MP
787 posts
Aug 31, 2010
3:39 PM
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anyone, aside from buddha try brendan powers new powerbender harp? if so, whaddayathink?----------
MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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Todd Parrott
179 posts
Aug 31, 2010
6:17 PM
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I picked up one at SPAH, as did TJ Klay and Alex Paclin. I can't speak for them, but I really like it and think it's a fun tuning. Not only does it work well for bluesy licks, but you can also use it to play melodic songs in 2nd position which would otherwise require country tuning, or valves. For instance, on a standard tuned harp, you can't blow bend 5 blow unless it's valved, but on the Power Bender, the note that would normally be your 5 blow note is actually a draw note and is bendable, which is really cool for the right song. It really is a fun tuning to try, especially if you want to get that Brendan Power sound.
Last Edited by on Aug 31, 2010 6:18 PM
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MP
788 posts
Sep 01, 2010
10:10 AM
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thanks todd,
i imagine it works best for single note melodic lines?
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
|
gene
551 posts
Sep 01, 2010
10:52 AM
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It plays chords, too. Here's the layout:
C E G C D F A C E A
D G B D E G B D G C
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MP
789 posts
Sep 01, 2010
12:35 PM
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gene,
interesting set-up. it doesn't depart from regular tuning till 5 blow and the Cmaj scale (from 4blow ends on 8blow rather than 7blow.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
|
Brendan Power
87 posts
Sep 02, 2010
3:51 AM
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Interesting comments on the PowerBender. From some fun jams with him at SPAH, I know Todd gets an incredibly expressive sound out of his custom Joe Spiers Richter harps. He's using bent overblows and overdraws everywhere to beautiful effect, and they allow him to get a lot of extra note possibilities.
So for someone who is already playing to a top world level on overblow Richter to feel that the PowerBender offers him something extra for some music he can't play as well on the Richter is interesting, and encouraging for me.
The PowerBender is still a very young tuning, created only two years ago, and offers lots of fresh possibilities for adventurous players willing to put a bit of time into adjusting to its new note layout.
It's only been 'out of the closet' for two weeks, and the early adopters who got the book and harps at SPAH or online are giving good reports of how easy it is to learn.
I look forward to hearing what Todd and others come out with when they start bringing in the overblows as well (overblows are available on every hole 1-10, no overdraws). That will really create something new from the first explorations I've pioneered.
The promo video and lots of info is up on the POWERBENDER page of my website:
http://www.brendan-power.com/
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MP
794 posts
Sep 02, 2010
9:12 AM
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oy brendan!
OBs from 1-10?! even more interesting.
my brain hurts just thinking of the possibilitys.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
|
