Author Topic: Half Valved Power Chromatic  (Read 2273 times)

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Offline Gnarly He Man

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Half Valved Power Chromatic
« on: November 24, 2019, 12:01:18 AM »
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.

Offline Gnarly He Man

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2019, 12:29:04 AM »
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 . . .)  :o
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.

Offline Gnarly He Man

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2019, 12:43:44 AM »
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

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2019, 10:41:41 AM »
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).

Offline Gnarly He Man

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2019, 11:36:16 AM »
This is actually an old bone I have been digging up and chewing on for quite some time!

Offline wolfman

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #5 on: November 27, 2019, 12:01:57 PM »
  Safe travel to all our Sliders.

   Roman

Offline Gnarly He Man

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #6 on: November 27, 2019, 12:02:40 PM »
Thanks Mr. Wolf!

Offline Gnarly He Man

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #7 on: November 27, 2019, 01:53:20 PM »
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!

Offline Gnarly He Man

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #8 on: November 27, 2019, 01:58:05 PM »
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

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2019, 04:27:17 PM »
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

Offline Gnarly He Man

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2019, 04:51:05 PM »
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  :D
But I also like the bends--just not for fundamentals.

EZ-Slider

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2019, 09:24:04 PM »
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

Offline Gnarly He Man

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2019, 12:40:25 AM »
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

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2019, 05:40:54 AM »
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?




Offline Gnarly He Man

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #14 on: December 11, 2019, 03:47:11 PM »
YMMV
I have never used Blu-Tack, and have done a lot of retunes.

EZ-Slider

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #15 on: December 11, 2019, 04:43:46 PM »
Just scared to take a file to my first harp lol  :-\

Offline Gnarly He Man

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #16 on: December 11, 2019, 05:12:47 PM »
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.

Offline Gnarly He Man

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #17 on: December 28, 2019, 01:49:37 PM »
All right, here’s a video.
https://youtu.be/KHxZTfxrFlw

IaNerd

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Re: Half Valved Power Chromatic
« Reply #18 on: January 11, 2020, 04:13:59 AM »
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