Billy Joel’s iconic song “Piano Man” is a fantastic piece for beginners to learn on the harmonica. This guide will help you navigate the basics of playing this song on a C harmonica, which is the key in which the original song was recorded.
Let’s dive into the details and break it down into four levels of learning.
LEVEL 1 Just Learning The Harmonica Tabs In C.
To play “Piano Man” on the harmonica, you need to understand the harmonica tabs. Harmonica tabs are a simplified way to notate the music for harmonica, indicating which holes to blow or draw. Here’s a simple tab for “Piano Man”:
56 -56 56 -45 45 -45 45
34-34 45 -34 45 -45
56 -56 56 -45 45 -45 45
34 -45 45 -34 34
Each pair of numbers represents a hole on the harmonica. The “-” sign before a number means you should draw air through that hole. Practicing these tabs will help you get comfortable with the song’s melody.
Level 2: Playing the Right Rhythms
Playing “Piano Man” accurately involves maintaining the right rhythm. The song is in 3/4 time, often referred to as “Waltz Time,” which means you count in threes: 1, 2, 3. Practice playing the notes in this rhythm to get the right feel for the song:
1 2 3 &|1 2 & 3 &|1 & 2 3|1 2 3
56 -56 56 -45 45-45 45
1 2 3|1 2 & 3|1 2 3| 1 2 3|
34 -34 45-34 45-45
1 2 3 &|1 2 &3 & |1 & 2 3|1 2 3
56 -56 56 -45 45-45 45
1 2 3 |1 & 2 3 |1 2 3 |1 2 3
34 -45 45 -34 34
This rhythm will help you play the song more fluidly.
Level 3: Playing Single Notes with Bending
For a more nuanced sound, practice playing single notes and incorporating bends. Bending lowers the pitch of a note, adding a soulful touch. Here’s the tab with bends:
6 -6 6 -5 5 -5 5
4 -4 5 -4 5 -5
6 -6 6 -5 5 -5 5
4 -5 5 -4 4
One must aware of the skill to isolate notes by playing one note at a time and the best method to isolate notes by using the Lip Blocking technique. Bending is a popular technique to lower the pitch of a note. If you know bending, then the first note that will add bending is the first -5 in the first line. This note hardly bends, but we’ll do it anyway, and swoop up into the -5 as below:
6 -6 6 -5’-5 5 -5 5
In the next note, there is time to bend in the second -4 in the second line. There we will bend up into it like this:
4 -4 5 -4’-4 5 -5
In the third line bending will be done into -5 as we did in the second line:
6 -6 6 -5’-5 5 -5 5
Finally the bending up into the last -4 following this:
4 -5 5 -4’-4 4
Practice isolating each note using the lip-blocking technique and then add bends where indicated to bring out the song’s expressiveness.
Level 4: Putting It All Together
Combine the rhythm, single notes, and bends to play “Piano Man” smoothly. Here’s the complete tab:
5 6 7 -5 6 5 6 7 -4 5’ -4 5 4 5 -4 5 4 5
3 4 – 3 4 4 5 -3 4’ -3 4 4 5 -4 5
5 6 -5 6 5 6 -4 5’ -4 5 4 5 -4 5 4 5
3 4 -4 5 4 5 -3 4’ -3 4 3 4
Mastering these steps will help you play “Piano Man” like a pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is “Piano Man” easy to play on the harmonica? Yes, “Piano Man” is relatively easy for beginners to learn on the harmonica. The song’s simple structure and the use of a C harmonica make it accessible for new players.
Q2: What harmonica do I need for “Piano Man”? A C-tone harmonica is recommended for playing “Piano Man.” For beginners, a Tremolo or Diatonic Harmonica is ideal due to its simplicity compared to the Chromatic Harmonica.
Q3: How do you play “Piano Man” on the harmonica? You can play “Piano Man” on the harmonica by following these steps:
- Learn the harmonica tabs in C.
- Master the double stop technique to play the right rhythm.
- Apply the single note technique.
- Practice playing with bends.
Q4: Does Billy Joel play harmonica on “Piano Man”? Yes, Billy Joel played the harmonica on “Piano Man” in 1973. It is a classic track noted in the key of C, making it smooth and enjoyable for beginners to learn.
Additional Resources
- What Does Piano Mean In Music Crossword?
- Best Tricks To Clean A Harmonica
- How Can I Choose A Harmonica To Avoid Pass Out
By following these levels and tips, you’ll be able to play “Piano Man” on the harmonica and enjoy the soulful experience of this classic song. Happy playing!