NEW HARPS: Lucky 13 in Solo and PowerChromatic Tunings

[Brendan]

They've been a long time coming, but are finally here! This weekend at the APHF in Beijing and then SPAH in St. Louis I'm launching two new Lucky 13 models in tunings designed for melody and improvisation.

The extended length of the Lucky 13 lends itself well to harmonica tunings that repeat every five holes, because they need extra channels compared to Richter to achieve the same 3 octave range. So I decided to make use of that extra real estate and offer the Lucky 13 in two wonderful tunings with repeating 5-hole scales. They are the widely-played evergreen Solo Tuning, and my personal favourite PowerChromatic.

Here is a demo video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfTB79rwJaI&t=16s

More info, scale diagrams, photos etc:
http://www.brendan-power.com/lucky13.php#lucky13SoloPC

[Sachlaw]

Great!
Just ordered a G and D PC Lucky 13!
Will your custom comb fit these alternate tunings, or are you making combs specifically for them?

[jazmaan]

I hope you're planning to offer a Lucky 13 Solo in the key of C#. And a Slide-Harp that will fit a C and C# together.

Same idea would be nice to try with two PowerChromatic Lucky 13s half-step apart paired in a Switch Harp.

[Brendan]

Thanks for the comments - to answer:

Sachlaw: Yes. my custom comb will fit these new Lucky 13 variants, and has special LookDots that are appropriate for the repeating scale to help you find your way around.

Jazmaan: Not planning a Lucky 13 in C# at this stage, so if you want one the easiest idea is to tune up a C. However if Solo and/or PowerChromatic prove popular I will add extra keys over time, and maybe even C# eventually!

[DanPa]

Would anyone be able to post the note layout for a C solo and power chromatic Lucky 13 so I can compare. The layouts on the website for the power chromatic is in g.

Lovely looking harps, hoping to pick one up soon. I've been really impressed with the quality of Easttop t008k I got a few months ago.

Thank you.

[DanPa]

Just realised the power chromatic comes in G and D , so would someone be able to post the note layout for the solo in G

Thank you

[Brendan]

Solo in G:

De Gf# Ga Bc De Gf# Ga Bc De Gf# Ga Bc De

[DanPa]

Thank you Brendan.

[DanPa]

I am right that in power chromatic the bends are what you call a half step on a standard richter diatonic?

For every octave, with power chromatic you get 8 notes plus 4 with bends compared to 8 plus 2 on solo tunning - is that right?

If yes, with power chromatic you only lose 1 of the 13 notes in an octave compared to a full chromatic (8 notes and 5 sharps/flats).

Last question, does the G power chromatic start on G3 and the D on D4?

I have to say from a non musician point of view the power chromatic layout seems much more logical and has the bonus that all draw notes are higher than the blow. The only downside is a lack of tabs on the internet! Not too hard to turn tabs into notes, then re tab for power chromatic I suppose.

Sorry for all the inane questions, I am a newbie!

[Sachlaw]

I am right that in power chromatic the bends are what you call a half step on a standard richter diatonic?

Response: Yes.

For every octave, with power chromatic you get 8 notes plus 4 with bends compared to 8 plus 2 on solo tunning - is that right?
If yes, with power chromatic you only lose 1 of the 13 notes in an octave compared to a full chromatic (8 notes and 5 sharps/flats).

Response: I am not sure on the comparison, but on the PC you get the 8 notes with no bends, one of which repeats, so really 7 distinct notes.

With bends on the draw, you get 4 more. With bends on the blow (its is halfvalved) you will get one more unique bend on the blow hole to the left of the key it is stamped in. (IE if you get a D, then you will be able to valve /blow bend the B, giving you a B flat. The other blowbends will match the clean draws notes except your repeating note, which for a D turned one is E.

Last question, does the G power chromatic start on G3 and the D on D4?

Response: Someone else needs to pipe in on this one.

I have to say from a non musician point of view the power chromatic layout seems much more logical and has the bonus that all draw notes are higher than the blow. The only downside is a lack of tabs on the internet! Not too hard to turn tabs into notes, then re tab for power chromatic I suppose.


Response: I would not worry to much about the lack of tabs. The melodies will come about faster than you think with only one true breath pattern. In my personal experience, I have been keeping a D tuned PC (a retuned Suzuki chromatic) handy and just try to pick out anything I hear. A good way to get used to the movement is figure out the what starts from a particular hole and find a song that lends itself to that mode. For example, Santana's Smooth can be a great backing track for the Dorian mode. (you can use your G PC harp for that one.) There is another thread in this forum started by Gnarly PC where some people discuss the mode/positions in detail.

Another way is to just learn what a pentatonic scale is supposed to sound like and work up the holes.

Sorry for all the inane questions, I am a newbie!