Lucky 13 Power Chromatic key of D

A space for players interested in my specialist harmonicas, alternate tunings, instructional material, recordings etc to ask questions and share information, experiences, videos etc.
Sachlaw
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 11:30 pm

Re: Lucky 13 Power Chromatic key of D

Post by Sachlaw » Wed Jun 03, 2020 1:46 pm

@Marlaz

You said:
"Now I’m asking for and open to any advice on how best to learn how to get the full benefit and possibilities from this Lucky 13."

Do you mean setup, as in reed work? Or play styles?

As to setup, I believe there is some web/youtube guidance on that. If I were to do any work on mine, I would think it may benefit a bit from some reed work on the low end. I have three of them that I played regularly since Easttop started making them, and I have yet to do this, because I hit the ground running OOTB. Once you open one up, you will see that Easttop does a great job (especially for this price point) of producing stock reeds/reeds plates.

In terms of play style, look a bit deeper on this forum for a thread started by Gnarly. (viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11&hilit=coogan) There you will find multiple discussions on this tuning, and I believe a few links for examples.
I would also check out Brendan's YouTube channel and a guy named Ed Coogan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNHqFq0F0e4). Coogan piped on that thread started by Gnarly, and he provided some great insight on the tuning.

User avatar
triona
Posts: 373
Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2017 3:24 pm
Location: Aue / Germany

Re: Lucky 13 Power Chromatic key of D

Post by triona » Fri Jun 05, 2020 10:52 pm

Sachlaw wrote:
Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:14 am
... Brendan also has a really good track on his PowerBender CD that does this in the key of A.

Which CD do you mean by this?


dear greetings
triona
Aw, Thou beloved, do hearken to the Banshee's lonely croon!
sinn féin - ça ira !
Cad é sin do'n té sin nach mbaineann sin dó


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1yI3H ... 9ktgzTR2qg

Sachlaw
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 11:30 pm

Re: Lucky 13 Power Chromatic key of D

Post by Sachlaw » Tue Jun 16, 2020 2:37 pm

Malarz wrote:
Fri Jun 05, 2020 1:51 pm

Thanks for your reply and the links. The Lucky 13 PC is fine OOTB (which I’ve just learned means ‘out of the box”). The link to the thread is helpful. I might be misunderstanding but that thread, except for towards the end, seems to be more about the Power Chromatic and not the Lucky 13 PC...

Any advice on one or two videos which give clear instruction on bending, the technique which makes the harmonica such a cool and soulful instrument?

As to the Lucky PC versus a "power chromatic" there is no difference in the tuning. The Lucky 13 PC came out after that thread was started. Don't worry about what it is called. What you need to know is when someone says "Power Chromatic" or PC they are talking about a particular group of notes (ie in the key of C it would be CDFA/degb and in the key of D [your harp] it would be DEGB/ef#Ac#). The "Lucky 13" in the name just means Brendan's 13 holer version of this tuning. (Without the button of course raising everything a half step that you will get on Chromatic harp.)

Most of us were relegated into taking a standard Chromatic [the big harmonica with button on side] and retuning it to get this layout. Then Brendan made these available in the smaller body that you typically see in a diatonic harmonica well after that thread was started. [In fact, this discussion might warrant combining this thread with the other.] So there is no difference in the relationship of the notes. This means your pattern is the same. For your level, I would not worry about the differences in the two ways people seem to talk about it. You are learning a pattern. It is all about the pattern.

For guidance on bending, I suggest looking at videos of Adam Gussow teaching same. I would focus on the 1 and 4 hole draw bend techniques, starting with 4 hole. Do you have a richter tuned harp? [that just means a standard tuned harp]. Use that to train the technique. Keep in mind that 2 hole and 3 hole draw on a regular harp will bend differently, so I would avoid those lessons for now, if you are focusing on a Power Chromatic type tuning.

As to the "valve bends" I don't have any guidance, as I typically don't valve bend. There are some others here that may pipe in on that.

Sachlaw
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 11:30 pm

Re: Lucky 13 Power Chromatic key of D

Post by Sachlaw » Tue Jun 16, 2020 2:41 pm

triona wrote:
Fri Jun 05, 2020 10:52 pm
Sachlaw wrote:
Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:14 am
... Brendan also has a really good track on his PowerBender CD that does this in the key of A.

Which CD do you mean by this?


dear greetings
triona
The CD that come with his book on how to play the Powerbender. It should be available on his website.

User avatar
Brendan
Posts: 819
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:28 pm
Contact:

Re: Lucky 13 Power Chromatic key of D

Post by Brendan » Wed Jun 17, 2020 1:01 pm

I'm playing a D PowerChromatic Lucky 13 in this recent video:

THE ROYAL GARDEN BLUES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8ykh9XfN3g

Sachlaw
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 11:30 pm

Re: Lucky 13 Power Chromatic key of D

Post by Sachlaw » Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:53 pm

Malarz wrote:
Tue Jun 16, 2020 2:54 pm
Thanks for both posts which helped clear up my confusion and which should get me started on the PB/PC.
I don't know if I mentioned this before, but I also recommend getting your PB in the same key as your PC. That really helped me on picking up tunes, because whatever melody I work on, I can try to play that same passage on the PB. It is always interesting to see what it would sound like otherwise.
My idea setup is a PC and a PB in the key of A, but the price to have one of the Lucky 13s tuned to the key of A is too cost prohibitive right now. Brendan has some great lessons on his PB CD that area in key of A, and I would like to use those lessons to compliment my PC practice. If they ever come out with more keys, I will definitely be purchasing.

I know I mention that book quite a bit, but only because it has great backing tracks (that don't sound like canned blues progressions), and you can learn way more using that book that you get from most publications on any particular harp.

User avatar
Brendan
Posts: 819
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:28 pm
Contact:

Re: Lucky 13 Power Chromatic key of D

Post by Brendan » Thu Jun 18, 2020 11:08 am

One easy way to get the PowerBender book tracks in other keys is simply to pitch shift them. Many programs will do this; Audacity is a free and popular one.

I'll bear in mind the option to get Lucky 13 PowerChromatic harps made in other keys, but right now that's an option which will work to help you transfer the licks you like.

User avatar
Brendan
Posts: 819
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:28 pm
Contact:

Re: Lucky 13 Power Chromatic key of D

Post by Brendan » Thu Jun 18, 2020 11:15 am

To answer Malarz:

The key of A is a very popular blues harp key, and an easier range for beginners to get the high end draw bends.

Some have said I should have chosen a key C harp because the music reading would be easier - true, maybe I'd do it that way if I were starting again. However I think most harp players either learn by ear or use TAB, rather than reading notes.

If you combine pitch shifting the tracks with reading from the tablature, the examples can work for any key harp.

User avatar
triona
Posts: 373
Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2017 3:24 pm
Location: Aue / Germany

Re: Lucky 13 Power Chromatic key of D

Post by triona » Thu Jun 18, 2020 2:55 pm

Malarz wrote:
Thu Jun 18, 2020 12:57 pm
... Tab gives me a good map of where the notes are. Still, a lot of it is trial-and-error.

But be aware that there is no consistent and generally valid system how to write tabs. Anyone who does might do it in his own way, and without a definition of the used glyphes, it might be doubtful what there is meant. But anyway, with your knowledge of notes and your ability to use your ears you have an efficient control how to interprete any tab.


dear greetings
triona
Aw, Thou beloved, do hearken to the Banshee's lonely croon!
sinn féin - ça ira !
Cad é sin do'n té sin nach mbaineann sin dó


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1yI3H ... 9ktgzTR2qg

Post Reply