Harmonica Chords

I keep some of my notes about my Harmonica Studies on my webpage:

Harmonica Studies by Michael P. Garofalo.

Chords for Harmonicas

By Michael P. Garofalo
June 25, 2024

Common Harmonica Keys: C A D G

I gathered the information provided below from a series of books by James Major titled "the Complete 10 Hole Diatonic Harmonica Series." Each book in the series is about one Harmonica Key. Detailed information, informative charts, well organized, excellent layout, and a valuable booklet of around 50 ages. For example, C Harmonica Book. By James Major. Mel Bay Publishing, 2005, 48 pages. VSCL.

Chords on C Key Harmonica

I C Major CEG (Blow Holes 456 or 789 or 123 or any 3 adjacent holes)

IV F Dyad FA (Draw 56 and Draw 9 10)

V G Major GBD (Draw Holes 234 or Draw Holes 1234

G7 GBDF (Draw Holes 2-5)

Gm DG (Draw 12) 

Dm DFA (Draw 456 and Draw 89 10)

Bb BDF (Draw 3456 and 789) 

Blues Second (Play on G Key Harmonica)

Chords on G Key Harmonica

I G Major GBD (Blow Holes 456 or 789 or 123 or any 3 adjacent holes)

IV C Dyad CE (Draw 56 and Draw 9 10)

V D Major DF#A (Draw Holes 234 or Draw Holes 1234

Gm Minor DG (Blow 34 and 67 and 9 10)

D7 DFmAC (Draw Holes 2-5)

Dm AD (Draw 12)

Am ACE (Draw 456 and 89 10)

F# FAC (Draw 345 and 789)

Blues Second (Play on ? Key Harmonica)

Chords on D Key Harmonica

I D Major DFA (Blow Holes 456 or 789 or 123 or any 3 adjacent holes)

IV G Dyad GB (Draw 56 and Draw 9 10)

V A Major ACE (Draw Holes 234 or Draw Holes 1234)

A7 AC#EG (Draw 2345)

Am EA (Draw 12)

Em EGB (Draw 456 and 89 10)

D Blow AD (Blow 34 and 67 and 9 10)

C Triad C#EG (Draw 345 an 789)

Blues Second (Play on ? Key Harmonica)

Use D Key Harp to Play Blues in Key of A

Saint James Infirmary

Saint James Infirmary

I will be using the Blues Keys of A Minor:  A C D  Ef  E G A

Blues Chords of: 
Am   A C E
E7    E  G Sharp  B D
F7    F A C  E Flat  


The melody is 8 bars long, unlike many songs in the classic blues genre, where there are 12 bars. It uses a steady slow 4/4 time signature.  The Louis Armstrong version has a tempo or pace is that of a slow walk, a funeral march, a dirge.  It can be done in a stride rhythm style with the left hand like Doug Duffey does solo below in 1991, along with his skilled extensive melodic improvisation.  


I take lessons at the Vancouver Music Academy, near Fourth Plain Blvd. and Covington St (94th Ave.)., in the unincorporated Orchards area of Northeast Vancouver, Washington.  

My piano music teacher, Howard, has me doing a finger exercise in C Key and the chords and melody for playing St. James Infirmary.  

The song I asked to work on first was  St. James Infirmary, based on old folk ballads.  The second song will be Summertime, by George Gershwin.  


Various Lyrics for Saint James Infirmary:

"Well, folks, I'm goin' down to St. James Infirmary
See my little baby there
She's stretched out on a long, white table
Well, she looks so good, so cold, so fair

I went down to the St. James Infirmary to see my baby there.
She was lyin' on a long white table, so sweet, so cool, so fair.
Went up to see the doctor, "Shes's very low" he said.
Went back to see my baby.  Great God!  She was lyin' their dead.

Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
You may search this whole wide world over
But you'll never find another sweetheart like me, yeah

Take apart your bones and put 'em back together
Tell your mama that you're somebody new
Feel the breeze blowin', tell 'em all "Look out, here it comes"
Now I can say whatever I feel like to you

Then get me six craps-shootin' pallbearers
Let a chorus girl sing me a song
Put a red-hot jazz band at the top so that we can raise
Hallelujah as we go along, well

Well, folks, now that you have heard my story
Say, boy, hand me another shot of that rye
And if anyone else should ask you
Just tell 'em I've got some of those St. James Infirmary blues."