Playing in C minor on the harmonica
Which harp and which position
The key of C minor can be played several ways depending on the harp you have at hand. Here are the three workable positions on a standard diatonic.
| Harp | Position | Mode | Style | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bb | 3rd position (slant harp) | Dorian | minor blues, Celtic | intermediate |
| Eb | 4th position | Aeolian | natural minor, ballad | intermediate |
| Ab | 5th position | Phrygian | flamenco, modal | advanced |
The Bb harp in 3rd position (slant harp)
Tonic on the draw (hole 4). The Dorian mode keeps a major sixth, which makes the minor sound bright — perfect for Celtic tunes and minor blues.
Richter layout of the Bb harp
The ten holes of the Bb harp. The gold cells mark the tonic C, your resting note when you play in C minor.
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blow | Bb | D | F | Bb | D | F | Bb | D | F | Bb |
| Draw | C | F | A | C | Eb | G | A | C | Eb | G |
The degrees of the song
In C minor, the three degrees that carry the accompaniment:
i Cmiv Fmv Gm
Going further
Other keys
The full calculator in the app
Enter your key and the app gives you the harp, the position and highlights the tonic holes on the interactive Richter. Free, no account required.
Open the Harmonica Hub →Frequently asked questions
Which harmonica should I use to play in C minor?
A diatonic Bb harp played in 3rd position (slant harp): that is the most common combination for minor blues, Celtic. In 4th position, take a Eb harp.
Which position for the harmonica in C minor?
On a diatonic harmonica the position depends on the harp. The three options for this key: 3rd position (slant harp) on a Bb harp, 4th position on a Eb harp, 5th position on a Ab harp.
What are the basic chords in C minor?
The three main degrees are Cm (tonic), Fm (subdominant) and Gm (dominant). These are the chords the diatonic brings out best.