“Desperado” by The Eagles is a classic song that many harmonica players want to learn. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to play this iconic tune on your harmonica, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down some simple harmonica tabs to get you started playing “Desperado The Song” today.
Desperado Harmonica Tabs (C Harmonica)
Here are harmonica tabs for the melody of “Desperado” that you can play on a C harmonica. These tabs are designed to be easy to pick up, even if you’re relatively new to playing the harmonica.
Desperado
5 -4 -4' -4 4
Why don’t you come to your senses?
5 -4 4 3 4 3 -4 4
You’ve been out ridin’ fences for so long now
4 4 5 6 5 -6 6 5 5 -4 -4' -4You might notice some notes with an apostrophe, like -4′. That indicates a bent note. In this case, it’s a slight bend on the -4 draw note. While these bent notes add a nice flavor to the song, especially on the lines “Desperado” and “You’ve been out ridin’ fences,” don’t worry if bending is new to you. You can still play a recognizable version of “Desperado the song” without them by simply playing the -4 note.
Getting harmonica tabs to line up perfectly with lyrics can be tricky in text format. Spacing often gets compressed when you post online, making it look misaligned. Experiment with different spacing or consider using code blocks, like the one above, to help maintain the alignment as much as possible.
Key and Harmonica Choice for Desperado
“Desperado” is originally in the key of G. The tabs provided here are for a C harmonica and are likely in what’s called “first position”. First position on the harmonica is often considered the easiest starting point for beginners. While playing in the song’s original key or in a different position can offer other nuances, using a C harmonica in first position is a straightforward way to learn the melody of “Desperado the song” and get familiar with it on your instrument.
The Importance of Relative Pitch for Harmonica
When learning songs like “Desperado the song” on harmonica, developing your relative pitch is incredibly helpful. Relative pitch is your ability to recognize the intervals between notes – how far apart one note is from another. This skill allows you to pick up tunes by ear more easily and play them on your harmonica, regardless of the specific key or harmonica you are using.
While some musicians have absolute pitch (the ability to identify a note perfectly by name), relative pitch is more practically useful for most harmonica players. It empowers you to quickly learn songs and adapt them to different harmonicas you have on hand. As you practice “Desperado the song” and other tunes, focusing on hearing the musical intervals will significantly improve your playing and musical understanding.
Learning “Desperado the song” on harmonica is a rewarding experience. Start with these tabs, focus on the melody, and let your ear guide you. Happy harping!
