3 Stupidly Simple BLUES Harmonica Riffs (Guaranteed to Impress)

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Riff 1: Paul Butterfield
Paul Butterfield plays Work Song on a Bb harmonica, but here are the harmonica tabs in C for our beginner version of the Work Song riff:

-12 -12 -23 34 -34 -34 34 -34 -45
-12 -12 -23 34 -12 -12 12 -12

Riff 2: Big Walter Horton
In this Big Walter Horton blues harmonica riff we are playing on the "and" of 1, and beat 3.

The harmonica tabs for this beginner blues riff are simple:

-12 -12 (4X)
123 123 (2X)
-12 -12
-1 -1
123 123
-12 -12 (2X)

Riff 3: Sonny Boy WIlliamson
Inspired by a riff I first learned listening to One Way Out by Sonny Boy Williamson, off of his record The Real Folk Blues, this is also the riff from John Mayall's song Room to Move, which appears on his live album The Turning Point.

Here are the harmonica tabs in C for our One Way Out / Room to Move inspired blues harmonica riff for beginners:

-12 -12 12 -1 -12 -12 -12 12 -1 -12 -12 12 -1 -12 (repeat)
34 34 -23 23 34 34 23 -23 23 34 34 -23 23 34
-12 -12 12 -1 -12 -12 -12 12 -1 -12 -12 12 -1 -12
-45 trill, 45 trill, -12 -12 12 -1 -12 -12 -12 12 -1 -12 -12 12 -1 -12

I hope you’ve enjoyed this free beginner blues harmonica lesson, “3 Stupidly Simple Blues Harmonica Riffs (Gauranteed to Impress Your Friends.) If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.

Never stop playing the harmonica! It makes the world a better place. 😎