I have made a video on youtube, recommending two different systems of fingering ,for chordal accompaniment.
<a href="http://whttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BSYTCcfWwEww.youtube.com/watch?v=0BSYTCcfWwE" >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BSYTCcfWwE</a>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BSYTCcfWwE

Well, it seems that your camera is mounted on the computer. So I'd recommend sitting farther away from it, for the viewers to see the whole you all the time. If you don't have any editing software on your computer (hardly imaginable), you can download U-lead Studio for Windows. It's only $100, semi-professional Editing software, that does it all.
I use it to cut my professional reels and think it is excellent, regardless of the price.
Your PC must have Windows Movie Maker, and it's easy to use, nothing-to-write-home-about, but serviceable program.
You will be able to cut to close-up, edit out unsuccessful bits, take a breath while filming, write a plan.
It will take time to make, but in the end the final video will look much more professional and easy to follow.
With Windows Movie Maker (and it's Mac counterpart iMovie) you'll be able to scan the drawings and put in your video without it been shaky and out of focus.
Just take half an hour to follow video tutorials (skip written instructions) to learn the essentials: open a project, import video, import still images, edit, fade in, fade out, share.
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There is also another way of playing chords, with using four fingers instead of three. It means you can play 7ths with only two fingers at times.

I am concerned with passing on information.
people being able to see my concertina,which they can,and what I am doing on it ,which they can.
I know about four finger chords,but it bears no relevance to the tutorial,which is primarily about the two ways of fingering notes that are a fifth apart.

I'm sure you are concerned about the quality of the sound on your recordings. The problem as I see it lies in perception, that visuals in Video about music is somehow less important. Same approach is sometimes seen in performers, whose stage presence is unimpressive. It makes the use of Video irrelevant, we may as well just listen to it with our eyes closed.
However, if you use Video for it's wider potential, you may as well pay attention to the use of Video Tools, just as you would, when choosing your sound. Just as mike placement is important for sound recording, Camera placement is important for Video. Regard video as virtual invitation of a friend over to your house. We would be expected to behave in a reasonable manner at home, not jump up and down on our chair, crawl under the table, walk out and into the room, right?
Video tools are not difficult to master on amateur's level. It literally only takes up to an hour to follow video instructions. And it is very rewarding, you'll feel the power of yet another expressive mean.

Much of the video shows just your shirt or eyebrows or hand (concertina just out of shot). When one can see the concertina the light levels/camera sensitivity are so poor it's just a blur...

m383's point is (I think) that if you're going to spend a couple of hours preparing/recording/uploading useful info (which is great), then you may as well spend a few minutes more helping the viewer enjoy the experience.

Also... close triads sound pretty horrible on the concertina... best avoided in my opinion.

Well, yes, of course it's my point.

I've heard it over and over, but I can't really grasp the idea of avoiding them.
Say, if you play that Chopin's Prelude in Cmin, those "close triads" define the mood. If you play a third an octave higher, it will change the feel. But even besides that, are you suggesting we need to go over music and completely rework it, either leavng thirds out or moving them octave up or down?
Then one need to know which one is a third in what inversion of what chord.
If simply leave them, then major/minor differences will be lost. OK, if you play accordion, but on English it's all it has. It means that all harmony materials must be rewritten specifically for Concertina.

Dick's video is a delightful example of naive simplicity and, as such highly entertaining...and of course instructional. To hell with perfection !

Ratface,The whole point of the video is to explain,that there are two systems[not just one] of playing fifths,one with one finger covering two buttons,the other with two fingers covering the two buttons .,the video achieves this
your opinions on playing close triads are irrelevant,debatable.and only your subjective opinion.
I notice that Alistair Anderson uses close triads,in his book Concertina Workshop page 34,recruited Collier.,and on page 32 advocates the practice of chords,12 of the 15 examples being close triads.
On the subject of the Recruited Collier,my soundtrack and harmony[see sound lantern] are completely different from Alistairs,and illustrates how it is possible to have two perfectly good but different harmonies
.http://www.soundlantern.com/UpdatedSoundPage.do?ToId=7838

Er... Is that an ironic put down? I don't consider Dick simple nor naive. He knows his stuff. Just listen carefully to his playing.
It's not about perfection, it's about reason. You wouldn't be driving your car in the middle of the road, would you? Or record yourself, sitting on the mike. If you use camera, use it. If you don't care, don't use it. It's my naive simplicity.
As for two ways of playing fifths, it's been discussed a few times. The close triads too, were discussed and the consensus is still to be reached.
When I got my Jackie, I found that spacing of the buttons don' t allow for using same finger for fifths, unless you have very large appendages. Wnen I transfered to Morse, I was taken aback. The spacing was so tight, it was unplayable...at first. Then I adjusted and found that using same finger is very workable.
So it depends.
But from larger perspective it's totally irrelevant compared to timing, accentuation, dynamics, phrazing, decay and all other clever words, associated with musical expressiveness. Another important issue, to my uneducated opinion, is not to fight your instrument. If you feel that close triads don't sound well, don't use them. Just don't pretend you play clarinet, when you have concertina. Let your instrument's personality lead you.

What a wicked smart and clever fellow you are Misha.

Is that a pair of wings, or rain on my parade?
I take both.

You make that (sensible) point FAR more clearly in that one sentence above than in the whole video.



1. I said it was an opinion.
2. Of course it's relevant to the video (I suggest you watch it), and anyway it was only a small addition to my other comments.
3. All opinions are debatable
4. I already said it's an opinion.

Tis neither Misha. On occation outragious and as prickly as a barrel cactus, you chose to give ole Dick his due as an artist and offered him some helpful advice. Further, you put forth a tempered statement on a damn good chording philosophy. Bravo!

Around Milford, Massachusetts, if a local lad says you're "wicked smart" (the "a" should be pronounced "ah" and the "r" not phonated at all) it signifies favor, lessening the chances your vehicle's gas tank will be emptied in your driveway while you sleep. That's a good thing.

Thanks.
I take the compliment. They're so rare, I'll be reveling in this for some while.
Aah! They relieve stresses, did you know?
Sorry you have to live around gas sucking loca lads. Tell you what, in return you can play Khh-ahns't-teeynah under their windows. That'll teach them a lesson. Unless they like it. In which case you'll become "wicked Smah-t" and dilemma will be solved.

I have removed the video,it makes no difference to me, why should I bother trying to help people.

I am very sorry to make you feel like that. In contrary, I thought I'd share something from my experience.
Editing videos is my sort of, mm, semi-profession. And in my past life, when I became cameraman assistant, I was give lots of thick books about light and formulas to calculate the exposure, what not.
I threw them away and got myself a thin book for amateurs (from local library, children section). Learned all I needed plus some. U-lead is one of those inexpencive video "work horses".
And to try to persuade you and anyone in importance of the appearance, I'll ask you and anybody, why are we so proud to own beautifully made instruments, when their apperance have nothing to do with the sound and playability?

I always believed that until you're able to deal with any sort of criticism without getting offended, you're not ready to put stuff online. This is, of course, an opinion.

I am not offended.
if people genuinely want help, I can be contacted.www.dickmiles.com
I have a right to remove any videos I like,for whatever reasons I like,if I decide that my video is not appreciated,that does not mean I am offended.
it means that my video is not appreciated so I remove it,beginners have other videos where they are advised to use one method for fingering fifths, let them carry on learning this technique,eventually they will find it has limitations,why should I worry,I can do both.
I am not offended by M838.or anyone else.

They are very familiar with Roly-Poly's front porch, good weather concertina sessions. His method for lad punishment after a late-night, punch-up in the park or loud party that carries on past 11:00 p.m. has on occation been taking out the Sunflower, a very loud and biting bluegrass banjo at 9:00 a.m. It's clarion, agressive screech is hell on a hangover....yee-haw!

It's good to know. I too, have removed a bunch of soundfiles and Youtube videos of mine, for various reasons. Some didn't appreciate and provided solid reasons (to my opinion), some I couldn't allow to hang in cyberspace, when I checked them out the next morning.

As someone fairly new to these forums I find all this transatlantic type snidey stuff a bit much I take what anyone says or posts and make my own evaluations. To the brgrudgers, as we say in Yorkshire 'put up or shut up' post us some stuff and we'll make up or own minds.
Go for it Dick, how many can play chords and sing at the same time? In the tradition they were just glad to get someone who could do just that
Mike

Looks like folks in Yorkshire don't care much about others. If you use square weels in Yourkshire, do you think people will not advice you on replacing them? As someone new to these forums, how about posting some nice music first, then advicing others, who only wanted to offer some useful tips, to "put up or shut up"?
As for genuine enquiry about quantity of people, who can sing and play chords at the same time - most of those who can sing, CAN play chords at the same time. Now, playing countermelody and complex arrangement - is entirely different matter, and Dick is a master of that, as far as "I" can tell.
You Westerners have funny attitude, you always want to stay untouched, always "encouraging", even if it means putting down in reality. God knows how many good advisers do that provokingly, just to have a good laugh afterwards. Just what do you mean by "Go for it Dick"? Go for what? For ignoring a good advice on making presentation better? I'm sure you didn't mean that.

thats why they make instructional DVDs and books: if your going to be criticised for your work, may as well get paid for it, then they have a real reason to complain.

Sometimes, its appropriate to quote the masters:

"...Buts its alright now,
I learned my lesson well,
See you can't please everyone,
so you got to please yourself."

~Ricky Nelson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EVSf26cM-Q
so its now back up,however if I get many negative comments on you tube , one stars etc,I will take it off,so hope it will be of some use,Iwill probably leave up for about a month.