QuickGuide for Harmonica and Guitar

The Natural Minor tuning, with five altered notes (shown below), is a natural choice for playing minor key Blues, Reggae, Ska and Latin, as well as minor Funk, R&B, and Hip Hop.

Natural Minor scale played in A minor in 2^nd Position on the A Natural Minor harmonica.

2^nd Position: Minor Blues, Reggae, Ska, Latin, Funk, R&B, Hip Hop

With an A Natural Minor (Am) harmonica in its holder, play a sparse bassline on your guitar. Chop on the backbeat with an A minor chord (draw on lower range of the harmonica) and a Dm minor chord (blow).

Strum a Reggae rhythm.

Try a minor Blues.

Or try it with a minor Reggae groove such as “Swing Easy Riddim” or “Stand Up For Your Rights.” Or play a funkier rhythm for a two-chord tune, like Hip Hop harmonica player Bad News Brown.

The Natural Minor harmonica will also play the relative Major scale. Shown here is a C Major scale played on the A Natural Minor harmonica.

For more about the Natural Minor Harmonica, check out this chord reference guide.