Newbie here.
I've been playing harp on and off for 45 years but have never dabbled in different tunings. I'm strictly a blues player but have recently been expanding my horizons into a bit of jazz and country with my acoustic duo The Diving Ducks.
Like most blues players I rarely venture above hole 6 other than in 1st and 3rd positions, and it is the prospect of opening up the top end of the harmonica in 2nd position that has brought me to Brendan's website. Overblowing is a complete mystery to me and I'm happy to keep it that way!
So what should I go with, the Powerdraw or the Powerbender? I've got three Powerdraws in my basket but before I pull the trigger I thought I'd ask for some advice.
Rgds
Duncan
Powerdraw v Powerbender
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Brendan
- Posts: 946
- Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:28 pm
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Re: Powerdraw v Powerbender
Considering your background and primary playing of the harp for Blues, PowerDraw is your best option I think. It's identical to the standard Richter harp you're familiar with in holes 1-6, and aft that you can continue draw bending all the way to hole 10.
PowerBender is better for easy chromaticism, but requires more relearning - as the tuning changes in hole 5.
PowerBender is better for easy chromaticism, but requires more relearning - as the tuning changes in hole 5.
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jasonrogers
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2017 12:08 pm
- Location: Albany, New York, US
- Contact:
Re: Powerdraw v Powerbender
I was speaking with Ed Coogan recently, and he uses a hybrid of Powerdraw and Powerblow (and Powerbender) in holes 7-10:
|AB | CD | GE | CA |
The | AB | CD | in holes 7 and 8 make a whole lot sense, with chromaticism and an easy 2nd position blues scale.
Both the Powerdraw and Powerbender layouts offer those notes.
Then he switches, in holes 9 and 10 to |GE |CA | as its done on Powerblow.
This makes for some good melodic patterns, e.g., in G Pentatonic.
Pretty interesting. I guess it just comes down to personal preference, stylistic choices, similarity to traditional tunings, and perhaps chording.
--Jason
|AB | CD | GE | CA |
The | AB | CD | in holes 7 and 8 make a whole lot sense, with chromaticism and an easy 2nd position blues scale.
Both the Powerdraw and Powerbender layouts offer those notes.
Then he switches, in holes 9 and 10 to |GE |CA | as its done on Powerblow.
This makes for some good melodic patterns, e.g., in G Pentatonic.
Pretty interesting. I guess it just comes down to personal preference, stylistic choices, similarity to traditional tunings, and perhaps chording.
--Jason
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Troutsurfer
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2026 12:24 am
Re: Powerdraw v Powerbender
Jason and Duncan,
You have probably bought and enjoyed a Powerdraw by now but I thought I'd add my five penneth in case it helps you or anyone else contemplating a first Powerdraw.
I consider myself an intermediate player, blues mainly, but sometimes reggae, funk and rock. I play entirely by ear, most in 2nd position, quite often 3rd and 5th and sometimes 1st position. I haven't found stretching out from 2nd position to 3rd and 1st easy although, having "got" 3rd, 5th came to me more readily
Yesterday my first Powerdraw arrived and last night I used a variety of backing tracks as a means of introduction. What a joy the Powerdraw seems to be: 2nd position major and minor felt very comfortable, 3rd position minor and 5th position - major and minor pentatonics I think - were equally intuitive. Straight away I felt competent and won't hesitate to play the Powerdraw when I gig with a lively rhythm and blues band on Saturday.
I think it will take me a little while to gain good control bending the short draw reeds in the dusty, high octave but not long to be finding the right notes there.
The harp played very nicely out of the box, the gapping is better than almost all of the standard Richter tuned harps I have bought from the more famous manufacturers - there is no gapping work needed now. It feels good quality in every respect.
Cheers, Troutsurfer
You have probably bought and enjoyed a Powerdraw by now but I thought I'd add my five penneth in case it helps you or anyone else contemplating a first Powerdraw.
I consider myself an intermediate player, blues mainly, but sometimes reggae, funk and rock. I play entirely by ear, most in 2nd position, quite often 3rd and 5th and sometimes 1st position. I haven't found stretching out from 2nd position to 3rd and 1st easy although, having "got" 3rd, 5th came to me more readily
Yesterday my first Powerdraw arrived and last night I used a variety of backing tracks as a means of introduction. What a joy the Powerdraw seems to be: 2nd position major and minor felt very comfortable, 3rd position minor and 5th position - major and minor pentatonics I think - were equally intuitive. Straight away I felt competent and won't hesitate to play the Powerdraw when I gig with a lively rhythm and blues band on Saturday.
I think it will take me a little while to gain good control bending the short draw reeds in the dusty, high octave but not long to be finding the right notes there.
The harp played very nicely out of the box, the gapping is better than almost all of the standard Richter tuned harps I have bought from the more famous manufacturers - there is no gapping work needed now. It feels good quality in every respect.
Cheers, Troutsurfer