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The Little Drummer Boy - A Diatonic Duet

by Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, & Harry Simeone · harmonica tab for C diatonic harmonica

3 bent notes415 notesHoles 1–9Diatonic

This tab may have a few mistakes (melody jumps around implausibly). If a line sounds wrong, tell us which one.

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The tab

4 = blow hole 4-4 = draw hole 4’ = bend
Bass Intro: (slow, steady 4:4 time)
Come,__ they told me,
Come,__ they told me,
pa-rum pum pum pum.
pa-rum pum pum pum.
A new born King to see,
A new born King to see,
pa-rum pum pum pum.
pa-rum pum pum pum.
Our fin-est gifts we bring,
Our fin-est gifts we bring,
pa-rum pum pum pum.
pa-rum pum pum pum.
To lay be - fore the King,
To lay be - fore the King,
pa-rum pum pum pum,
pa-rum pum pum pum,
rum-pum pum pum,
rum-pum pum pum,
rum-pum pum pum.
rum-pum pum pum.
So____ to ho-nor Him,
So____ to ho-nor Him,
pa-rum pum pum pum,
pa-rum pum pum pum,
When__ we come.
When__ we come.
Lit - tle Ba-by,
Lit - tle Ba-by,
pa-rum pum pum pum.
pa-rum pum pum pum.
I am a poor boy too,
I am a poor boy too,
pa-rum pum pum pum.
pa-rum pum pum pum.
I have no gift to bring,
I have no gift to bring,
pa-rum pum pum pum.
pa-rum pum pum pum.
That's fit to give our King,
That's fit to give our King,
pa-rum pum pum pum,
pa-rum pum pum pum,
rum-pum pum pum,
rum-pum pum pum,
rum-pum pum pum.
rum-pum pum pum.
Shall____ I play for you,
Shall____ I play for you,
pa-rum pum pum pum,
pa-rum pum pum pum,
On___ my drum?
Bass:
Bass:
Ma - ry nod-ded,
Ma - ry nod-ded,
pa-rum pum pum pum.
pa-rum pum pum pum.
The ox and lamb kept time,
The ox and lamb kept time,
pa-rum pum pum pum.
pa-rum pum pum pum.
I played my drum for Him,
I played my drum for Him,
pa-rum pum pum pum.
pa-rum pum pum pum.
I played my best for Him,
I played my best for Him,
pa-rum pum pum pum,
pa-rum pum pum pum,
rum-pum pum pum,
rum-pum pum pum,
rum-pum pum pum.
Bass:
Bass:
Then___ He smiled at me,
Then___ He smiled at me,
pa-rum pum pum pum
pa-rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.
Bass:
Bass:
Show the tab as it was submitted
The Little Drummer Boy - A Diatonic Duet
By Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, & Harry Simeone
Key of F Major
Range: Melody F4 ' C6   Bass   F2 ' Bb3

This duet was designed for the melody line to be played using either a
standard or Low F Diatonic, and the bass accompaniment to use a LLF
Diatonic. The notes above the lyrics are the melody. The notes below
the lyrics are the bass accompaniment.

Bass Intro: (slow, steady 4:4 time)
1  1  1  1

4       -4   5    5
Come,__ they told me,
1     1      1    1    

5  -5  5   -5  5     9   9
pa-rum pum pum pum.
   1       1         1   1   1

4  4   -4   5    5  5
A  new born King to see,
   1        1        1

5  -5  5   -5  5     9   9
pa-rum pum pum pum.
    1           1    1   1   -4
     
-4  5   -5  6     6  6
Our fin-est gifts we bring,
    -4      -4       -4

-6 6   -5  5   5      9   9
pa-rum pum pum pum.
   -4          -4    -4  -4  -4

-4 5   -5   6    6   6
To lay be - fore the King,
   -4       -4       4

-6 -6' -6  6   -5
pa-rum pum pum pum,
   4           -5

-6  6   -5  5
rum-pum pum pum,
-5          1

6   -5  5   -4    9   9
rum-pum pum pum.
1           -4   -4  -4    

4      -4 5  5   5
So____ to ho-nor Him,
1   1     1      1

5  -5  5   -5  5     9   9
pa-rum pum pum pum,
   1           1     1   1

-4  4  -4 4      9       9
When__ we come.
-5        5      3   2   1


4     -4  5  5
Lit - tle Ba-by,
1   1     1  1

5  -5  5   -5  5     9   9
pa-rum pum pum pum.
   1           1     1   1   1

4 4  -4 5    5   5
I am a  poor boy too,
  1    1        1

5  -5  5   -5  5    9   9
pa-rum pum pum pum.
   1           1    1   1   -4

-4 5    -5  6    6  6
I  have no  gift to bring,
  -4       -4      -4

-6 6   -5  5   -3     9    9
pa-rum pum pum pum.
   -4          -4    -4   -4    -4

-4     5   -5  6    6   6
That's fit to  give our King,
       -4      -4       4

-6 -6' -6  6   -5
pa-rum pum pum pum,
   4           -5

-6  6   -5  5
rum-pum pum pum,
-5          1

6   -5  5   -4     9     9
rum-pum pum pum.
1           -4    -4    -4

4         -4 5    5   5
Shall____ I  play for you,
1      1    1        1

5  -5  5   -5  5    9    9
pa-rum pum pum pum,
   1           1    1    1

-4 4  -4 4     9         9
On___ my drum?
-4      4      3    2    1

Bass:
-(2x4)  -4  -4  -(2x4) 3  3  
-(2x4)  -4  -4  -(2x4) 3  3

4    -4 5   5
Ma - ry nod-ded,
1   1   1   1  

5  -5  5   -5  5    9   9
pa-rum pum pum pum.
   1           1    1   1   1

4   4  -4  5    5    5
The ox and lamb kept time,
    1      1         1

5  -5  5   -5  5    9   9
pa-rum pum pum pum.
   1           1    1   1   -4

-4 5      -5  6    6   6
I  played my  drum for Him,
  -4         -4       -4

-6 6   -5  5   3      9   9
pa-rum pum pum pum.
   -4          -4    -4  -4   -4

-4 4      -5  6    6   6
I  played my  best for Him,
  -4         -4       4

-6 -6' 6   6   -5
pa-rum pum pum pum,
   4           -5

-6  6   -5  5
rum-pum pum pum,
-5          1

6   -5  5   -4     9   9
rum-pum pum pum.
1           -4    -4  -4

Bass:
1 4444 444-4-4-4-4-4-4  3

4       -4 5      5  5
Then___ He smiled at me,
1     1    1         1 

5  -5  5   -5  5    9   9
pa-rum pum pum pum
   1           1    1   1

-4 4   -4 4     9       9
Me and my drum.
-5        5     3   2   1

Bass:
1    1    1    1    1