What harmonica do I need for Hey Diddle Diddle?

An F diatonic harmonica. The Hey Diddle Diddle harmonica tab on this page is written for that harp.

Is Hey Diddle Diddle easy to play on harmonica?

This song is marked beginner level. Its tab needs no bends.

What are the first notes of Hey Diddle Diddle on harmonica?

The first line is 8 8 8 8 -9 9 -8 -8 -8 -8 7 -8 8 8 8 -9 …. Plain numbers are blow notes, numbers with a minus sign are draw notes.

1 tab available

Hey Diddle Diddle Harmonica Tabs

TraditionalKey of FEasyChildren's Songs

1 tab · 100 BPM · Free

Key: F Beginner level 100 BPM Free Harmonica Tab

The song "Hey Diddle Diddle" by Traditional is written for a F diatonic harmonica and uses holes 6–10. It needs no bends. One practice hint for this beginner tab is to pay extra attention to the hardest line, which is 8 8 8 8 -9 9. This line features a notable jump that may require focused practice to master. Overall, this tab offers a fun and engaging way to familiarize yourself with the F harmonica.

Harp: F · 1st position
Key: F major
Time: 6/8
Tempo: ♩ = 100
Level: Beginner
Part: complete (8 bars)

Whole tab two octaves up: at the written pitch 5 notes (C4, D4, E4) sit below hole 1 and the Bb and D notes would need bends (-2'', -3''); one octave up only, the D notes would need a -3'' bend
76% of notes are on holes 8–10: a Low F harp plays this same tab an octave lower, warmer and closer to the written register

How to read this tab

4 blow (↑)
-4 draw (↓)
w h q e s whole · half · quarter · eighth · 16th
q. 3 ~ dotted · triplet · tied
1 + 2 + count: beat and “and”; (1) = keep holding

–

Ready

1 [6/8]

Playing Notes

Plays: complete (8 bars) Whole tab two octaves up: at the written pitch 5 notes (C4, D4, E4) sit below hole 1 and the Bb and D notes would need bends (-2'', -3''); one octave up only, the D notes would need a -3'' bend 76% of notes are on holes 8–10: a Low F harp plays this same tab an octave lower, warmer and closer to the written register

What next?

Next song like thisSing a Song of Sixpence

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How to play the first line of Hey Diddle Diddle on harmonica

Get an F diatonic harmonica
This Hey Diddle Diddle tab is written for an F diatonic harmonica.
Need an F harmonica? See our harmonica guide
Read the hole numbers
Each number is a hole. A plain number (6) means blow out, a number with a minus sign (-5) means draw in.
Play the first line slowly
The first line is 8 8 8 8 -9 9 -8 -8 -8 -8 7 -8 8 8 8 -9 …: 9 blow and 7 draw notes. Play it slowly, one clean note at a time, then match the rhythm of the recording.
Carry on line by line
Once the first line sounds clean, learn the rest of the tab one line at a time. This tab needs no bends.

Questions about this tab

What harmonica do I need for Hey Diddle Diddle?: An F diatonic harmonica. The Hey Diddle Diddle harmonica tab on this page is written for that harp.
Is Hey Diddle Diddle easy to play on harmonica?: This song is marked beginner level. Its tab needs no bends.
What are the first notes of Hey Diddle Diddle on harmonica?: The first line is 8 8 8 8 -9 9 -8 -8 -8 -8 7 -8 8 8 8 -9 …. Plain numbers are blow notes, numbers with a minus sign are draw notes.