diatonic harmonica. So firstly, here is the note layout for standard tuning (AKA Richter tuning) on a key of C diatonic harmonica:
And now here is the note layout for Easy 3rd tuning:
I have highlighted the two altered notes (holes 2 and 3 draw) in purple. Each of these notes has been lowered by a whole tone.
Note that holes 1-3 draw now mirror the notes on holes 4-6 draw (but an octave down). This eliminates the need to use a full-step bend on 3 draw (to play the minor third) or a full-step bend on the 3 draw (to play the fifth) in third position. This is why the name 'Easy 3rd' is used.
Want to learn about other Custom Tunings? Check out my full Altered Tunings Harmonica Guide
Why Try Easy 3rd Tuning?
Easy 3rd can help immediately with a couple of things: minor chords and melodic flow. Here's what it tends to improve:
Smooth transitions: Consistent note layout on holes 1-6 draw.
Confidence: You can move up and down the harp without bending.
Deep rich chords: Play a minor chord on the lower draw notes.
The tuning is, I believe, originally based on an idea by Dale King. I was first introduced to it by Joel Andersson, an expert in traditional Irish tunes, when I was performing at the World Harmonica Festival. He played some Irish tunes with me using the Easy 3rd tuning and they sounded really great. Joel says the following:
"The Easy Third tuning is my go-to tuning, so close to Richter that it feels natural, but with just two simple note changes you get a full minor chord, two extra octaves, and easy access to multiple keys. It makes playing in both major and minor effortless and expressive, without relying on tricky bends."
If you're a blues player, you can imitate a "chromatic" blues sound with this tuning, playing licks and octave splits at the lower end that wouldn't normally be possible with standard tuning. The tuning is also useful for playing reggae because of its combination of C major and D minor. You will also find that many basic minor-key melodies fit well using this tuning (whether jazz, funk, pop or any other style).
Where Can You Buy An Easy 3rd-Tuned Harmonica?
Seydel offer the Easy 3rd Tuning as a stock option for their excellent 1847 Classic model. They look beautiful and play really well. To find out more, visit Seydel's 1847 Classic - Easy 3rd Harmonica product page.
This model features stainless steel reeds and is available in the keys of G, A, Bb, C, and D as well as low D and low F.
Seydel's website also features the Seydel Tuning Configurator for several models if you'd like to order a custom Easy 3rd for another of their models or keys.
If you are confident retuning harmonicas, you can also quite easily modify a standard-tuned harmonica to Easy 3rd. Disclaimer: any alterations are done at your own risk. Do not attempt this unless you know what you are doing, and are willing to wreck a harmonica if it doesn't go well!
Is Easy 3rd Better Than Standard Tuning?
No tuning is really objectively "better" - just different.
Easy 3rd is great for:
Minor blues, jazz, reggae, funk
Irish modal tunes
Minor chords
The altered notes allow easy access to melodic notes without bending. This gives you a full-sounding minor chord in two octaves. It's very close to standard tuning, so there is not a big learning curve.
If you're a beginner, you will be able to more quickly play minor melodies using this tuning. If you're an advanced player, the tuning's range and options for intervals and chords will give you a unique sound.
If you're curious, it's definitely worth exploring - especially if 3rd position has felt like hard work so far. Think of Easy 3rd as a specialist tool, not a replacement.
Note that it's also possible to play minor scales and chords using the Natural Minor tuning. Check out my Natural Minor Harmonica Guide to learn more.
Easy 3rd Tuning - Harmonica Tabs & Audio Demos
Blow and Draw Chords:
Here is a demo of the chords on holes 1-3 (blow chord is major, draw chord is minor).
Demo (G harp):
Traditional Irish Tunes:
Many Irish tunes in the Dorian or Aeolian modes can be played on the Easy 3rd harmonica. For example:
Morrison's Jig (low D harp):
You can also play minor tunes in 4th position. This uses the lowered 3 draw as the root note - in the same way that you can use the raised 3 blow on a Paddy Richter tuned harmonica. For example:
My Lodging is Uncertain (G harp):
Here is the minor pentatonic scale in 4th position:
Minor Pentatonic Scale in 4th position:
Demo (G harp):
Tabs: -3 4 -4 5 6 -6
Minor Blues (Easy 3rd Harmonica Demos):
The Easy 3rd harmonica also works well for minor key blues. For example:
Fast chrom-style blues (G harp):
Slow minor blues (low D harp):
Reggae (Easy 3rd Harmonica Demo):
Because of the chords available at the low end of the harmonica, the Easy 3rd tuning works great for simple reggae tunes (for example, Night Nurse by Gregory Isaacs).
Reggae demo (G harp):
Below are some more tabs and demos for other songs that sound great with Easy 3rd tuning.
Summertime (Easy 3rd Harmonica Tabs & Demo):
Demo (G harp):
Tabs:
-6 -5 -6 6 -5 6 -6 -5 -4 -3
Summertime and the living is easy
-6 -5 6 6 -5 -4 -5 -4 -5 5
Fish are jumping and the cotton is high
-6 -6 -5 -6 6 -5 6 -6 -5 -4 -3
Your daddy’s rich & your mama's good looking
-3 4 -3 4 -4 -5 -6 6 -5 -4
So hush little baby, do-n’t you cry
Ain't No Sunshine (Easy 3rd Harmonica Tabs & Demo):
Demo (G harp):
Tabs:
-3 4 -4 -5 5 4 -4
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
-3 4 -4 -5 5 4 -4
It's not warm when she's away
-4 -4 -5 -6 6 -6 -6 6
Ain't no sunshine when she's go-one
-5 6 -5 -4 4 -4 -4
And she's always gone too long
5 6 -5 -4 4 -4 -4
Any time she goes away
Stairway to Heaven (Easy 3rd Harmonica Tabs & Demo):
Demo (G harp):
Tabs:
-1 2 -2 2 -1 2
There's a lady who's sure
-1 2 -2 3 -2 2 -1
All that glitters is go-old
-2 3 -3 3 -2 2 -1 1 1 -1
And she's buying a stairway to heaven
-1 2 -2 2 -1 2
When she gets there she knows
-1 2 -2 3 -2 2 -1
If the stores are all clo-sed
-2 3 -3 3 -2 2 -1 1 1 -1
With a word she can get what she came for
-2 -3 3 3 -2 2 -2 2 1
Oo-oo-hoo, oo-oo-hoo-oo-woo-hoo
-1 2 -2 3 -3 3 3 -2 2 1 1 -1
And she's bu-uy-ing a st-air-way to heaven
Major Scale Playing on Easy 3rd Harmonicas
Obviously this tuning is principally designed for playing in the minor key in third position. But it is worth bearing in mind that it is still possible to play major scale melodies in 1st position using an Easy 3rd-tuned harmonica. The middle octave remains unchanged so you can play as normal. The major scale there is as follows: 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 -7 7. In fact, the addition of the lowered 3 draw note means that some major-scale melodies will be easier because you won't have to bend to include that note (which is a common problem using standard tuning). This does mean that the major seventh note is missing in the lower register though. This is often a passing tone, so it is a trade-off for the benefits in playability.
Below are a few tabs to help you playing major scales with the Easy 3rd tuning.
The major pentatonic scale is a great way to start building melodies, and it is available in the lower octave without needing to bend.
Major Pentatonic Scale in 1st position:
Demo (G harp):
Tabs: 1 -1 2 3 -3 4
Below is an example of an Irish tune in the middle octave which uses the 3 draw note (which you would have to bend to achieve on a Richter-tuned harmonica).
Out on the Ocean - Irish jig in 1st position:
Demo (G harp):
It's also possible to play in 12th position more easily without bending.
Major Pentatonic Scale in 12th position:
Demo (G harp):
Tabs: -2 3 -3 4 -4 -5
Take Your Playing Further
At LearnTheHarmonica.com, everything I teach is based around improving your playing every day. My courses give you the skills, control, and understanding you need to play any style of harmonica with confidence.
I teach using standard Richter tuning. It's the foundation that everything else builds on.
Once you've got that foundation in place, exploring options like Easy 3rd becomes much more useful - and much more fun.
If you're still building your technique, focus on:
Clean single notes
Controlled bending
Solid rhythm and timing
If you want structured lessons (for standard tuning) that actually move your playing forward, take a free trial of my Online Harmonica School today.
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