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Paddy-Power-Bender

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 1:37 am
by Paris
After buying a few of Brendan's own-brand Power-Bender harps I've become quite fond of the tuning and have made myself a half-valved set of them using blu-tak and a rubber grinding wheel. I even find myself avoiding richter-tuned harps these days :?

Brendan, Raising the 3 blow a whole tone, in PB tuning is something that you have already suggested for a good variation, BUT I'm wondering if "Paddy-Power-Bender" tuning could be used effectively to play through your "Play Irish Music on the Blues Harp" book. I realize that doing this would partially negate the harmonica tablature but I do read music (piano background).

Basically, I'm asking if you would recommend trying it out on a "Paddy-Power-Bender" set up or if you think it would be a train wreck.
An odd question, I know, but I would really like to stick with PB tuning and learn your Irish tunes!

Have any of you guys tried doing this??

Thanks!
Nick

Re: Paddy-Power-Bender

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 11:28 pm
by bmarsolais
Crazy you should mention this. I am wanting the same thing.

I've been looking at different tunings that would make playing melodies easier and considering converting a Lucky 13 with a broken reed into a Melody Maker harp. But then reading about the Brendan's PowerBender that would get rid of the hole 6/7 blow/draw change also interests me. A Paddy-Power-Bender would give me the means to try both. Starting with a Paddy Richter and if I did my counting correctly, 5 reeds would have to be lowered and 2 reeds raised to convert a Paddy Richter to a Paddy Bender.

Brendan, how long do we have to wait? ...hint!

Re: Paddy-Power-Bender

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 1:17 am
by Paris
You are correct, 2 draw reeds have to be raised-----> 9, 10 DRAW
However, 6 blow reeds and 2 draw reeds, must be lowered,
if your starting from Paddy Richter Tuning----> 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 BLOW and 5, 6 DRAW.

Re: Paddy-Power-Bender

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 2:29 pm
by Brendan
The good news is that The Lucky 13 is now available to order in PowerBender in all keys:
http://www.brendan-power.com/lucky13.php#lucky13Tunings

Much less retuning involved :-) It's also available in Double Paddy Richter in G,D, C.

Of course with the Paddy-PowerBender combo you do get a virtually complete major scale in 2nd Position, so it will work for tune playing. However, because of the common melodic patterns used in Irish tunes, I think Paddy Richter or Paddy Solo (the variation I prefer) is better for playing at speed with most trad Irish tunes.

That's because it has the Maj 7th built in, as well as the tonic and 5th adjacent to each other on the same breath. In practice this makes it easier to get the common phrases that happen in this zone between the 5th and the tonic.

Re: Paddy-Power-Bender

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 3:46 am
by Paris
I completely see your point, thank-you for the insight! With that in mind, I'm going to order your course and use Paddy-Solo Tuning! I think my biggest hurtle with Richter Tuning is the switch in the breathing pattern at hole 7. For this reason your Paddy-Solo tuning really appeals to me!