Translating sheet music to harmonica tabs

[12crowe]

Hey everybody,

I’ve been doing harmonica for just over a year now. Recently, I joined a church band and the band leader passes out sheet music for the next gig. First off, I don’t know what key the song is in. And secondly, how do I translate the sheet music into harmonica tabs? I’ve included a song that were are going to do some time in September. I need to practice before then. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Raven

[JanDomanski]

Wow! Great to welcome church harmonica player. I played harmonica in church for many years. Now i’m playing piano on church. I think that isn’t good idea to translate notes to tabs. I think that better will be play directly from that sheet. Maybe will be usefull chart made by @HarpinBobbyMcB ( Scales - #14 by HarpinBobbyMcB ).

…But I think that this song is too hard for starting to learn notes reading.
Firstly - I reccomend to little workout:

Tabs for "As Time Goes By"

Firstly I think that will be good to learn C-major scale on harmonica without bends. Firstly in middle octave because there are all notes. Then play first and third octave keeping in mind that there are missing notes (F,A in first octave, and A in third octave). here are c-major scale [CScale-rh] It is not important which harmonica You will use. When You be able to play C-major scale from sheetnotes then try to play melodies. Maybe firstly simpler melodies. For example “ode to joy” [images] …

Sheet notes that You uploaded are made for whole choir. It’s little hard to determine main melody. Here I found simpler notes for that song:

https://musescore.com/user/180241/scores/171740

I’ve also made some tabs for couple of popular church songs:

How to play popular worship music

Dear, It’s very nice to meet somebody who plays worship music on the harmonica. I’ve been playing in church for more than 20 years. Firstly on accordion, then harmonica and other instruments. Now I’m playing mainly on piano. If I can advise You something: try to play by ear. Listen to popular songs and play along. Then buy a harp set with the most popular worship keys: D,C,G,A,E,Bb (ordered by usefulness in worship) and join the worship group in Your town. I think that You will be welcome in a …

…but
I think that best way is to play by ear. Maybe You can meet with band leader and he/she will play song on piano or sing note by note and he will teach you to play that song.

[Carlos1]

@12crowe

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Hi, Raven @12crowe and welcome to the forum.

I agree with Jan @JanDomanski that the sheet music you posted is far, far too difficult for a beginning harmonica player. You did not say anything about your harmonica: is it a 10 hole diatonic? What key is it? Is it a 10, 12, 14 or 16 hole chromatic?

I am sorry to say that regardless, this is probably beyond a quick solution.

[12crowe]

I have a full set of 10-hole diatonic harmonicas. Those are good ideas about tuning your ear to the music. But can you look at this piece of sheet music and know what the key would be for say a guitar player?

Ravin