Tequila Sax Riff Transcribed For Harmonica

Difficulty: Medium
Lesson Length: 14:23
Instructor: George Goodman

We have two different key harmonicas going in this one.

Both a C and G Hohner Special 20s, playing the G in first position and the C harmonica in second position.

Single notes are really needed here. The Lip Pucker technique is the way to go for that.

High notes can be challenging and you want to avoid a thin sound. Support from the diaphragm makes the higher octave versions fuller.

Bending is required for the lower octave versions.

Single notes, Bending and Breathing Techniques are all covered in Harmonica Essentials - Check out the course material here: Harmonica Essentials Course

Introduction

Tequila was written by Daniel Flores and recorded in late 1957.
Flores was also the saxophonist and vocalist on the track.
Tequila was released as the B side to the song Train To Nowhere in 1958.

This lesson adapts the classic saxophone riff for harmonica

Gear Required

I'm going to demonstrate this riff in a couple of different keys and a couple of different positions.
First off is third position using a C harmonica and then fourth position using a G harmonica.
The Hohner Special 20 is my harmonica of choice
- C Hohner Special 20.
- G Hohner Special 20.

4:58 Harmonica Tabs in Third Position

C Harmonica in Third Position - Lower Octave
This works when the song is played in the key of D

-3bb -4 -4 4 5 4 -4 -3bb
-3bb -4 -4 4 5 4 -4
-3bb -4 -4 4 5 4 -4 -3bb
-3bb -4 -4 4 5 4 -4

-3bb 4 -4 -5 -4
-3bb 4 -4 -5 -4
-3bb 4 -4 -5 -4
5 5 5 5 5 5 -3bb

8:23 - Third Position Harmonica Tabs in the Higher Octave

-6 -8 -8 7 8 7 -8 -6
-6 -8 -8 7 8 7 -8
-6 -8 -8 7 8 7 -8 -6
-6 -8 -8 7 8 7 -8

-6 7 -8 -9 -8
-6 7 -8 -9 -8
-6 7 -8 -9 -8
8 8 8 8 8 8 -6

12:10 - G Harmonica in Fourth Position

This works when the song is played in the key of E
5 -6 -6 6 -7 6 -6 5
5 -6 -6 6 -7 6 -6
5 -6 -6 6 -7 6 -6 5
5 -6 -6 6 -7 6 -6

5 6 -6 7 -6
5 6 -6 7 -6
5 6 -6 7 -6
-7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 5

Things To Note

This was recorded in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia.

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Right on. See you in the next one.

Peace,

George