Notation Guide
Tablature posted on this site or provided in private sessions are based on the format David Barrett uses on bluesharmonica.com, with a couple of my own variations. Briefly summarised it goes like this.
- A number with a + sign following means blow that number hole. For example
4+
means blow hole 4,6+
means blow hole 6 and so on. - A number without a + sign means draw that hole.
- For illustration, the tablature for the major scale in the middle octave looks like this:
4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7 7+
- A
'
indicates a note should be bent a half step.''
indicates a whole step bend, and'''
indicates a three semi-tone bend. For example:4'
= a 4 draw half step bend.2''
= a 2 draw whole step bend3'''
= a one and a half step draw bend on the three hole.
- Two hole numbers together means you should play both at the same time. So
45
indicates four and five draw played simultaneously. - Two dashes
--
indicate a slide from the first to second note. For example:4'--2
means to quickly move from 4 draw bend to 2 draw, catching the 3 draw briefly on the way. - A caret
^
indicates a dip. That means you start the note in a bend then quickly release to the natural note. Some people call this a scoop or a slur.4^
means play hole 4 draw with a dip.
There’s more to it but that’s enough to get going with the Music Theory for Harmonica Players series.