Arkansas Traveler

Traditional (basic tune version)

Key of D (Ionian) – cut time (8/8)

Straight harp – 1st position

 

 

 

Part A              (play twice)

 

D                  G           A         D                         (alternate chording)

D                                                                      (simple chording)

7*  8*  8o  7*  6o-  6o-  6*-  6*-  7*---

 

D          G           D                   A                        (alternate chording)

D                                                                      (simple chording)

8o-  8o-  8*-  7*-  8o  8*  8o  7*  6o- 6*-

 

D                  G           A          D                         (alternate chording)

D                                                                      (simple chording)

7*  8*  8o  7*  6o-  6o-  6*-  6*-  7*---

 

D                                         A           D              (alternate chording)

D                                         A           D              (simple chording)

7*  7o  7*   6o  6*  6o  6*  5o  5*-  4o-  4*---

 

 

 

Part B              (play twice)

 

D                      G            D         A                     (alternate chording)

D                                                                      (simple chording)

(8*  9o)  9*-  8*-  9o-  8o-  8*-  7*-  8o---

 

D                 G               D          A                      (alternate chording)

D                                              A                      (simple chording)

(6*)  7*-  7*-  8o-  7*  8o  8*-  7*-  8o---

 

D                      G           D          A                    (alternate chording)

D                                                                      (simple chording)

 (8*  9o)  9*-  8*-  9o-  8o-  8*-  7*-  8o---

 

D                                                A           D       (alternate chording)

D                                                A           D       (simple chording)

(6*)  7*  7o  7*   6o  6*  6o  6*  5o  5*-  4o-  4*---

 

 

 

 

Tab key:   o č  draw                                                                                           arranged for harmonica by Cara Cooke

                 * č  blow

-  č  hold note

Each number indicates the hole on the harmonica.

Each number/play-direction combination or dash indicates a beat so that the time can be simply counted.

Parentheses indicate “pick-up notes” which are not required for the basic tune, but may make it interesting.

(Pick-up notes steal their time from the notes around them, making them a little shorter.  Fit them in where you can.)

The “|” indicates a break in the phrase for reading ease.  The individual lines are broken at the end of the phrase.