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15+ Songs You Can Play on Harmonica in A (With Tabs & Lesson Links)

The letter 'A' inside a red circle, in front of a metallic grey background.

If you’ve just bought a harmonica in A, you might be wondering what songs you can play with it. Luckily, the key of A harmonica is one of the most useful keys for pop, blues, and folk music.


➡️ Check out these Free Lessons for Harmonica in Key of A on my YouTube channel


In this guide, we’ll look at some great songs you can play on a harmonica in A, from famous pop melodies to classic blues tunes.


Quick Answer: Songs You Can Play on a Harmonica in A


Here is an alphabetical list of some well-known songs that use an A harmonica:


  • Atlantic City - Bruce Springsteen

  • Bright Lights, Big City - Jimmy Reed

  • Bring It On Home - Sonny Boy Williamson II

  • Doing It Wrong - Drake

  • Got My Mojo Working - Muddy Waters

  • Hey! Baby - Bruce Channel

  • I Hear Them All - Old Crow Medicine Show

  • Juke - Little Walter

  • Meet Me on the Corner - Lindisfarne

  • On the Road Again - Canned Heat

  • Out on the Weekend - Neil Young

  • Roadhouse Blues - The Doors

  • Smokestack Lightning - Howlin' Wolf

  • Steamy Windows - Tina Turner

  • Stone Fox Chase - Area Code 615

  • The Jean Genie - David Bowie

  • Train in Vain -The Clash

  • Whammer Jammer - The J. Geils Band


Let’s look at some songs in more detail - including video lessons and free harmonica tabs.


Songs That Originally Feature Harmonica (Played on an A Harmonica)


These songs include harmonica in the original recording, and the instrument is an important part of the arrangement. These are great songs to learn because you’re recreating the original harmonica part.


Roadhouse Blues by The Doors - Free Tabs

One of the most famous blues-rock songs ever recorded, Roadhouse Blues combines a driving boogie groove with classic bar-room energy. The harmonica parts add a gritty blues flavour that fits right in with the song’s raw guitar riffs and pounding rhythm.



The Jean Genie by David Bowie - Free Tabs

This glam-rock classic from David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane era features a gritty blues-inspired groove and a memorable harmonica part. The harmonica adds a raw, slightly distorted edge that fits perfectly with the song’s swaggering riff. In this lesson we’ll look at how to capture that punchy feel and play along with the track.



The Old Grey Whistle Test theme (Stone Fox Chase) - Free Tabs

Played by Nashville band Area Code 615 featuring Charlie McCoy on harmonica, this funky instrumental opens with a catchy riff played on an A harmonica. Even though the song later changes key, starting on the A harp gives you a perfect way to get comfortable with melodic phrasing and position shifts. It’s a fun tune to play along with, and a great example of how harmonica can carry a theme even in a changing harmonic context.



Out on the Weekend by Neil Young - Free Tabs

The opening track from Harvest, this song features Neil Young’s laid-back harmonica playing alongside acoustic guitar and pedal steel. The harmonica lines are simple but expressive, giving the track its reflective, wandering feel. It’s a great example of how a few well-placed notes can add atmosphere to a song.



Steamy Windows by Tina Turner - Free Tabs

Written by Tony Joe White and recorded by Tina Turner on her album Foreign Affair, this swampy blues-rock tune features a punchy harmonica part that adds grit and attitude to the groove. It’s a fun track to play along with if you enjoy bold, blues-flavoured harmonica riffs.


Hey! Baby by Bruce Channel - Free Tabs

Released in 1961, this upbeat pop hit is famous for its catchy harmonica hook played by a young Delbert McClinton. The riff is simple, melodic, and incredibly memorable, making it a great tune for practicing clear single-note playing and rhythm on the harmonica.



Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen - Free Tabs

This haunting, stripped-back track from Nebraska features sparse instrumentation, with the harmonica adding a raw, melancholic voice to the story. Playing along on an A harmonica captures the song’s moody, introspective feel, making it a great exercise in expressive phrasing and emotional timing.


I Hear Them All by Old Crow Medicine Show - Free Tabs

This upbeat, Americana-flavoured track features a rollicking rhythm and melodic hooks that sit beautifully on the harmonica. Playing it on an A harmonica lets you capture the song's lively, folk-inspired energy. It’s a perfect tune for harmonica players who want to bring a bit of country and old-time charm to their practice sessions.


Meet Me on the Corner by Lindisfarne - Free Tabs

This warm, folk-rock favourite features a charming harmonica melody that perfectly complements the song's acoustic feel. The harmonica part weaves through the arrangement in a relaxed, lyrical way, making it a lovely piece to learn if you enjoy melodic harmonica playing.



Doing It Wrong by Drake - Free Tabs

This track from Drake's album Take Care features a surprisingly soulful harmonica solo. While the original recording uses chromatic harmonica, I’ve tabbed it out here for diatonic harmonica, since that’s the instrument I mainly teach. So in a sense… I’m technically doing it wrong. (Sorry — I couldn’t resist!)


Train in Vain by The Clash - Free Tabs

Although the original track is driven by guitars and vocals, the subtle harmonica lines are played on an A harmonica and give the song an extra layer of melodic texture. Playing along is a fun way to practice melody placement, timing, and phrasing in a punk-pop context.


Famous Songs in the Key of A That Work Great on Harmonica


These songs don’t originally feature harmonica, but they are written in the key of A, which means you can play along nicely using an A harmonica in 1st position. That means you can play the melody using the tabs and it will fit the recording nicely.


Here are my free tabs for some well-known songs in the key of A that work well for playing along on an A harmonica:



These songs don’t feature harmonica in their original recordings, but they're perfect for practicing melody playing and phrasing. You can follow the tabs and play right along with the track using your A harmonica. This is also a great way to develop your ear and musical confidence.


Why the A Harmonica Is So Popular

Many harmonica players consider A to be one of the most essential harmonica keys.

That's because it allows you to easily play in the key of E using second position (cross harp). E is extremely common in blues and rock music, especially when guitarists are involved. Here’s a simple example of how harmonica keys relate to cross harp playing:

Harmonica Key

Cross Harp Key

A

E

C

G

G

D

D

A


Because of this relationship, an A harmonica is a staple in many blues players’ cases.


Famous Blues Songs Using Key of A Harmonica


If you want to start experimenting with blues riffs, here's a list of some of the most famous blues songs that use a harmonica in A.



Can You Play Any Song on an A Harmonica?


One thing that can sometimes be confusing for beginners is the relationship between the key of the harmonica and the key of the song.


When you follow the tabs on this site, the numbers show you which holes to play on your harmonica, not the exact concert pitch of the original recording. That means you can play almost any melody on a harmonica in A simply by following the tab pattern. The tune will still sound correct - it will just be transposed into the key of A.


This works perfectly if you’re playing the melody on your own or practising the tune without the original recording. The only time the key really matters is if you’re playing along with the original song or a backing track, because then your harmonica needs to match the key of the music.


This is where harmonica positions come in. Positions are simply different ways of using the same harmonica to play in different musical keys. For example, an A harmonica in 1st position plays naturally in the key of A, while 2nd position (cross harp) puts you in the key of E, which is very common for blues and rock songs.


So even though the tabs may be written for an A harmonica, the actual song might originally be in a completely different key. By following the tabs you can still learn and enjoy the melody - and if you later want to play along with the original track, you can simply switch to the harmonica key that matches that recording.


Frequently Asked Questions About A Harmonicas


What key songs can you play with an A harmonica?

Most commonly, players use an A harmonica to play songs in the key of E using second position. This works particularly well for blues and rock music.


Is the A harmonica good for blues?

Yes. The A harmonica is one of the most popular blues harmonica keys, because it allows easy access to blues riffs and bends in the key of E.


Which harmonica key should beginners buy first?

Most beginners start with a C harmonica, but the A harmonica is often the second key players buy because it’s so useful for blues songs.


Want to Learn More Songs on Harmonica?

If you enjoyed learning about songs you can play on a harmonica in A, you might enjoy exploring more lessons inside my online harmonica school.


At LearnTheHarmonica.com, you’ll find:

  • Step-by-step harmonica courses

  • Song tutorials and play-along tracks

  • Lessons on bending, tone, rhythm, and improvisation

  • Clear guidance from beginner to advanced level


👉 Learn more: Start Your Free Trial to start your next song today!


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