Half Valved Power Chromatic

[Gnarly He Man]

Hello,
I just retuned a 12 hole in C (what I like to call soprano tuning, but what you call "Standard") [it was an Easttop, gold mouthpiece] to Power Chromatic, raised the F notes to F# and lowered hole 4 blow from C to A.
Someone else posted recently about this, theirs started on G. I didn't see it here on the Alternate Tunings board. Oh well . . .
I am used to the tuning but still used to Orchestra Bebop, so who knows how long I will spend on it. Seems like it would be good for sharps, we will see--and it's bendy, no valves over the draw slot, so all the draw notes react like a diatonic.

[Gnarly He Man]

I meant to bring the new axe to Idaho, the weather is perfect for a half valved instrument.
Anyway, it's worth mentioning that this tuning has four discrete notes on each hole--so there's blow, and the slide raises the pitch a half step, and draw is a whole step, and the slide raises the pitch another half step.
Y'all are familiar with this idea, holes 1 and 3 are this way.
It is the same on dimi and auggie (Dimi and Auggie were sweethearts . . .) 
But of course, the enharmonics are different on this tuning. Holes one and two are just like auggie, hole 3 has an enharmonic (there is also a G on draw button 2) but is just like the standard tuned hole three.
Hole 4 has the draw B we are used to on standard tuned chromatic harmonica, but there is an A--so that is the same as blow 3. In fact, here is where we can have confusion, as draw button 3 is a Bb, and so is a half step higher than blow 4.
My advice? Don't mess with Mr. In Between.

How can I tell I am a harmonica nerd? I am studying this tuning without the benefit of an instrument.

[Gnarly He Man]

Because of the half valving, the response and sound of the instrument is similar to a diatonic. So that's eight notes (D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, B, and C) that can be given inflection with the diatonic techniques.

[Chromatonic]

Anyway, it's worth mentioning that this tuning has four discrete notes on each hole--so there's blow, and the slide raises the pitch a half step, and draw is a whole step, and the slide raises the pitch another half step.

Gary, you're always cooking something up! I can see that I'm not spending enough time with you. This is intriguing. Hope we can get together after you return from Idaho (& I return from Portland).

[Gnarly He Man]

This is actually an old bone I have been digging up and chewing on for quite some time!

[wolfman]

  Safe travel to all our Sliders.

   Roman

[Gnarly He Man]

Thanks Mr. Wolf!

[Gnarly He Man]

Here is a video from Brendan about using bending to achieve the half steps.
I prefer a button, myself. But I might wind up using some of these too!

[Gnarly He Man]

So just to be clear, holes 1 and 3 are unchanged.
And you probably only use the draw B on hole 4, usually--it's still there.
One big deal is, there is no F without the button--or Bb (bebop tuning inside joke). And there's only one F--leads me to believe that this particular tuning (with one sharp) would be most useful for sharp keys.
There are two A given notes (blow 4 and draw 3)--the enharmonics are not all in a row, like bebop tuning. But the half valving could be the key to solving one of chromatic's biggest caveats, stuck valves.

[EZ-Slider]

Don't you still have the F nat available as a draw bend on the F#?
And Bb on the B?
I am still back and forth on forging in to this tuning.
Think I am going to though.
EZ

[Gnarly He Man]

Yes, the notes are there as draw bends.
But I am not wild about using draw bends for 'pitched' notes, I can do it, but it isn't as "dependable" as the slide note.
I still like the button 
But I also like the bends--just not for fundamentals.

[EZ-Slider]

True true. I guess that I kinda the point of a chrom huh?
I am wondering if dimi might be a better path for me. . Decision

[Gnarly He Man]

Well, I am not abandoning Bebop--
But it's cool with the bends, and especially not having to worry about condensation!
It does sound kinda honky tho . . .

[EZ-Slider]

Less valves to worry abt is nice. I should just man up and re-tune my scx-56 and try it out. I could do the blue tack thing to test it right?

[Gnarly He Man]

YMMV
I have never used Blu-Tack, and have done a lot of retunes.

[EZ-Slider]

Just scared to take a file to my first harp lol 

[Gnarly He Man]

I stopped using files, for the most part.
These days, I try to tune down, rather than up, and use polishing Dremel bits, sanding wands, and solder, and only use files (or an Exacto knife) for fine tuning.

[Gnarly He Man]

All right, here’s a video.
https://youtu.be/KHxZTfxrFlw

[IaNerd]

Folks may also consider *Inverted* Bebop, which is introduced here, including a video review by Brendan Power. A good application of half-valving.
https://www.brendan-power.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=612&start=10#p2812