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Melodeon/Button Accordion iPad/iPhone Apps


Michael Eskin

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While not strictly concertina specific, I've gone sort of nuts the last month developing various Melodeon and Button Accordion apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

 

I just wanted to pass along the links in case, like me, you're interested in leveraging your Anglo Concertina skills into playing tunes on the button accordion, have an iPad or iPhone/iPod Touch, and don't have a button accordion.

 

Fingerings on the apps are exactly like the real instrument. The iPad versions provide 21-buttons (10/11) and are pretty much life-size, the iPhone/iPod Touch app plays the same way, but of course is much smaller and has 17 (8/9) buttons .

 

Melodeon B/C, C#/D, D/G, C/F, and G/C for the iPad:

http://www.tradlessons.com/Melodeon_11.html

(reflects the upcoming 1.1 update)

 

BeeSeeBox - B/C Button Accordion for the iPhone:

http://www.tradlessons.com/BeeSeeBox.html

 

MIDI Melodeon - Wireless WiFi-based MIDI Button Accordion controller for the iPad:

http://www.tradlessons.com/MIDIMelodeon.html

(For controlling external software and hardware MIDI synths, makes no noise on its own)

 

Last week I was out sick for a few days and had a lot of time to practice with the Melodeon B/C iPad app in bed. I've pretty much gotten to the point where I can play most of my session tune melodies on the app nearly up to speed. I really want to get my hands on a real B/C instrument to see how well the skills transfer.

 

All the apps are currently in review with Apple and should be available by Dec 1. The 1.0 versions of Melodeon B/C, C#/D, and D/G (which use tilting of the iPad to control the bellows, 1.1 just uses a touch to control the bellows and is much easier to play) are currently on the App Store. However, I suggest waiting until version 1.1 is available, it will be a free update if you want to grab a cheap copy of 1.0. When version 1.1 comes out, there will also be C/F and G/C versions with the same features.

 

Cheers and many thanks,

 

Michael

Edited by eskin
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When I visited California last month I watched Michael pull out his I pad and start "playing" Irish flute on it. The app kept up with the rest of the session fine. Michael had arranged the two joints of the flute in opposite orientations so he didn't have to bend one hand around and reported that it caused no issues with the fingering as he uses it on an analog real flute.

 

Can newly invented "instruments" be far off? For that matter, now everyone can have a Wheatstone!

 

Ken

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When I visited California last month I watched Michael pull out his I pad and start "playing" Irish flute on it. The app kept up with the rest of the session fine. Michael had arranged the two joints of the flute in opposite orientations so he didn't have to bend one hand around and reported that it caused no issues with the fingering as he uses it on an analog real flute.

 

Can newly invented "instruments" be far off? For that matter, now everyone can have a Wheatstone!

 

Ken

 

You mean this one?

http://www.tradlessons.com/IrishFlute.html

 

Of course there are the iPad concertinas:

 

Anglo:

http://www.tradlessons.com/ConcertinaXL.html

(You should see what Noel Hill was able to do with this app, but I can only share that video in person)

 

English:

http://www.tradlessons.com/EnglitinaXL.html

 

OK, I better stop before I get ejected for blatant commercial tomfoolery... :-)

 

As I've said, if anyone wants free copies of any of the apps, just let me know. Apple gives me codes to give away that can be used on the USA iTunes App Store.

 

Cheers and thanks,

 

Michael

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A couple of new demo videos today playing "Merrily Kissed the Quaker's Wife" as best I can after a week or so getting familiar with the B/C button layout:

 

BeeSeeBox (iPhone/iPod Touch):

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4--lNu66a9A

 

Melodeon B/C (iPad):

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSuneisqHFc

 

By the way, any recommendations for books or online courses for B/C button accordion?

 

I really need some basic instruction or a good tutorial book so I don't develop bad habits early on.

 

I'm really only familiar with what's available for learning Anglo Concertina, but don't anything about what's around for B/C button accordion.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Michael

Edited by eskin
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  • 3 weeks later...

But I play an A/D. (Picked up in Oxford in '78 while Morris dancing across the pond.)

And I have an Android phone. Boy, I feel left out. <_<

 

A/D, huh... Hmmm...

 

No, I promised I'd take a break from app development until after New Year's Day...

 

Well, if you ever get an iPad, drop me a note and I'll send you a free copy of any app you want.

 

:-)

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"By the way, any recommendations for books or online courses for B/C button accordion?"

 

The best beginner Irish accordion book: The Irish Accordion Tutor

Volume 1

Damien Connolly

 

Great player and readily answers questions, very clearly layed out.

 

www.damienconnolly.com/tutor.html

 

JM

Edited by Jim Munro
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  • 2 weeks later...

Just got word that my "DeeGeeBox" D/G Button Accordion app for the iPhone/iPod Touch was approved by Apple and is now available on the iTunes App Store.

 

More information at:

 

http://www.tradlessons.com/DeeGeeBox.html

 

Cheers and many thanks,

 

Michael

Edited by eskin
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