Brendan Power

Half-valved PowerChromatic harmonicas feature on most of my many albums, and I still use them regularly to this day. Here’s why they sound so good:

• Every draw reed bends a semitone. This gives you lots of soulful expression, just like on a 10 hole diatonic harp.
• The draw bends give many of what I call “Bend Enharmonics”. That means you can get half the existing notes on the harmonica also as soulful draw bends!
• Blow Slide-In is the same as Draw-Bend Slide-Out, and Draw Slide-Out is the same as Draw-Bend Slide-In. This gives many more options for easier phrasing and a more flowing sound.
• Fully chromatic in 3 octaves with slider button, just like a solo-tuned chromatic harmonica.
• Every octave has the same breathing pattern, and the blow reed is always lower than the draw.
• You can play lots of chromatic phrases with draw-bending instead of using slider button.
• Easy to play in many different keys, as the draw-bending options mean you don’t have to use the slider button so much.

POWERCHROMATIC TUNING CHART, Including Draw Bends

To see the diagram in other keys, use our tuning diagram tool

ALBUMS FEATURING POWER-CHROMATIC TUNING

(Links take you to album notes and short clips of all tracks)

Back to Back 2008 - This is a collaboration album with PT Gazell of swing jazz tunes, on which I played all tracks using half-valved PowerChromatic slide harmonicas. Here’s a selection of some of my solos from the album.

BP and the SwingFellas 2006 – An album of Hot Club & Gypsy Jazz tunes, featuring my harmonica lead with guitarist Ian Date playing/producing. I’m playing all tracks on half-valved PowerChromatic slide harmonicas.

Power & White 2009 – a live-recorded and filmed Folk/Ragtime album featuring the brilliant Andrew White on guitar and vocals, with most of my playing using PowerChromatic harmonicas. Here are a few YouTube links: Hesitation Blues , Greenstone Waters , Digger’s Rag