Masterpieces you’ll want to play on the harmonica. Popular songs that look cool if you can play them.
The harmonica is one of the classic instruments you’ll find at school.
Many of you have probably played it in music class, right?
Because it’s a simple instrument that produces sound just by blowing, even small children can play it easily—that’s the nice part.
This time, we’re introducing famous songs you’ll want to try playing on the harmonica at least once.
We’ve gathered a genre-spanning selection, from long-loved Japanese and Western songs to recent popular J-pop.
If you’re thinking, “I want to play popular songs on the harmonica,” or “I want to perform the harmonica in front of people,” be sure to use this as a reference!
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Iconic songs you’ll want to play on the harmonica: Cool, popular tracks to master (31–40)
electric shockYonezu Kenshi
This song expresses the pursuit of fleeting beauty and eternity.
Kenshi Yonezu’s delicate melodic lines pair well with the gentle timbre of the harmonica.
Released digitally in July 2020, it was written as the theme song for the TBS Friday drama MIU404.
It features a lively funk rhythm and distinctive sampled tracks woven throughout.
The aim was to create a track that feels great when played in a car.
The music video drew a huge response, surpassing one million views about an hour and fifty minutes after its release.
Because a single breath can convey a wide range of emotions, it’s perfect for harmonica performance.
Walking GhostBUMP OF CHICKEN
With its exhilarating drive, BUMP OF CHICKEN’s “Walking Ghost” features a particularly memorable harmonica passage even in the original.
It’s a track that sings of the frustration of comparing yourself to others and feeling rushed, even when you’re doing your best day by day, yet its brisk melody and speedy rock sound feel like they’ll blow your worries away.
It’s fast and densely arranged, so the first challenge is simply riding the momentum—but the warm tone of the harmonica should help cover that.
Get into the rhythm and set the mood!
Stand by MeBen E King
This song, released and made a hit by Ben E.
King in 1961, is also well known as the theme song of the 1986 American film Stand by Me.
It’s said to have been created under the influence of the African American spiritual Lord, Stand by Me.
With its simple chord progression, it remains beloved among musicians today as an easy tune for casual jam sessions.
It can even be played on a blues harp, which uses relatively few notes.
Daydream BelieverZa Taimāzu
The band The Timers, whose lead vocalist ZERRY closely resembles Kiyoshiro Imawano, released this debut single, Daydream Believer, in 1989.
The song has been used in commercials and is loved across generations, and it’s become one of Kiyoshiro Imawano’s signature songs.
In The Timers, Kiyoshiro Imawano also played harmonica—if you’re a fan, don’t you want to try this song on harmonica? Its slightly wistful, nostalgic melody fits the harmonica’s tone perfectly.
contrailMatsutōya Yumi
This song, which is also the title track of Yumi Matsutoya’s first album, is about a young girl who died at a tender age.
In fact, it was originally written for Izumi Yukimura and was even recorded, but due to circumstances it was never released.
With its beautiful melody and distinctive chord progression, even without lyrics it could be arranged so that the delicate tone of the harmonica evokes the song’s world on its own.
Great songs you’ll want to play on the harmonica: popular tracks (41–50) that look cool when you can play them
Amazing GraceHeirī Wesutenra
John Newton, the lyricist and a pastor from England, was originally involved in the slave trade.
It is said that he composed this piece out of repentance for that involvement and gratitude to God for forgiving him.
Knowing this background deepens our feelings for the song, doesn’t it? The melody is simple and doesn’t require chromatic notes, making it easy to learn, so it’s a recommended piece for harmonica beginners and for those who only played a little when they were children.
Flowers will bloom.Kanno Yōko
The harmonica is often seen as a solo instrument, but its appeal increases even more when multiple people play different melodies together.
This piece is a charity song released in 2012 to support recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the music video—sung by people from or connected to Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima—left a strong impression.
The lyrics are wonderful, but even the melody alone is beautiful, making it one of the songs that suits harmonica performance very well.