How Can I Keep From Singing? Harmonica Tabs
Hole numbers, blow and draw for 10-hole C harmonica, with the words under each note. Starts 4 -5 6 -6 -5 6.
The notes and words
Key: F major, white keys only, so every note is on a C harmonica without bends.
4CMy-5Flife6Gflows-6Aon-5Fin6Gend--5Fless-4Dsong;
4CA--5Fbove-6Aearth's7Cla--6Amen--6Ata-6Gtion.
4CI-5Fcatch6Gthe-6Asweet,-5Fthough6Gfar--5Foff-4Dhymn-4Dthat4Chails-5Fa-6Anew6Gcre-6Ga--5Ftion;
-6AThrough7Call7Cthe7Ctu--6Amult6Gand-6Athe-5Fstrife,
6GI-6Ahear-6Athat-6Amu-6Gsic-6Aring-7Cing;
-6AIt7Cfinds7Can7Ce--6Acho-5Fin-4Dmy4Csoul...
4CHow-5Fcan6GI-6Akeep6Gfrom6Gsing--5Fing?
- 4blow, C5
- -4draw, D5
- -5draw, F5
- 6blow, G5
- -6draw, A5
- 7blow, C6
Key: G major, white keys only, so every note is on a C harmonica without bends.
-4DMy6Glife-6Aflows-7Bon6Gin-6Aend-6Gless5Esong;
-4DA-6Gbove-7Bearth's-8Dla--7Bmen--7Bta--6Ation.
-4DI6Gcatch-6Athe-7Bsweet,6Gthough-6Afar-6Goff5Ehymn5Ethat-4Dhails6Ga-7Bnew-6Acre--6Aa-6Gtion;
-7BThrough-8Dall-8Dthe-8Dtu--7Bmult-6Aand-7Bthe6Gstrife,
-6AI-7Bhear-7Bthat-7Bmu--6Asic-7Bring--8Ding;
-7BIt-8Dfinds-8Dan-8De--7Bcho6Gin5Emy-4Dsoul...
-4DHow6Gcan-6AI-7Bkeep-6Afrom-6Asing-6Ging?
- -4draw, D5
- 5blow, E5
- 6blow, G5
- -6draw, A5
- -7draw, B5
- -8draw, D6
Staff notation
Play-along guide: the melody played by your browser’s harmonica sound. The lit note follows the music. Print large notes
About this song
- Melody
- Tune HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING, Robert Lowry, 1869
- Words
- F. J. Hartley and Robert Lowry and anonymous, 1869 (first verse shown; all verses on HymnKeys)
- Public domain
- Melody 1869, words 1869: first published before 1931.
- Source
- Open Hymnal Project file marked public domain, via HymnKeys
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