Brendan Power & Alternative Harmonicas Forum

Looks really interesting! You might want to consider retuning 2 draw two semitones down, from E to D, as the E is already represented at 3 blow, and it would make the chord on the draw notes more consistent, Bb7 ( Bb | D | F | G# ). I really had to look up this tuning, I found this on http://musicia...

Hi Brendan,

Just wondering when your stealth-valve kits, especially for the Easttop 10 hole, will be up for sale again?

Cheers,
Karl

To publish a sound file, or any file, the easiest way is probably to upload the file to an online storage service, such as Dropbox or Box. They all have free (gratis) alternatives. You can make the file publicly downloadable. Then you just publish a link to the file, and then anyone with the link ca...

An easier way is probably to retune any Richter-tuned harp, maybe with a small modification in the upper octave. Example with C Richter, converted to B/C spanish tuning: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hole C E G C E G C E G C Keep the blow plate as is D G B D F A B D F A Original draw plate D# F# B D# F# B D#...

A possible way of creating a Spanish tuning might be to combine two reedplates from two different harps, and a little re-tuning. The upper plate could come from any Richter harp blow-plate, unmodified. The lower plate could come from another Richter harp which would have to be altered. Examining exi...

Very good observations, Edwin. Thanks for such a thorough review! Some of your thoughts mentioned have crossed my mind. I did get lead-free solder, and I have thought about avoiding inhaling metal from microscopic filing residues, but that's about it. Inhaling blu-tack comes to mind right now. Anywa...

CD EG AB CD EF GA CB CD EF GA

is the layout for Paddy Solo, as stated by Brendan here: http://brendan-power.com/harpgeeks.php

which means that blow holes 8-9-10 should be lowered from E-G-C to C-E-G, respectively, compared to Paddy Richter.

If I ever get confused with transposition between keys (happens every once in a while), I just print out the following image (because I lost the paper from last time I used it) and cut along the dotted line. Then I move the upper part relative to the lower and it comes out quite clear: transpose.png...

Brendan wrote: ↑Tue May 15, 2018 7:29 am This tuning lends itself to lots of nice bending, an essential part of any good harmonica tuning I think.

Indeed, all twelve semi-tones per octave are available as either regular blows or draws (6/octave) or as draw-bends (6/octave), and with a consistent pattern through the 3 octaves!

Been reading up on the Spanish tuning. It seems it is based on the Spanish Gypsy scale, a.k.a. the Phrygian dominant scale. Other names are the Jewish scale, or Spanish Phrygian scale. That is, the six notes on the harp that form the two chords E - G# - B and F - A - C, respectively, has a missing n...