Tequila Harmonica Lesson
Learn to play the classic sax riff from the song Tequila on harmonica!
Difficulty: Medium
Lesson Length: 14:23
Instructor: George Goodman
Hohner Special 20 Diatonic Harmonica in C
With their excellent response and great tone, diatonic harmonicas from HOHNER have earned a worldwide reputation for the finest quality. They are frequently referred to as “Blues Harps” and are primarily used as melody instruments in blues, rock, pop, country and folk as well as other styles.
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
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George, thank you again for these songs. taquilla is so good to play and you do an excellent job of teaching it.
Hank Hamilton
Good stuff Hank. Tequila’s a great riff harp on.