hello everyone. i've posted a couple of times on here and managed to completely avoid making my mind up between these two handsome beasts. just wondering if anyone can tell me the octave range of each, and explain the whole accidental thing? i know the anglo is C/G, but it seems to have sharps and flats of each note: is it chromatic like the english, or are notes repeated? it seems if the anglo has 30 buttons, each producing two pitches...erm...doesn't that give you possibilities for more keys than C/G (in 60 poss. notes?), and certainly more than a 30 key english...?

sorry, i'm so new to all this and i want to get it right!!

The Jackie goes from the G below middle C to the C two octaves above middle C (the C just above the staff), and includes all of the accidentals for all of those notes. all notes sound on both press and draw.

The Rochelle goes from the C below middle C to the B two octaves above middle C (it's a high squeeky note, well above the staff), but does NOT have all of the accidentals, and is missing the D below middle C. However, between the A below middle C and the third G above middle C all of the accidentals are available (though mostly on either the press or draw, not both) and there are a fair number of 'white key' notes that are available on either press or draw.

Anyways, you want the Anglo. *Jedi hand wave thing*

it is difficult to compare the two. english concertinas are more easily played chromatically, anglos less easily. C/G can be played very comfortably in C, G, D, A. All keys are possible on an anglo, they can just be more difficult.

i think i do. its the sea shanties/jigs thing i am most up for.

thank you wntrmute and david. frankly if d is easy on a c/g i reckon i've pretty much got the three keys that cover lots of the tunes i want to do. is the different note on draw and push very hard to learn? i had wondered if english was simpler. but i'm sure you've all talked about this before! don't want to bore anyone!

If you've ever noodled around with a harmonica, then it should be easy to pick up. It is easier to deal with than it sounds, anyways.

you know, it depends. the first time i picked up an anglo, in a few minutes i was able to pick out a tune or two on it. the first time i picked up an english (2 weeks ago), it took me a few hours to pump out a few measures. some people have the opposite experience. that being said, i still would love to have an english!

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you know, it depends. the first time i picked up an anglo, in a few minutes i was able to pick out a tune or two on it. the first time i picked up an english (2 weeks ago), it took me a few hours to pump out a few measures. some people have the opposite experience. that being said, i still would love to have an english!
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well, i played both again recently, just for a last check, and i have now got a rochelle winging its way to me via mail. can't wait! so anybody else out there got a rochelle, or tales about how good they are? stories about how they are awful might also be interesting, if somewhat depressing now that i dropped the cash!

Yes. Want the Anglo you do. Buy the English, a great disturbance in the Force there will be. Meditate on this you must.