I’d like to share something special with you today—a song I recently arranged and performed using my color-coded system for the diatonic harmonica.
But first, a bit of inspiration: did you know that in Japan, the harmonica plays a central role in music education? In many primary schools, children learn to play the harmonica as one of their first instruments. This tradition has led to a rich repertoire of beautiful and well-structured songs that are simple yet highly effective for beginners.
One piece that caught my attention is “Furusato~Aka Tombo,” beautifully performed by Yuko Yanagawa on a tremolo harmonica in F. You can listen to her version here:
Inspired by this, I adapted the song for a diatonic harmonica in C and created an arrangement that stays true to its charming and melodic structure. Using my system, I recorded a version of the song with the harmonica melody I played myself (not MIDI this time!).
Here’s what you’ll find:
- A video with a visual guide showing the melody in my color-coded format.
Link to the video
- Note: The video uses the original Japanese note names, but this shouldn’t be an issue for following along since it is based on hole numbers and colors—red for blow notes and green for draw notes.
- Two free downloadable tablatures in my format:
- Tablature with Japanese note names: For those who want to experience the original notation.
Tablature with English note names: For those more familiar with English notation.
- A backing track for independent practice, also available on my channel.
This song is not only beautiful but also beginner-friendly—you can start playing it almost immediately!
I’d love for you to give it a try and let me know if you can play it right away. Also, feel free to share your thoughts about the Japanese music tradition and its influence on harmonica education.
Thanks for your time, and happy playing! 
Enjoy the music and have fun playing!
Gerrix