Easy Harmonicas Songs for Beginners with Tabs to Get You Started

Learning to play the harmonica can be a fun and rewarding experience, especially when you start playing songs right away. Many beginners struggle to find simple, easy-to-follow harmonica songs that help build confidence and skills. This guide offers a friendly collection of beginner-level harmonica songs with free harp tabs, designed to get you playing quickly and enjoying the process.

These harmonica songs use the easiest notes on the harmonica. They are all simple songs but if you’re a complete beginner then it will take some time to get the notes clearly and accurately. It’s better to play slowly and get the notes right, then work on speeding up.

The tabs use simple notation, so you don’t need to read traditional sheet music. I've also included free video harmonica lessons so you can play along with me and follow the tabs on the screen. Let's dive into some easy harmonica songs that will keep you motivated and improve your playing.

🎁🎁🎁 For more free tabs to the Most Popular Harmonica Songs, check out my Free Harp Tabs page!

How to Read Harmonica Tabs

Before jumping into the songs, it's important to understand how harmonica tabs work. Tabs are a simple way to show which holes to blow or draw air through on your harmonica.

• Numbers indicate the hole number on the harmonica (from 1 to 10).

• A number without a symbol means blow air into that hole.

• A number with a minus sign (-) means draw air (inhale) through that hole.

• Sometimes, parentheses or other symbols show bends or special techniques, but beginners can start with just blow and draw.

  
  

For example:

• 4 means blow into hole 4.

• -3 means draw air through hole 3.

This system makes it easy to follow along without needing to read music notes.

Easy Harmonica Songs to Start Playing

Here are some simple harmonica songs with tabs that beginners can learn quickly. Each song uses basic blow and draw notes for a familiar melody.

1. "You Are My Sunshine"

"You Are My Sunshine" is one of the most recorded American songs of the 20th century. It was first published in 1939 and became closely associated with Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis, who helped popularise it.

Tabs:

4 4 -4 5 5

You are my sunshine

5 -4 5 4 4

My only sunshine

4 -4 5 -5 -6

You make me happy

-6 6 -5 5

When skies are grey

4 -4 5 -5 -6


You'll never know dear

-6 6 -5 5 4

How much I love you

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


Please don't take my sunshine away

Although it’s often sung as a cheerful children’s song, the full lyrics are actually quite bittersweet, dealing with love and loss. Musically, it’s built around a simple and strong major scale melody that sits comfortably on a standard diatonic harmonica - perfect for working on clear single notes and steady breath control.

2. "Yankee Doodle"

"Yankee Doodle" dates back to the eighteenth century and became popular during the American Revolutionary War. Originally sung by British soldiers to mock American colonists, it was later adopted by the Americans themselves as a patriotic tune.

Tabs:

7 7 -8 8 7 8 -8

Yankee Doodle went to town


6 7 7 -8 8 7 -7

A-riding on a pony

7 7 -8 8 -9 8 -8


Stuck a feather in his cap

7 -7 6 -6 -7 7 7


And called it macaroni



-6 -7 -6 6 -6 -7 7


Yankee Doodle keep it up

6 -6 6 -5 5 6


Yankee Doodle Dandy

-6 -7 -6 6 -6 -7 7


Mind the music and the step

-6 6 7 -7 -8 7 7


And with the girls be handy

This is a straightforward, march-like melody with a clear rhythmic pulse. On harmonica, it's great for practising articulation and keeping your timing tight.

3. "Oh Shenandoah"

"Oh Shenandoah" is a traditional American folk song, likely originating in the early nineteenth century. It's often associated with river boatmen travelling along the Missouri River, and its lyrics reference the Shenandoah River and valley.

Tabs:

3 4 4 4 -4 5 -5 -6 6

Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you

7 -7 -6 6 -6 6 5 6

A-a-way, you rolling river

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

Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you

4 -4 5 4 5 -6 6

A-a-way, I’m bound away

4 -4 5 4 -4 4

‘Cross the wide Missouri

3 4 4 4 -4 5 -5 -6 6

Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter

7 -7 -6 6 -6 6 5 6

A-a-way, you rolling river

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

For her I'd cross your roaming waters

4 -4 5 4 5 -6 6

A-a-way, I’m bound away

4 -4 5 4 -4 4

‘Cross the wide Missouri

The melody is slow, flowing, and lyrical - ideal for working on breath control, tone, and expressive phrasing. This is a good piece for focusing on sustained notes and smooth transitions between holes.

4. "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean"

"My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" is a traditional Scottish song that became widely known in America and beyond. "Bonnie" means beautiful in Scots, and the song tells of longing for someone far away across the sea.

Tabs:

6 8 -8 7 -8 7 -6 6 5

My Bonnie lies over the ocean

6 8 -8 7 7 -7 7 -8


My Bonnie lies over the sea

6 8 -8 7 -8 7 -6 6 5


My Bonnie lies over the ocean

6 -6 -8 7 -7 -6 -7 7


Oh bring back my Bonnie to me

6 7 -6 -8

Bring back, bring back

7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -6 -7 7 -8 8


Oh bring back my Bonnie to me, to me

6 7 -6 -8


Bring back, bring back

7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -6 -7 7


Oh bring back my Bonnie to me

The melody has a narrow range, making it useful for practising clean moves between holes. It’s also a good introduction to playing with dynamic contrast - keeping verses gentle and controlled and then building in the chorus.

5. "Lil Liza Jane"

"Lil Liza Jane" is a traditional American folk song that has been recorded in many different styles, from old-time string bands to brass bands and rock versions. Its origins likely trace back to African-American musical traditions in the nineteenth century.

Tabs:

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

I've got a friend in Baltimore, lil’ Liza Jane

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


Streetcars running by her door, lil’ Liza Jane

7 6 -6 6 5 6 5 6


Oh lil’ Liza, lil’ Liza Jane

7 6 -6 6 5 5 -4 4


Oh lil’ Liza, lil’ Liza Jane

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

I've got a friend in Baltimore, lil’ Liza Jane

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


Streetcars running by her door, lil’ Liza Jane

7 6 -6 6 5 6 5 6


Oh lil’ Liza, lil’ Liza Jane

7 6 -6 6 5 5 -4 4


Oh lil’ Liza, lil’ Liza Jane

The melody is repetitive and rhythm-driven, which makes it excellent for building groove and confidence. It’s a fun tune for experimenting with rhythm variations once you’ve learned the basic melody.

6. "This Little Light of Mine"

"This Little Light of Mine" is a traditional gospel song that became widely known during the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. It was frequently sung at rallies and gatherings as a song of hope and resilience.

Tabs:

6 6 6 6 -6 7 8 8 8 8 -8 7

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine

-6 -6 -6 -6 -7 7 7 7 7 7 -6 6

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine

6 6 6 6 -6 7 8 8 8 8 -8 7

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine

7 -8 8 -9 8 -8 8 -8 7

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

The melody is simple and uplifting, with clear phrasing. On harmonica, it’s ideal for beginners working on steady airflow and confident note changes. It’s also a great tune for playing along with others.

7. "Poor Wayfaring Stranger"

"Poor Wayfaring Stranger" (also known as 'I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger') is a traditional American spiritual that dates back to the early nineteenth century. The song speaks from the perspective of a traveller journeying through hardship toward a better home beyond this life.

Tabs:

-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

The minor-sounding melody gives this song a haunting, reflective character. This makes it an excellent introduction to more emotional playing on the harmonica, encouraging careful breath control and expressive tone.

8. "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?"

"Will the Circle Be Unbroken" is a well-known gospel song written in 1907 by Ada R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel. It has become a staple of country and bluegrass music.

Tabs:

-4 5 6 6 -7 -6 6 -7

I was standing by my window

-7 -6 6 -6 6 5 5 -4

On a cold and cloudy da-ay

-4 5 6 6 -7 -8 -8 -7

When I saw the hearse come rolling

6 -6 -7 -7 6 -6 -7 -6 6

For to carry my mother away

-4 5 6 6 -7 -6 6 -7

Will the circle be unbroken

-7 -6 6 -6 6 6 5 -4

By and by, Lord, by and b-y

-4 5 6 6 -7 -8 -8 -7 (6)

There's a better home awa-ai-ting

6 -6 -7 -7 6 -6 -7 -6 6

In the sky, Lo-rd, in th-e sky

This melody is memorable and structured, with a strong sense of forward movement. It’s a good tune for practising consistent rhythm and phrasing.

Tips for Practising Harmonica Songs

Playing harmonica songs well takes practice. These songs will get you off to a great start because the melodies are familiar and simple enough to navigate as a beginner.

Here are some more tips to help you improve:

• Start slow: Play each song slowly to get the notes right before speeding up.

• Use proper breathing: Breathe naturally for better control.

• Practise regularly: Short daily sessions work better than long, infrequent ones.

• Listen to recordings: Hearing the song helps you understand rhythm and tone.

• Use a clean harmonica: Keep your instrument clean for the best sound and easier play.

  
  

How to Choose the Right Harmonica for Beginners

Most beginner harmonica songs are written for a diatonic harmonica in the key of C. This harmonica is the easiest to find and learn on. When buying your first harmonica:

• Look for a reputable brand like Hohner, Seydel, Suzuki or Lee Oskar.

• Choose a diatonic harmonica in C major.

• Avoid cheap models that can be hard to play or sound poor.

  
  

Starting with the right instrument makes learning harmonica songs much easier.

I recommend the Hohner Special 20 harmonica for beginners. Here's an Amazon link in case you want to buy one (if you buy via the link I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you).

How to Improve Your Harmonica Playing Beyond Beginner Songs

Once you master these easy harmonica songs, you can explore more challenging tunes and techniques:

• Learn to bend notes to add expression.

• Try playing some blues songs.

• Experiment with different keys and positions.

• Record yourself to track progress.

• Join a harmonica community for support.

  
  

Playing harmonica songs regularly builds muscle memory and musical ear, helping you become a confident player.

Thanks for learning with us today and good luck with your harmonica playing!