12 replies to this topic

[peelypost]

Hi,

Looking through the forums I see that several have mentioned the problem of locked little fingers. I get this in my right hand.

I know that I should keep all fingers curved, but that little pinky extends when I am playing higher notes, and then does not naturally curl back.

Does anyone have any top tips for training the finger to stay in place?

Thanks,

Neil.

[Dieppe]

Tape? Glue? Seriously, I dunno... practice?

[tallship]

Neil, two things spring to mind. First of all you're a pianist, play a few scales on the piano and reconnect your brain and little finger! Also you will find in the Jackie tutor mention of a different way to play, one finger for each row and forget the pinkie rest or only use the rest occasionally. If you think this type of fingering would suit you better then now's the time to try it out before you get too set in your ways.

Just another little thought, you're not practicing too long at each session are you? 10-15 mins max for a new player before taking a good rest. I'll dig out some notes I made about hand warming-up exercises that I made after a workshop we went to a few weeks ago and post them here in a little while.

Pete.

[tallship]

Found the exercise notes faster than I thought I would! Here you go ...

Warm up routine before playing.

Don’t start playing from cold, loosen up and stretch the muscles used when playing as follows:

• Make a fairly tight fist and hold it for several seconds, now relax the hands. Open the hands fully and stretch the fingers as far apart as possible, hold for a few seconds then relax.
• Do this a couple of times then let your hands hang loosely by your side and shake them quite vigorously to help them relax. Repeat the whole thing two or three times.
• Now bend the elbows and bring the hands up to a comfortable level in front of your face with the palms facing each other, fingers loosely together, shoulder width apart (or a little closer if that’s comfortable).
• Bend both index fingers at the second joint so they point towards each other. Other fingers may start bend too, resist this. Relax the hands with the two fingers still bent for a few seconds then return to the start position.
• Repeat using the middle, ring and little (pinkie) fingers, again being watchful for fingers that try to follow the one you are bending and don’t forget to relax when the fingers are bent. Watch out too that you aren’t too tense about the shoulders. This exercise will teach your fingers to act independently of each other while remaining relaxed. Hang your hands by your side and shake to relax.
• Time to start playing scales!

Pete.

[tallship]

Here's an excellent player (and member of this forum) who not only uses all four fingers when he's playing but moves across the rows too. Clever stuff. Notice at the beginning of the clip that there's a strap underneath the concertina to prevent the bottom of the bellows from opening when playing!

[Dirge]

I still have trouble relaxing while playing; the tension seems to creep in while I'm concentrating on learning a piece then takes effort to eliminate again. I am at least aware of it as a problem, I suppose...

[pugwash]

Here's an excellent player (and member of this forum) who not only uses all four fingers when he's playing but moves across the rows too. Clever stuff. Notice at the beginning of the clip that there's a strap underneath the concertina to prevent the bottom of the bellows from opening when playing!

I have seen Pro Rats other clips, and indeed, he is a very good player. I have not seen that one before, thanks for pointing it out, but I must ask, why the strap? Why use the top of the bellows only?

I still have trouble relaxing while playing; the tension seems to creep in while I'm concentrating on learning a piece then takes effort to eliminate again. I am at least aware of it as a problem, I suppose...

I also have this problem whilst learning a new tune. My problem is with my breathing, I hold my breath! Now I do realise that I am meant to breath normally, but I can't help it. At the moment, I am trying to learn some reels on my English, the rate that I am going, my wife is going to come in one day, and find me unconscious

[m3838]

why the strap? Why use the top of the bellows only?

Fanning the bellows instead of pulling them away, gives more control and prevents from wearing leather off.
The problem with this method is the need for a top level instrument. Otherwise the bellows' capacity will not be adequate, the reeds will consume too much air.

My problem is with my breathing... my wife is going to come in one day, and find me unconscious

As one doctor told me, you are not too far from the grim reality. Do learn to breath. Or sing with the instrument. Singing will also help to relax your shoulders and will make your face human again.

[peelypost]

Thanks all - great tips.

Mr ProfRat's video is impressive, especially the harmonies and chords. I think that I will give the strap a miss, though!

It seems that everyone plays in a different way. Many good players seem to avoid contact with the little finger altogether and so that is what I am targetting at the moment.

Last night I tried putting a loose elastic band around the offending finger and this worked nicely for trying to train that finger to not support the instrument.

Neil

PS - My favourite tune at the moment is 'la luna dins l'aiga', as played by Peter Trimming a few weeks ago on YouTube.

[tallship]

Here's an excellent player (and member of this forum) who not only uses all four fingers when he's playing but moves across the rows too. Clever stuff. Notice at the beginning of the clip that there's a strap underneath the concertina to prevent the bottom of the bellows from opening when playing!

I have seen Pro Rats other clips, and indeed, he is a very good player. I have not seen that one before, thanks for pointing it out, but I must ask, why the strap? Why use the top of the bellows only?

I still have trouble relaxing while playing; the tension seems to creep in while I'm concentrating on learning a piece then takes effort to eliminate again. I am at least aware of it as a problem, I suppose...

I also have this problem whilst learning a new tune. My problem is with my breathing, I hold my breath! Now I do realise that I am meant to breath normally, but I can't help it. At the moment, I am trying to learn some reels on my English, the rate that I am going, my wife is going to come in one day, and find me unconscious

m3838 answered your questions at least as well as I could have and very rightly mentioned that it takes a top flight (and therefore very expensive) instrument together with a high degree of skill to achieve such economy of movement with the bellows.

One trick you might try to get over your breathing problem is to hum along very quietly while you're playing, breathing will then be reflex and will probably follow your bellows pattern.

[pugwash]

Thanks for answering those questions. I had noticed on a lot of the clips that I have seen, that there was economic movement of the bellows, I always wondered why it looked like I was pumping up an air bed (slight exageration) My instrument is a standard 48 key rosewood ended Lachenal btw.

I shall practice the breathing exercises you mention with humming, not singing, my singing would start all the dogs in the neighbourhood howling, in fact, my singing is that bad, that when I was a youngster at school, and tried to join the school choir, I not only got rejected, I nearly got expelled.

Richard.

[m3838]

my singing is that bad, that when I was a youngster at school, and tried to join the school choir, I not only got rejected, I nearly got expelled.

And you think you're alone, right?
Nope
We could probably start a competition: "whose singing is worse"
Oops, that's a great TV show for those with enough energy to put it together.

[Dirge]

It's larger cross section as much as anything that cuts the amount of pumping required to produce a note. Quality probably comes into it and having the reeds set by someone who knows what they are doing, but if you think about it you'll see the larger size is the main thing. I've wondered why Anglos aren't built a little larger instead of going the usual 15 fold bellows route.

If you keep one corner/side of the bellows closed it denies the bellows the opportunity to flop around and take charge of what the ends are doing, making it more controllable played in the air. I know this but I'm still rooted to one knee; a similar strap might be a good training aid for me.