Skip to main content

Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

by They Might Be Giants · posted by mmolino54

How hard is it?
Listen to the song— a recording linked by the tab’s author
Listen
Favorite
Print

Ad: Want to make Istanbul (Not Constantinople) sound awesome on your harmonica? Master tight single notes, rock solid bending and more with easy video lessons → click here.

How to read this tab — notation key
+
Blow note
−
Draw note
b or '
Half-step bend
bb or ''
Two half-step bend
bbb or '''
Three half-step bend
(###)
Chord — relevant hole numbers in parentheses
< or *
Push the button in (chromatic harmonica)

Full reference and posting tips in the tab guide.

Tab
+5 -6  +7 +8 +5   -6  +7  +8' +8 +8
Is-tan-bul__ was Con-stan-ti--no-ple
+5   +5 -6 +7  +8   +5  -6   +7  +8' +8 +8
Now its Is-tan-bul, not Con-stan-ti--no-ple
+5    -6'  -7   -8   -6'  -6' -7 -8 -7
Been long time gone, Con-stan-ti-no-ple
 -6 -6   -6  -6  -6   -6 -6 -6  -6   -6  -6
Now its Turk-ish de-light on a moon-lit night


 -6 +7 +8  +5 -6  +7  +8' +8 +8
Eve-ry gal in Con-stan-ti-no-ple
 +5   +5 -6 +7  +8   +5  -6  +7  +8' +8 +8
Lives in Is-tan-bul, not Con-stan-ti-no-ple
+5 +5   -6' -7  -8  -6' -7  -7  -8 -8 -8
So if you've a date in Con-stan-ti-no-ple
 -6    -6  -6  -6  -6 -6' -7 -6
She'll be wait-ing in Is-tan-bul 

CHORUS
-6 -7   +7 -7   -6  -7   +7  +8  -7  +7  -6
 E-ven old New York was once New Am-ster-dam
-6'  -6'    -6'  -6' -6' -6'  -6'
Why they changed it   I can't say
-3'' -3'' +4   -4   +5 +5  +5   +5  +5
Peo--ple just liked it bet-ter that way
+8  -6  +7  +8  +5 -6   +7  +8' +8 +8
So take me back to Con-stan-ti--no-ple
-6  -6   -6   +7  +8  +5 -6   +7  +8' +8 +8
No, you can't go back to Con-stan-ti--no-ple
 +5 +5  -6'  -7   -8   -6'  -6' -7 -8 -8
Been a long time gone, Con-stan-ti-no-ple
+7  -7  -6   -6  -6 -6 -7  +7  -8   +8
Why did Con-stan-ti-no-ple get the works? 
 +8    +5 +5  +5 +5    +5  +5o -6'  -6    
That's no-bo-dys biz'-ness but the Turks

-6  -6 -6    -6  -6 -6
Is-tan-bul  (Is-tan-bul)
-6  -6 -6    -6  -6 -6
Is-tan-bul  (Is-tan-bul)

[Repeat CHORUS]

+8 +8   +8
Is-tan-bul____
Play on a harmonica— watch which holes to blow & draw, with sound

Comments

More by They Might Be Giants

Birdhouse in Your Sould

They Might Be GiantsKey CRock

posted by mmolino54

7.3k

Dr.Worm

They Might Be GiantsKey C

posted by Acearl

3.1kBeginner

More tabs like this

Hey Jude

BeatlesKey CRock

posted by mpurintun

1.7M3.9Beginner

Heart Of Gold (w/lyrics & chords)

Neil YoungKey GRock

posted by gatman

1.7M4.2Beginner

Stairway To Heaven

Led ZeppelinKey CRock

posted by djlactose

1M4.3Beginner

Bohemian Rhapsody

QueenKey CRock

posted by djlactose

666k4.0Beginner

Stand By Me

Ben E. KingKey FRock

posted by chibluesteve

628k3.7Beginner

All Along the Watchtower

Bob Dylan / Jimi HendrixKey CRock

posted by chibluesteve

524k2.2Beginner