Understanding Scales on the Diatonic Harmonica

Hello, my name is Matt, and today we're looking at scales on the diatonic harmonica.

The Major Scale

On the diatonic harmonica, we have a major scale. If you've seen the other lessons, you'll know that we have one full major scale between holes four and seven.

The Blues Scale

The scale we use for playing blues starts on hole number two or hole number three.

• When you breathe in hole number two and blow hole number three, you get the same note. The notes are doubled up.

Note Breakdown

• Hole 2 (Draw): G
• Hole 3 (Blow): G
• Hole 3 (Draw): B
• Hole 4 (Blow): C
• Hole 4 (Draw): D
• Hole 5 (Draw): F
• Hole 6 (Blow): G

So, on a C harmonica, we have a pentatonic blues scale in the key of G.

Sounding It Out

It sounds like this:

(Insert sound example here)

For reference, there is a PDF on the site containing a diagram that shows you all the notes on a diatonic harmonica with the blues scale highlighted.

The Blues Scale Progression

The blues scale on a diatonic harmonica goes from:

• Two Draw
• Three Draw
• Four Blow
• Four Draw
• Five Draw
• Six Blow

Happy playing!