15 Iconic Riffs and Solos on Harmonica in Popular Songs

As you may know, I'm obsessed with harmonica. I've even got this crazy giant Hohner Marine Band to prove it:

The harmonica is a humble instrument, but I truly believe it is responsible for some of the coolest licks and solos in popular music. That's why I've put together this collection of free lessons and tabs for some of my favourites.

P.S. This article contains affiliate Amazon links. If you buy through one of them, I receive a very small commission at no extra charge to you.

Classic Harmonica Riffs and Solos in Songs (Alphabetical Order)

Dirty Old Town by the Pogues

This famous cover of Ewan MacColl's folk song (actually written about the city of Salford) has an iconic harmonica intro.

For this song you will need a key of D harp. Click here to buy one.

Dirty Old Town tabs:

3  4    -4    5         4   -4   5    4    3  



5       6    -6         6   5    -4   4   5

3  4  5  -4        4

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother by The Hollies

This melancholic hit for the Hollies is one of my favourite harmonica pieces.

For this song you will need a key of G harp. Click here to buy one.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother tabs

Intro:

6          -8      7    -7    7    -5     -5

Solo:

6          -8      7    -7    7    -5     -5

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

Heart of Gold by Neil Young

I grew up listening to Neil Young on long car journeys. He's one of my favourite artists and this is one of the first songs I ever taught on my YouTube harmonica channel (hence the old B/D tab system in the video). To learn more about Neil's harmonica playing, check out my Complete Neil Young Harmonica Guide.

For this song you will need a key of G harp. Click here to buy one.

Heart of Gold tabs

Intro:

5     6   -5    5   -4    4     34

6      7      -6     6     -6     6      5

Click through for tabs to all the solos.

Karma Chameleon by Culture Club

This is an awesome little intro solo. Make sure to check out my Interview with Judd Lander who played harmonica on this recording.

For this song you will need a key of Eb harp. Click here to buy one.

Karma Chameleon tabs

Intro:

-1  2  -2   (-3/>)-3   -3//   3

(-4/>)-4   -4/   4     

-3/   -2   -2    -2//  -2(vib.)

Click through for tabs to the whole song.

Long Train Running by The Doobie Brothers

This solo is extremely famous, very energetic and effective. There's a lot going on so do watch the video lesson - it will help you with the tabs.

For this song you will need a key of C harp. Click here to buy one.

Long Train Running tabs

-4 > -4/ > -4       -4/>-4      -4/>-4        -4/>-4(-5)

-4/>-4  -4 (x6)      -4/>-4>-4/>-2         -2   -2     -2     -2   -2

(-3  4)  -4   -4/    -4   -4   -4   -4

-4/>-4  -4 (x6)     -4     (w.)-5>-2       -2       (34)

-4     -4<>-5

-4/>-4     -4/>-4>-4/>-4      -4/>-4     (3)4(5)

(w.)-5>-2       34     -2   -2      -2   -2     -2   -2

(w.)-5>-2      34     -2    -2      -2  -2

Love Me Do by The Beatles

Is this the most famous harmonica part in all of pop music? Once you've learned it, click through for my guide to Every Beatles Song with Harmonica.

For this song you will need a key of C harp. Click here to buy one.

Love Me Do tabs

-5 5 -4 -2 -2 -2 -2

-5 -5 -5 5 5 5 -4 -2 -2 -2 -2

-5 5 -4 -2 -2 -2 4 -3

-2 -2 -2 -2 -2 4 -3

Mary Jane's Last Dance by Tom Petty

A memorable performance from Tom Petty, featuring three short harp solos.

For this song you will need a key of G harp. Click here to buy one.

Mary Jane's Last Dance tabs

Solo 1 - 00:35:

-6    6    -5    5    -4

-6    6    -5    5    -5   5   -4   (-4/->) -4

Solo 2 - 01:32:

-5    5    -4    4   -5   5    -4  (-4/->) -4

-5    5    -4    4   (-4->)-5   5   -4    4    -4

Solo 3 - 03:36:

-5    5    -4    4   -5   5    -4  -4/-> -4

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

-6          6            -6    6   -5    6    -5

-6          6           -5    5   -4    5    -4

Miss You by The Rolling Stones

Though Mick Jagger and Brian Jones both played harmonica on many of The Rolling Stones' records, this lick was played by the great Sugar Blue. To learn more, check out my Rolling Stones Harmonica Songs and Keys article.

For this song you will need a key of D harp. Click here to buy one.

Miss You tabs

-2// -2 4 -3/ -2 -2// -2

-2// -2 4 -3/ -2 -2// -2

-2// -2 -3/ -2

Mr. Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan

Perhaps the most famous harmonica player in the world, Dylan has many famous songs, but none more so than this. If you'd like to learn more of his songs, click through for my Guide to Bob Dylan's Harmonica Keys & Positions.

For this song you will need a key of F harp. Click here to buy one.

The video lesson above teaches you how to play the vocal melody, but I do have tabs for the solos as well. Click through for full tabs.

On The Road Again by Canned Heat

This solo is famous amongst harmonica players because Alan Wilson tuned up his 6 draw reed to play a missing note. In the tabs below, I have written 6* (the overblow) to play that note. Watch the video lesson to hear what I mean.

For this song you will need a key of A harp. Click here to buy one.

On The Road Again tabs

-3/----    1-->4    -4   -5   6   6*   -6-->-6/-->-4

-3/----    1-->4    -4   -5   6   6*   -6   6   -5   5   -4   -4/    4

-3/   -2   -2//   -1   -1/   -1

-2//-->-2/-->-2//  -1     -2//(-->-2/)  -1  (x4)      1       -1

-2//   -2   -2

Piano Man by Billy Joel

There are few songs that harmonica players get requested as much as Piano Man. It's a great intro. Click through if you'd like a step-by-step guide including several audio demos.

For this song you will need a key of C harp. Click here to buy one.

Piano Man tabs

6       -5      6    -5     5    -5     5  4

4     -4       5      -4

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

4    -5     5     -4     4

Roadhouse Blues by The Doors

This catchy harp part was played by John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful. Check out my John Sebastian Interview to learn more.

For this song you will need a key of A harp. Click here to buy one.

Roadhouse Blues tabs

-2 -2 -2 4 -3

These are just the intro riff tabs. Click through for a full tab sheet.

The River by Bruce Springsteen

The Boss has released many songs featuring his gritty harmonica playing. This is perhaps his most famous. Click through to learn more about Bruce Springsteen's Harmonica Playing.

For this song you will need a key of D harp. Click here to buy one.

The River tabs

-4 → -4/ → -4 5 -5 -6 6 -5 -4/→-4 -6 6 -5 6 -4/→-4

The Wizard by Black Sabbath

This could be the most famous harmonica solo in all of rock music. Click through for more Free Pop & Rock Harmonica Tabs.

For this song you will need a key of D harp. Click here to buy one.

The Wizard tabs

-2//-->-2 -->-2//-->(-1)-2(-3) (x2)

-2//-->-2

(-2/-->) -2-->-2//-->-2 -2/-->-2 -3 4 -4(-5) 4 -3 -2 2

(-2/-->) -2-->-2//-->-2 -2/-->-2 -3 4 -4(-5) 4 -3 -2 2

(-2/-->) -2-->-2//-->-2 -2/-->-2 -3 4 -4(-5) 4 -3 -2 2

(-2/-->) -2-->-2//-->-2 -2/-->-2 -3 4 -4(-5) 4 -3 -2 2

(-2/-->) -2-->-2//-->-2 -2/-->-2 -3 4 -4(-5) 4 -3 -2 2 -2

You Don't Know How It Feels by Tom Petty

A very simple harp riff. I don't have a video lesson for this one but it's very basic so you should be able to get a hold of it quickly.

For this song you will need a key of E harp (a very rare key indeed!). Click here to buy one.

You Don't Know How It Feels tabs

45 45 -45 45 45

-23   23   23    23

-1     1      1

Want to Actually Learn Harmonica Step-by-Step?

If you're serious about becoming a harmonica player, you need more than random tabs and isolated riffs - you need structure. That's exactly what I focus on inside my harmonica school.

Inside the School, you'll get:

• Step-by-step practice systems (not just exercises)

• Structured pathways from beginner to advanced

• Guidance on what to practice and when

• Backing tracks, lessons and real musical applications

• A clear roadmap to becoming a confident harmonica player

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