The Rolling Stones' Harmonica Songs & Keys: Complete Guide
- Liam Ward
- 3 days ago
- 11 min read
This is a guide to the key of harmonica used in all the Rolling Stones' harmonica-laden hits. Harmonica has featured notably in some of the Rolling Stones' big hits and across many albums. Their beginnings were as a British blues band, so harmonica makes sense as an instrument of course. But it has stayed with the band - and Mick Jagger specifically - over the years. And of course, there's the massive contribution of the inimitable Sugar Blue (more on which below).
Notes on the Harmonica Players with the Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger has played the majority of Rolling Stones studio harmonica parts from the late 1960s onward.
Brian Jones handled most of the early British-blues-era harmonica work, with som,e records featuring both Jones and Jagger.
Sugar Blue is the famous guest harmonica player on “Miss You” and also appears on “Send It to Me.”
What Key of Harmonica Do the Rolling Stones Use Most?
I have analysed over 70 tracks with harmonica, and found the following:
G harp 3/72
Ab harp 1/72
A harp 20/72 = 28%
Bb harp 5/72
B harp 2/72
C harp 18/72 = 25%
Db harp 0/72
D harp 19/72 = 26%
Eb harp 0/72
E harp 3/72
F harp 4/72
F# harp 2/72 (Low F# harp - 1/72)
As expected, the common keys of A, D and C are used most often. After that, the other keys are barely used. What surprised me was the occasional use of some unusual harmonica keys such as E and B. There's even an F# and a (possible) use of a low F# (which is an octave below the standard version). In contrast, I have not found any use of the keys of Db or Eb.
You may notice that the numbers of harps in the above list add up to more than the number of songs. That's because several songs feature more than one key of harmonica (Brian Jones used to sometimes switch mid-song).
It's also worth noting that the vast majority of the songs are played in second position (aka "cross harp") which means playing a fifth up from the home key of the harmonica. For example, a C harp is used to play in G, an A to play in E, a D to play in A. This is the default way to play blues harmonica, and reflects the influence of the blues on the Rolling Stones.
Rolling Stones Harmonica Songs with Key of Harp
What follows is a list of the Rolling Stones studio recordings featuring harmonica. I've ordered them roughly from most famous to most obscure. The only album I have grouped together is the blues covers album Blue & Lonesome from 2016 (because it contains so much harmonica). If you'd like to learn about that album, click here to skip to the section. I think I've included most - if not all - of the harmonica tracks the Stones have released at time of writing. Do get in touch as I am happy to correct information or to add any songs I have missed.
Gimme Shelter (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - F# harp
Mick can be heard briefly just after the two minute mark.
Miss You (harmonica played by Sugar Blue) - D harp
Surely the most famous and imitated harmonica part on a Rolling Stones record, the harp on Miss You was played by American blues harmonica legend Sugar Blue. Want to learn it? Free 'Miss You' Harmonica Lesson
Some Girls (harmonica played by Sugar Blue) - D harp
Another fine bit of harp from Sugar Blue.
Midnight Rambler (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - E harp
One of Mick's most famous harmonica parts, played on the rather unusual key of E harp.
Love Is Strong (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - D harp
Distorted blues harp adds grit to this song.
Sweet Virginia (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp
Mick plays some plaintive 1st position harp on the intro of this beautiful song.
Little Red Rooster (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - C harp
This recording of a blues classic was made early in the Stones career. The harmonica adds a simple wailing accompaniment to see the track home.
Not Fade Away (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - A harp and D harp
Before there was Mick, there was Brian - who taught Jagger how to play blues harp. On this cover, it sounds like he could be using an A harp for the I chord and a D harp on IV chord. Quite unusual but it works.
I Just Want To Make Love To You (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - C harp and F harp
Jones repeats the same trick from Not Fade Away, this time using C and F harps to get the best wailing sounds on different chords.
Come On (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - Bb harp and B harp
Some simple bendy four and six draw notes on an A harp add something mysterious to this track. Brian Jones then picks up a B harp for the key change.
Out of Control (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - E harp
This simmering track could also be played quite easily in 3rd position on a key of A harp.
Stop Breaking Down (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - D harp
Mick starts high up at the dusty end for this one, then plays some more conventional blues licks later on.
Dear Doctor (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp and D harp
Some bluesy acoustic harp licks complement this track well. Mick switches harp for the key change (maybe a track he learned from Brian Jones).
Down in the Hole (harmonica played by Sugar Blue) - A harp
Some nice warm and tasteful 3rd position harp from Sugar Blue on this track from Emotional Rescue.
Shake Your Hips (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - D harp
The Stones really do love the blues. And this Slim Harpo classic features some simple, appropriate notes by Mick.
Empty Heart (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - D harp
Brian Jones contributes some distant, playful harmonica on a D harp to this early track.
Grown Up Wrong (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - low F# harp?
The outro definitely sounds like a low F#, although a G harp seems more likely so perhaps the recording was slowed down, dropping the pitch by a semitone.
Silver Train (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - C harp
There's some nice C harp wailing in the mix of Silver Train.
Parachute Woman (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp
Mick adds loose but effective blues harp to this track from Beggars Banquet.
The Spider and the Fly (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp
A nice, simple harp solo opens this song - matching the guitar leading into the vocal - and a more energetic solo ends the track too.
Little By Little (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp
Featuring harp intro, middle solo and outro section.
2120 South Michigan Avenue (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - C harp
The harp features some pretty cool vibrato as Brian Jones lets rip on this instrumental.
Black Limousine (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - G harp
Jimmy Reed-inspired first position playing from Mick.
I'm A King Bee (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp
This nice cover of one of Slim Harpo's best features one of Mick's earliest use of harmonica.
Down Home Girl (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - C harp
A key of C harp in 2nd position was used for this Stones recording of the Leiber and Butler track.
Honest I Do (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - Ab harp
Another very early harmonica recording by Mick. The versions I have heard of this record sit between an Ab and A harp - I am not entirely sure which the original was recorded on.
I Wanna Be Loved (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - F harp
Brian Jones shows good control on the draw bends on this Willie Dixon song.
Road Runner (harmonica played by Brian Jones or Mick Jagger?) - A harp
There's a simple bit of cross harp on this early cover song. I've seen differing accounts of who played the harp on this one.
Stoned (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - C harp
Brian Jones plays some suitably other-worldly harp on this slightly trippy song.
Good Times, Bad Times (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - F harp
The harp on this track showcases good control of the 4 draw bend.
Look What You've Done (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - C harp
Brian Jones plays some decent stuff on this blues cover.
The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - B harp
I wonder if this song was slowed down, or the band tuned down, because it seems a very odd key!
Send It to Me (harmonica played by Sugar Blue) - A harp?
Yes, there is some harp in there - way down in the mix, so quiet it's hard to tell the position he's playing in. Anyway, it's Sugar Blue!
High And Dry (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - Bb harp
A bit of country-style harp from Brian on a Bb harp.
Moon Is Up (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - C harp
A simple melody around one minute in (with a very '80s sounding effect added).
Sweet Neo Con (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - G harp?
A descending line punctuates this not-so-sophisticated political critique. It sounds like it could be a G harp, which would make it a rare foray into 3rd position for Mick.
Break The Spell (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp
An amped up solo and fills from Mick.
Dreamy Skies (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - C harp
It's worth waiting until 3:15 for that wailing 6 draw note following the silence.
Doncha Bother Me (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - D harp
Mick's bluesy harp playing complements Brian Jones' slide guitar well on this track from Aftermath.
Back Of My Hand (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - C harp
Here Mick plays classic cross-harp fills and a solo on another slide blues.
Had It With You (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - D harp
The harp helps to add grit to this rocker.
Jump On Top Of Me (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp
More cross-harp soloing on an A harp by Mick Jagger.
Might As Well Get Juiced (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - Bb harp
Rather distant but decent!
What A Shame (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - C harp
I think this is Jagger, but it could be Jones. Around this period they were both playing harp.
Infamy (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - D harp
Here Mick plays simple back-up harp in second position.
Fancy Man Blues (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - D harp
A nice blues solo with a dirty sound.
Turd On the Run (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - D harp
It's not particularly prominent but there is some harp wailing away in the melee.
The Storm (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - C harp
A typical Mick Jagger harmonica track, with lots of 4 draw bendiness and slides up to the 6 blow and down to the 2 draw.
Suck On The Jugular (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - F# harp
An oddity of a harmonica key!
Goin' Home (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - A harp and D harp?
Check out the section at 1:13 - it's not possible to get that sound on an A harp. It sounds like a D harp to me, so Brian Jones may be doing his old two-harp switch trick.
Now I've Got A Witness (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - A harp
The chugging harmonica contrasts nicely with the organ on this early Stones instrumental.
One More Try (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - D harp
Jones' raw harp textures sit behind Jagger's vocals nicely on this track.
Look What You've Done (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - C harp
Another example of the debt the Rolling Stones owe to American Rhythm & Blues.
I'm Moving On (harmonica played by Brian Jones) - A harp
A high-octane live recording of the hit written by Canadian country songwriter Hank Snow.
Cool, Calm & Collected (harmonica played by Mick Jagger and Brian Jones?) - F harp and Bb harp
I have seen both Jagger and Jones credited with harp for this track, which also features a kazoo solo! It sounds like Brian Jones' two-harp trick again for me during the tempo shift section near the end.
Sweet Black Angel (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - C harp
There's a simple and effective harmonica part on this song.
Feel On Baby (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp
There's some high end action on this '80s track featuring the legendary Jamaican rhythm section of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.
Hearts for Sale (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - C harp
A rare bit of 3rd position soloing from Mick.
Rolling Stone Blues (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp
The Stones finally recorded a version of the Muddy Waters song which gave them their name in 2023. It includes a bit of bluesy cross-harp from Mick.
Rough and Twisted (harmonica played Mick Jagger) - A harp
Some nice call-and-response between harp and guitar.
The Blue & Lonesome Album
In 2016, The Rolling Stones released an album of classic blues songs. Mick Jagger sang and played harmonica on almost every track. It was the band's first album to feature only covers, reinforcing the love of Rhythm & Blues which inspired them to start a band in the first place. So here are the tracks from Blue & Lonesome:
Just Your Fool (harmonica played Mick Jagger) - D harp
The opening track from the 2016 blues covers album 'Blue & Lonesome features lots of Mick's blues harp.
Commit a Crime (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp
Mick adds some simple harp to vamp away to this Howlin' Wolf classic.
Commit a Crime (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - ? harp
Sorry, Mick, but this sounds pretty nasty to my ears. I am not even sure what harp he's using. It doesn't seem to be any of the usual suspects. I did wonder about a Natural Minor (since he plays Lee Oskar harps) but I have tried to imitate his playing and can't seem to get it. Let me know if you figure it out!
All of Your Love (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - D harp
This smouldering Magic Sam tune has some 2nd position blues harp by Mick.
I Gotta Go (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - D harp
He's no Little Walter, but Mick gives it his best shot on this chugging old blues from the master.
Ride 'Em on Down (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - E harp
Mick uses an E harp surprisingly commonly. I suppose it must fit his singing key of B.
Hate to See You Go (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - C harp
Another Little Walter song. Mick plays an amped up C harp for this one.
Hoo Doo Blues (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - G harp
Mick plays some raw blues harp on this Lightnin' Slim track.
Little Rain (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - A harp
Mick fittingly goes for 1st position on this slow blues from Jimmy Reed.
Just Like I Treat You (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - C harp
On this Willie Dixon composition, Mick uses a C harp to imitate the melody vocal along with the guitar.
I Can't Quit You Baby (harmonica played by Mick Jagger) - D harp
If there's any harp earlier in the final song of the Blues & Lonesome album, it must be low in the mix. But there is definitely a bit of D harp wailing right at the end.
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