Harmonica/Basic Chords

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All diatonics, tremelo, and chromatics are capable of true chords (i.e all the notes sounded at the same time); however, the chords may not be appropriate for the music you are playing.

Diatonics are specifically designed with chording in mind, and such, it lacks the 4th, 6th, and 7th notes in the bottom octave. As such, the chords available are the following:

• Straight harp:
  • I-Major chord, all on blows holes 1-3, 4-6, 7-9.
  • ii-minor chord, on draw hole 4-6
  • V-major/major-7th chord, on draw hole 2-5. (2-4 for major)
• Cross harp:
  • I-Major/Major-7th chord, on draw hole 2-5. (2-4 for major)
  • IV-major chord, all on blows holes 1-3, 4-6, 7-9.
  • v-minor chord, on draw hole 4-6

European Tremelos also have the same number of chords available.

• Third position
• I-major on draw hole 4-6
• IV-major on draw hole 2-4

Chromatics, which usually is played in the key of C, have the following chords available:

• I-major chord, all on blow hole 1-3, 5-7, 9-11
• ii-minor chord, all on draw hole 1-3, 5-7, 9-11
• vii7-minor chord, all on draw hole 4-7 and 8-11

East Asian Tremelos also have the same number of chords available.

Of course, one can attempt to bring about more chords with bending techniques; this is especially common in cross-harp playing.