Bang Bang

“Bang, bang” is a very fun song to play on the harmonica. I used the Marine Band A harmonica and played in the key of B, which is the 3rd position.

Bang Bang by Jessie J

||: -1 -1 -2' -3" -3 -4 4 4 4 4 4
-1 -1 -2' -3" -3 -4 4 4 4 4 4
4o -14 -14 -14 -14 -14 14 25 -14
4o -14 -14 -14 -14 -14 -2" :||

(See below for tab legend)

It’s bluesy, expressive and has a catching hook. During the verse, you can add the third interval to the notes, which adds fullness to it. The chorus has a major pentatonic going up, then it’s spiced up with b7, 2 and 3 steps. It sounds very cool if you play those steps with tongue blocking or even use octaves. The rap part can be easily replaced with a solo. Nicki Minaj dominantly reads 16th notes there and that would work for the harmonica as well, which of course will require some technique, cos the notes are very frequent. Have fun with it 😉

Thanks,
Alex

Tab Legend

There are a lot of systems for harmonica tablature. I have chosen the below system of tablature because it’s becoming the Internet’s most commonly used standard.

1 means blow on hole number 1
-1 means draw on hole number 1
4 means blow on hole number 4
-4 means draw on hole number 4
45 means blow on hole number 4 and hole number 5 at the same time
-45 means draw on hole number 4 and hole number 5 at the same time

And here’s the bending tab examples:
-3′ means play 3 draw bent down a half step
-3” means play 3 draw bent down two half steps
-3”’ means play 3 draw bent down three half steps
4o means overblow