[Harp-L] Why do you prefer Spiral over PowerBender?

[Robert Hale <robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Email questions from a prospective webcam student have generated a valuable
dialog. He is particularly interested in playing melodies, even
chromatically, without overblows, and is not concerned with blues. Wanted
to share it:

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I think Spiral is the way the harp SHOULD have been invented. It wasn't. So
here we are, making some improvements, and accepting some compromises.

Spiral is not fully chromatic, BUT delivers 10 of 12 tones in two different
patterns, blow or draw. I haven't run into a melody I couldn't play. It's
also very 2nd position-friendly.

You will find Spiral very similar to Richter from Draw 2 thru Blow 6 (with
7th tone of the scale at its natural pitch, like Melody Maker and Country
Tuning occurring at Draw 5)

Draw 4 thru Blow 8 sounds like Richter in 2nd Position including the
flat-7th tone (which occurs on Draw 5 in Richter)

Spiral doesn't have doubled notes in the middle like PowerBender, but
that's what PB needs to "turn around" the blow-draw pattern in the top
octave. It is very effective.

Spiral delivers many MORE 3-note chords than PB or Richter, (6 of them = 3
major and 3 minor) but does not have the full 4-hole blow and draw chords
as Richter in holes 1 thru 4.

In addition, we get the full 8-tone relative minor scale AND two more
5-note pentatonic minor scales. For me, it's a win all the way.

I have a student who has learned a lot of songs with his set of Spirals.
Within seconds (and a try or two) he can locate a melody and play it. Very
productive. And satisfying for him.

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Robert Hale
Spiral Advocate (Fanatic!)
Learn Harmonica by Webcam
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