Harmonica range

The harmonica’s range in notes and hertz

A 10-hole diatonic in C spans three octaves, though not every note in them; harmonicas in other keys move the whole range. A 16-hole chromatic runs from C3 to D7.

Written and sounding pitch

The harmonica reads at concert pitch in treble clef: a written note sounds as written, so the range above is both the sound and the page.

Range by size

Instruments with a similar range

The instruments whose normal range shares the most notes with the harmonica’s:

• Violin · G3–E7 37 notes shared
• Viola · C3–D7 37 notes shared
• Mandolin · G3–D7 37 notes shared
• Flute · C4–C7 37 notes shared
• E♭ clarinet · G3–C7 37 notes shared
• Marimba · C2–C7 37 notes shared

Tune it, play it

• Harmonica tuner — tune by microphone, with the harmonica’s own target notes.
• Play a harmonica online — the same range, playable in your browser.

Songs that fit the harmonica

36 songs from our public-domain library fit inside the harmonica’s range, each written out in the notation harmonica players read:

• Hot Cross Buns
• Lightly Row
• Going Home (New World Largo)
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
• Happy Birthday
• Ode to Joy
• Mary Had a Little Lamb
• Row, Row, Row Your Boat
• Jingle Bells
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas
• Yankee Doodle
• Silent Night

All 36 harmonica songs ›

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• The chart behind our playable harmonica, itself checked note by note against published charts.
• Wikipedia, Template:Vocal and instrumental pitch ranges