Harmonica Lab v2 — a redesigned version of this page is in beta.
Try the betaDiatonic Blues Harp — 5 Positions — Bends & Blues Scale
Select the key the song is in:
Db'↓ = draw bend, 1 semitone down (single bend)F''↓ = draw bend, 2 semitones down (double bend)Ab'''↓ = draw bend, 3 semitones down (triple — hole 3 only)Eb'↑ = blow bend, 1 semitone down (holes 8–10)In the upper register (holes 7–10), the blow note is higher than the draw note — so bends go on the blow side. Deeper bends = harder technique.
Blues (2nd pos): Song key → count up a 4th → that's your harp.
Song in C? → C → D → E → F → grab F harp.
Major (1st pos): Song key = harp key. Simple.
Song in C? → grab C harp.
Minor (3rd pos): Song key → count down a whole step → that's your harp.
Song in Cm? → down from C → Bb → grab Bb harp.
| Harp | 1st Ionian | 2nd Mixolydian / Blues | 3rd Dorian | 4th Aeolian | 5th Phrygian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C Am | G | D | A C | E |
| Db | Db Bbm | Ab | Eb | Bb Db | F |
| D | D Bm | A | E | B D | F# |
| Eb | Eb Cm | Bb | F | C Eb | G |
| E | E Dbm | B | F# | Db E | Ab |
| F | F Dm | C | G | D F | A |
| F# | F# Ebm | Db | Ab | Eb F# | Bb |
| G | G Em | D | A | E G | B |
| Ab | Ab Fm | Eb | Bb | F Ab | C |
| A | A F#m | E | B | F# A | Db |
| Bb | Bb Gm | F | C | G Bb | D |
| B | B Abm | F# | Db | Ab B | Eb |
Read as: "[Harp] in [position] → play in [key]" · small line on 1st / 4th = relative pair (same notes: C and Am, etc.)
Select any position card to update the harmonica and piano diagrams