[Harp-L] Understanding the layout of the SSCH â 56 harmonica

[gnarlyheman@xxxxxxxxx]

You can play this harmonica one note at a time to learn where the notes are, and knowing the chords will be easier. 
Also, playing arpeggios can help orient you on the instrument.
For example, hole one blow is B-flat, draw is B. The C is located on hole five as a blow note and the D-flat or C-sharp is of course, draw button five.  D is blow 9, Eb draw button 9. 
E is located on blow 13 as well as blow button one. You can guess where F is . . .  Yep, it's draw one. 
F sharp is blow button five, g is draw five. G sharp is located on hole nine, blow button, and A is draw 9. This pattern is continued on hole 11, and you can find the octave of the B-flat on the blow button note. 

These lower notes are the roots of the three note major chords. All the minor chords start two holes up from these chords. 
These chords are, in order of appearance;
Fm blow 3 F#m draw button 3, Gm G#m on blow 7, and Am Bbm on blow 11. 
Bm on blow button 3, Cm on draw 3, C#m D on blow button 7, and Ebm Em on blow button 11. 
Remember that these are, for the most part, three note chords--For example, the four note minor chords have major sevenths, but the major chords have dominant sevenths (flat sevens) on the fourth hole.

More later (heck, You can't even buy one until fall!),
Gary