Blues Harp Songs and Riffs
HarpTab.com was a collection of songs and riffs that I’ve worked out over the years, plus some libraries of stuff I’ve converted to tablature. I’ve included most of the notes and instructions that helped me when I was learning to play blues harmonica.
Make sure that your speakers are on. You can mouse over the harmonica notes and your browser will automatically play the note to help you in learning the riff.
For the most part the blues songs and riffs are in the key of G as used by a C harp (Cross Harp). Some of the songs and riffs allow you to change the key. Some will show the song or riff in other positions such as Third Position or Straight harp.
The following are the basic riffs that you’ll need to play blues harp. My goal here is to give you a basic understanding of what is going on in blues and what you can play at different points in the 12 bar blues cycle.
- 12 bar blues harp theory
- Beginner’s Practice Riffs
- Faking Blues Riffs
- Blues Harp Scale
- Triplets
- Help Me lick
- Hoochie-Coochie Man and Mannish Boy Riffs
- Peter Gunn Bass Line
Here are some simple harp tabs for songs. They are mostly not blues, but they are “Bluesey” with plenty of bends to practice.
I tabbed out some blues riffs and phrases. This will allow you to play riffs in first, second and third positions. This is great for learning to really play blues harp.
- B.B. King Sweet 16
- Little Walter’s Juke
- Little Walter’s Off the Wall
- Born Under a Bad Sign
- Cream - Sunshine of You Love
I spent a lot of time working out almost all of Help me by Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller).
Song Snippets Harp Tab
Blues Song Lyrics
