Blues Harp Song Keys - Little Walter

Since I'm sure we've all had trouble picking the key when jamming along to a song at some point, here are a few of the keys Little Walter played in...

Ah'w Baby: Song key: G, C Harp, 2nd position.
Back Track. Song key: F, Bb Harp, 2nd position.
Blues With a Feeling. Song key: A, D Harp, 2nd position. (Song key: F)
Boom, Boom Out Go The Lights, by Stan Lewis. Song key: E, A Harp, 2nd position.
Can't Hold Out Much Longer. Song key: G, C Harp, 2nd position.
I Hate To See You Go. Song key: G, C Harp, 2nd position.
Juke. Song key: E, A Harp, 2nd position.
Just Your Fool. Song key: A, D Harp, 2nd position.
Mean Old World. Song key: F, Bb Harp, 2nd position. (Song key: G)
My Babe. Song key: F, Bb Harp, 2nd position.
You're So Fine. Song key: E, A Harp, 2nd position.

If you've got any more please feel free to leave a comment. Cheers

Ah'w Baby

Ah'w Baby
words and music by Marion "Little Walter" Jocobs
key of G, cross harp-C
moderately

6 6 -5 6 -5 6 -4 -5 -3 -4 -3' -2
Baby, you're lookin' a good again tonight.

6 -5 -4 -3' -2 -2 -2" -2 -2" -2 -2" -2 -2" -2
Yeah, ba by, you're lookin' good a gain tonight

-4 -4 -4 4 -4 4 -4
You are made for me, ba -by,

-2" -2 -3" -3' -2 -3' -3' -2
I can't wait for tomorrow night.

Baby, I want to will my love to you.
Baby, I want to will my love to you.
'Cause you're my kind of baby,
Baby, youse the one I choose.

Baby, it's a lowdown dirty shame,
Baby, it's a low down dirty shame,
Bad way they talk about you,
But I love you just the same.

Happy With The Blues

Happy With The Blues
lyrics by Peggy Lee music by Harold Arlen
key of C, cross harp, F
moderately slow

6 -4 -2 -4 4
I've done some trav'lin'
6 -4 -2 -4 4
Done some un-rav'lin'
6 -4 -2 -4 4
And for this shoestring
-3 4 -4 5
Paid lots of dues.
-7 6 5 -6 -6
But sometimes maybe,
4 5 6 -6 -7
He calls me ba -by,
6 -4 -2 -4 -4' 4 -3' -3''
And then I'm happy with the blues.

-3 -3 4 -4 -4 5 -5
So many nights, many days
-5 5 -4 -4 4 -3 -3 4 5 -4 5 -5
I kept tel -ling myself what to do, where to go.
-3' -3 -5 -4 -1 2 -4' -3
But I stay here' cause I need him
-1' 2 4 -3' 2 -3''
And he needs me, I know.
-4 -3'' -1 -3'' -2
Rooms get so lone -ly,
-1 -2'' -2' -3' -3 -3
Without his fun -ny face
-7 6 5 4 -3 -3'' 2 -2
So, I'll be happy with the blues

Circle of Fifths Tee

A little wearable harmonica theory for those of us who need a key reference when jamming - better yet, make the guitarist wear one so you don't have to look down! Get one here

Author Sam Barry Teaches Mannish Boy Riff on Blues Harp

Sam Barry, author of How to Play the Harmonica: and Other Life Lessons, teaches Jason Headley the "Mannish Boy" (I'm a Man) riff on blues harp.



Described by his brother, Dave Barry, as "The only guy I know who's been a minister AND a coke dealer." Sam Barry is an author, a musician and a music teacher who plays in and around San Francisco in the band Los Train Wreck and tours with the all-author rock band the Rock Bottom Remainders. Sam is a regular performer on the national radio show West Coast Live.

Click here to find a copy of How to Play the Harmonica: and Other Life Lessons

Got The Blues, Can't Be Satisfied

Got The Blues, Can't Be Satisfied
words and music by Mississippi John Hurt
key of G, cross harp, C
relaxed

-4 5 -5 -4 5-5 -5 5 -4
Got the blues, can't be satisfied.

5 6 6 -7 6 -3' -3 -2
Got the blues, can't be sat -is -fied.

-6 -6 -6 6 -7 6 -6 -6 6
Keep the blues, I'll catch the train and ride.

Yes, whiskey straight will drive the blues away.
Yes, whixkey straight will drive the blues away.
That be the case, I wants a quart today.

I bought my baby a great big diamond ring.
I bought my baby a great big diamond ring,
Come right back home and caught her shaking that thing.

I said, "Babe, what makes you do me this a-way?"
I said, "Babe, what makes you do me this a-way?"
Well, that I bought, now you give away.

I took my gun and broke the barrel down.
I took my gun and broke the barrel down.
I put that joker six feet in the ground.

You got the blues, and I still can't be satisfied.
You got the blues, and I still can't be satisfied.
Well, some old day, gonna catch that train and ride.

Get Your Yas Yas Out

Get Your Yas Yas Out
words and music by Blind Boy Fuller
key of C, cross harp-F
moderately

6 6 6 6 6 5 6 5 6 5 6 5 6 5 6 5 -4 -3 -2
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o'door,

6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 -3 -3 5 5 5 5 -4
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o'door.

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 -3' -2 -2
Here you come raising hell,
know what you been doin' by the way you smell.

-3 -3 -3 -3 -4 -5 5 5 6 5 5 6 5 -4 -3 -2
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
throw your yas out o' door,

6 5 6 5 -4 -3 -2
I mean, yas yas out o' door. Yeah!

Now you have to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o'door.
Here you come raising sand,
Know what you been doin' by the way you stand.
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o' door.
I mean yas yas out o'door.
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
yas yas out o' door.
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o' door.
Look at you drinkin, went right through your head.
Had to drink a belt before you went to bed,
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o' door
I mean yas yas out o' door.
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o' door.
Now you got to leave my house this mornin',
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o' door,
Oh, zee zah, be dum bum,
Batta, batta, batta, dado zam,
Now you got to leave my house this mornin',
throw your yas yas out o'door.

Good Liquor Gonna Carry Me Down

Good Liquor Gonna Carry Me Down
words and music by Big Bill Broonzy
key of C, third position-Bb
moderatly

-4 -4 -4 -4-4-4 -5 -3 -4-4 -4 -4 -3"
Lord I know a little girl 'bout sixteen years old

-3 -4 -4 -4 -4 -5 -4 -3 -4-3 -4 -4 -4
She says Bill stop drinkin I will sat is fy your soul

(chorus)

-3 -4 -3 -4 -4-3 2" -1
But I just keep on a-drinkin',

-4 -3 -4 -3 -3' -2'
Yeah, I keep on drinkin'

-3' -3 -3" 4 4 4 -3-3"
Yeah, I just keep on a drinkin'

-3 -4 -3-3" -2" -2" -1
Till good liquor carry me down.

Now my woman told me about fifteen years ago
Bill you gonna drink one of these mornings
and you'll never drink no more.
(chorus)
Yes I went to the doctor with my head in my hands
The doctor said Big Bill I think I'll have to
give you monkey glands.
(chorus)
Lord my woman told me to stop drinkin' and come on home,
Say If you don't Big Bill some other man
gonna carry your business home.
(chorus)

Quick Blues Harp Tip

Get in the habit of frequently rapping the harmonica (mouthpiece side down) against your leg or palm to knock out the excess saliva and condensation from your breath. Do this before and after you put the harmonica into your mouth. If the reeds are stuck together with saliva, they can't vibrate and make sound.

Dark and Dreary

Dark and Dreary
words and music by Joe Josea and Elmore James
key of C, third position-Bb
moderately

4 -4 -5 -5 -4 -4 6 -5 -4 -3 -4 -2'
I have lost my baby, almost lost my mind.

4 -4 -5 -4 -4 -6 -5 6 -5 -3 -4 -2'
I've lost my baby, almost lost my mind.

6 6 6 -6 6 6 6 -4 -4 -3 -4 -2'
Way she treat me, gonna drive a man stone blind.

Well, the road seemed dark and dreary, while I traveled down that way.
Well, the road seemed dark and dreary, while I traveled down that way.
Well, my baby left me, she just come back home today.

Oh, I love my baby, tell the world I do
Oh, I love my baby, tell the world I do.
Well, I need a little lovin', darlin', gonna make my dream come true.

Oh, I love you darlin', like a schoolboy loves his pie.
Oh, I love you darlin', like a schoolboy loves his pie.
Now ain't that the way to treat me, darlin', my hurt's so long I will die.

Harp Tuning: How To Raise The Pitch

Håkan Ehn shows how to adjust a reed to raise the pitch a half step in draw hole 6. Håkan is tinkering with an A harmonica to play Canned Heat's On The Road Again.

Here's a link to where you can pick up a Lee Oskar Harmonica Tool Kit and Instruction Manualfor blues harp customization and maintenance.

Always practice on your old or cheap harmonicas first. I've messed up a whole bunch of harps along the way- better they be a $5 Jambone than a $100 Meisterklasse eh? Good luck.

Quick Blues Harp Tip

Whenever possible, be in a standing position if you are playing or practicing. Especially when you are working on your breathing technique, stand erect with your head up, back straight, and body relaxed so that you have a fighting chance of getting the airflow to originate from your diaphragm and not your mouth.

Harmonica Lessons: Holding The Harmonica

To get a great sound out of your harp you must learn to hold it correctly. The way that this is done is by holding the harmonica in a way where you can create a large airtight cup around the back of the harp.

Now to do this, firstly the harp must be up the right way. The recommended way to hold your harp is with the highest numbered holes to your right. Make sure the holes are facing you. Take your harp in your left hand and put it between your thumb and index finger. Keep your fingers toward the back of the harp. This way they won’t get caught in your mouth. The rest of your fingers should line up with your index finger.

The right hand is used to create that large airtight cup. Open your right hand fingers up and together, thumb out and pointing toward your face. Now bend your hand back at the wrist, tucking your elbow in and keeping your arm vertical. Bring the palm of your left and right hands together.

This helps to trap the sound in your hands. The loud notes you create are then trapped inside of the airtight cup you have made with your hands. This creates a more muffled softer sound. When you open your hands, you let the sound out. These notes sound much louder. To create a ‘tremolo effect, you flutter your outside hand.

Your right hand can be used to change the sound of your blues harp to get the effect you want. The important thing is get an airtight cup around the back of the harmonica and you’ll be fine.

Harmonica Lessons: Blues Harp Terminology

When you start to learn the blues harp, there are many different terms that you need to know. The differing types of harp, tab terminology and the various effects. Below are a few must know terms.

Chromatic blues harp: A tuning that uses all 12 notes used in Western music. Chromatic harmonicas have a slide activated by a button that alter the reed that is sounded to enable fully chromatic play. Often refers to the type of harmonica, as opposed to a diatonic harp.

Diatonic blues harp: A tuning that uses only the 8 notes from a major or minor scale. This is the tuning for normal 10 hole "short" harmonicas, also called diatonic harps. Often used to refer to the harmonica itself, as opposed to a chromatic harmonica.

Discrete Comb: A diatonic harmonica comb with a separate chamber for each reed.

Draw Notes played by inhaling: The draw notes are created by the lower reeds (numbers up) where the reeds open outside the harp. You play these through inhaling through the harp.

Opening Bend: A pitch raising bend where the reed initially opens away from its slot.

Blow Notes played by exhaling: The blow notes are created by the upper reeds (numbers up) where the reeds open inside the harp. These notes are produced through exhaling through the harp.

Position: Relates to the starting place (e.g. hole number) and manner (e.g. draw or blow) in which the root note of the scale is played. The natural notes of the harmonica when played in different positions yield characteristic modes.

Tab: Short for tablature. A shortcut notation that indicates how to play a note on the harmonica. This is different from standard musical notation, which indicates what note to play including its relative duration.

The "tremolo" effect: This is a change of volume. We specifically hold the harmonica in a way so that we can change the sound of a note or chord by opening and closing our hands. The technique is commonly referred to as "Hand Tremolo".

An Introduction to Tongue Blocking

Here's a quick and basic video lesson on blues harp tongue blocking...

Some Tips: work on getting a good clean note while tongue blocking. After you master that, work on moving the harmonica around playing simple songs while keeping them sounding good. Then work on all your riffs until you get those solid. Then work on octaves and flutters and such until they are easy. Then work on using those octaves to fatten your riffs up where you can and slowly they'll start to become part of your playing.

Big Road Blues

Big Road Blues
words and music by Tommy Johnson
key of D, cross harp-G
moderately

7 7 -6 6 5 4 7 -6 7 7 7
I ain't goin' down that big road by myself.

7 7 7 7 -6 7 -6 7 -6 7 -6
Why don't you hear me talkin', pretty mama,

7 7 -6 5 4 7 7 -6 6 5
Lord, ain't goin' down that big road by myself

-5 6 -6 -7 -7 -7 6 -6 5 5 5 4 4
If I don't carry you, goin' carry somebody else.

Early In The Morning

Early In The Morning
words and music by Elmore James
key of C, Cross harp-F
slow

-2 -2 -3'-2-2 2 -2 -2 -3 4 -3 4 -3 -2 -2
Well, it's early in the morning, and my baby can't be found.

-2 -2 -3' -2 -2 2 -2 -2 -3' 4 -3'4 -3' -2 -2
Well' it's ear -ly in the morning, and my baby can't be found.

-3 -3 -3 4 4 -3 -4 -2 -3 4 -4 4 -3' -2 -2
I'm gonna pack up and leave her if she don't stop runnin' 'round.

Well, I got to leave my baby,
'cause she gives me such a thrill.
Well. I got to leave my baby,
'cause she gives me such a thrill,
Well, she takes me back in the mornin',
and I hope she will.

She can get so sentimental
when the lights are way down low.
She can get so sentimental
when the lights are way down low.
The way that gal can thrill me,
make any man come back for more..

Dust My Broom

Dust My Broom
words and music by robert johnson
key of D, third position-C
moderately

-3 -4 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -4 -3 -4 -5 -4 -2 -3" -1
I'm goin get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom

-3 -4 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -4 -3-4 -5 -4 -2 -3" -1
I'm goin' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom

-5 -5 -4 -5 5 -4 -5 4 -3" -2 -4 -5 -4 -2 -3" -1
Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room.

I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know
I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know
If I can't find her in West Helena, she must be in East Moline, I know.


I don't want a woman,
wants every downtown man she meet.
I don't want a woman,
wants every downtown man she meet.
Shes' a no good donkey,
they shouldn't 'low her on the street.

I believe, I believe I'll go back home.
I believe, I believe I'll go back home,.
You can mistreat me here, babe,
but you can't when I go home.

And I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom,
And I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom,.
Girlfriend, the black man that you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room.

I'm gon' call up China, see is my good girl over there.
I'm gon' call up China, see is my good girl over there.
If I can't find her on Phillipine's Island, she must be in Ethiopia somewhere.

Corrina, Corrina

Corrina, Corrina
traditional
key of A, cross harp-D
moderately

-3 4 4 -4' -4 -7 -7 -7 -6 6 6
Cor rin a, Cor rin a, where'd you stay last night

-7 -7 6 -7 5 6 -2 -2 -2' 2 -1
Cor rin a, Cor rin a, where'd you stay last night,

-3' -3" -3" -2' -1 -3' -3" -3' -3" -2 -2
Come in this morn-in', clothes ain't fit -tin' you right.


I left Corrina, way across the sea
I left corrina, way across the sea,
She wouldn't write me no letter,
she don't care for me.

Oh, Corrina, Corrina,
where you been so long,
Oh, Corrina, Corrina
where you been so long.
She wouldn't write me no letter,
she don't care for me.

Corrina, Corrina, where you stay last night?
Corrina, Corrina, where you stay last night?
Come in this mornin' clothes don't fit you right.

C. C. Rider

C. C. Rider
traditional
Key of D, Cross Harp-G
moderate blues tempo

8 -8 7 6 -6 8 -8 7 -7' -6
C. C. Rider, just see what you have done,

-5 -6 -8 7 -5 -6 -8 7 -5 -6
you made me love you now your man's done come.

-5 -6' -8 7 -5 -6' -8 7 -5 -6
You made me love you now your man's done come.

6 8 8 8 6 -8 -8 -8 6 7
You made me love you now your man's done come.

You caused me, Rider, to hang my head and cry.
You caused me, Rider, to hang my head and cry.
You put me down; God knows I don't see why.
You put me down; god knows I don't see why.

If I had a headlight like on a passenger train,
I'd shine my light on cool Colorado Springs,
I'd shine my light on cool Colorado springs,
I'd shine my light on cool Colorado Springs.

That Sunshine Special
comin' round the bend
It blowed just like
it never blowed before
It blowed just like
it never blowed before
It blowed just like
it never blowed before.