Traditional harmonica sheet music can confuse beginners who do not read standard music staves. Harmonica tablature simplifies this down to numbers and breath directions. A single number tells you which hole to target on the comb. An unaccompanied number means blow air through the comb. A minus sign before the number instructs you to draw air in through your lungs.
On a 10-hole diatonic harmonica tuned to C, the notes align as follows across the active melodic range:
- Hole 4: Blow = C | Draw (-4) = D
- Hole 5: Blow = E | Draw (-5) = F
- Hole 6: Blow = G | Draw (-6) = A
- Hole 7: Blow = C | Draw (-7) = B
Notice that between holes 4 and 7, you possess a complete C major scale. Mastering the jump between blow and draw without knocking the instrument against your teeth is your first milestone.
