What harmonica do I need for Jingle Bells?

An E diatonic harmonica. The Jingle Bells harmonica tab on this page is written for that harp.

Is Jingle Bells easy to play on harmonica?

This song is marked beginner level. Its tab needs no bends. The page has tabs for these levels: Beginner, Advanced.

What are the first notes of Jingle Bells on harmonica?

The first line is 6 8 -8 7 6 6 6 6 8 -8 7 -6 -6 -6. Plain numbers are blow notes, numbers with a minus sign are draw notes.

2 tabs available

Jingle Bells Harmonica Tabs

James Lord PierpontKey of EEasyFolk

2 tabs · 215 BPM · Free

Key: E Beginner level 215 BPM Free Harmonica Tab

The song "Jingle Bells" by James Lord Pierpont is written for a E diatonic harmonica and uses holes 6–10. It needs no bends. One practice hint for this beginner tab is to focus on the hardest line, which is line 5, featuring the notes -6 -9 8 -8. This line requires careful breath control and note transitions, making it a key area to practice as you learn the song.

Harp: E · 1st position
Key: E major
Time: 4/4
Tempo: ♩ = 215
Level: Beginner
Part: sections B', A, A' (bars 25–48, 24 bars)

Whole tab one octave up: at the written pitch the C# notes would need a -3'' bend
80% of notes are on holes 8–10: a Low E 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

B' from bar 25

25 [4/4]

A from bar 33

A' from bar 41

Playing Notes

Plays: sections B', A, A' (bars 25–48, 24 bars) Whole tab one octave up: at the written pitch the C# notes would need a -3'' bend 80% of notes are on holes 8–10: a Low E harp plays this same tab an octave lower, warmer and closer to the written register

What next?

Next song like thisWhen the Saints Go Marching In

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How to play the first line of Jingle Bells on harmonica

Get an E diatonic harmonica
This Jingle Bells tab is written for an E diatonic harmonica.
Need an E 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 6 8 -8 7 6 6 6 6 8 -8 7 -6 -6 -6: 9 blow and 5 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 Jingle Bells?: An E diatonic harmonica. The Jingle Bells harmonica tab on this page is written for that harp.
Is Jingle Bells easy to play on harmonica?: This song is marked beginner level. Its tab needs no bends. The page has tabs for these levels: Beginner, Advanced.
What are the first notes of Jingle Bells on harmonica?: The first line is 6 8 -8 7 6 6 6 6 8 -8 7 -6 -6 -6. Plain numbers are blow notes, numbers with a minus sign are draw notes.

Free Christmas Harmonica Songbook

A free printable PDF: how to read harmonica tabs, then public-domain carols such as Silent Night, Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls, one per page, easiest first, each with a link to play it here.