Daddy Long Les

Thank you for this information. Very interesting!

Turned to a load of different instruments in 2009 after being a pro guitarist all my working life. Played melodeon since 2011 and tinkered with the EC since 2012 having been given a Jackie by a very kind chap from Kansas. Got into it big-time just recently and invented my own tablature for the EC. Just bought a Lachenal treble. I am 62 but as excited as a ten year old!!

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll give them a try Kind regards Les

Just got this from Wakker Concertinas - so now we all know!! "Wim is short for William (Wi [llia] m. Wakker is pronounced the same as Walker" Les

Ha ha , ok Geoff!!! Any other way of accurately dating it?

Hi, My Lachenal 48 button EC has a problem. When I play the C on the right hand side (one octave above Middle C) it sounds a C note an octave below at the same time. Sort of a bandoneon effect!! It only happens on the pull. The extra C note appears to be coming from the same side. I'm sure it's not the actual Middle C note on the left hand side ringing in sympathy. Fixable by me or return to shop? Many thanks for any advice. Les

Ok - using Geoff Wooff's formula i.e. serial number divided by 769 + 1850 it's 1899. Does that sound about right?

Took the reed pan out and the number is very clear in there. It's 38227. So what year does that make it?

Ok, I've taken off the right hand end and the number stamped into the wood next to the letter R is indeed 88227. Is there a chance that this isn't the serial number and if it isn't, where would it be? Les

Hmm, well that's what the guy at Hobgoblin said. He had to take it apart to find it and it was stamped in the wood. To save me a load of grief could you kindly tell me which end to take off and whereabouts I'm likely to find it and then I can report back. Thank You Les

Hi Chris, Of course!! How silly of me not to realise about the C notes! Thank you very much for your information. Les

Hi, I'd like to find out a bit more about my concertina if possible. It's a Lachenal English 48 Button Treble with a serial number 88227. You can see the instrument in this video:- https://youtu.be/iVPD6zP5Wro Hobgoblin, Brighton where I bought it, told me it was made in 1903. The guy there used the website and performed the usual calculation. I've just realised that the note names are stamped on the buttons which I think are made of bone. The accidentals are black (faded in places) and some of the "whites" are stained red - I guess this is due to the endless rubbing on the red surrounds or whatever they're called. The instrument has rosewood ends and no fancy inlays.The thumb straps are held in place by brass thumb screws which are about 3/4 inch across. The bellows are 5-fold and have a green criss-cross dotted diamond pattern with a simple cross at each intersection. Can anyone tell me if this concertina has a model name at all and give me any more information? I'd be most grateful for any help. Many Thanks Les

Thanks Steve. I've done as you have suggested. Les

Hi, I've always started my pieces with the bellows completely closed to give me the maximum amount of air on the pull for the first phrase or bars. I was reading Wim Wakker's tutor book for the Jackie last night and he suggests keeping an inverted V shape by having the front of the bellows closed and fanning out from the back. Up to now I've just been pulling out and pushing in without too much "curve" but I have to admit Wim's method does seem to give me more control. I'd like to have other people's opinion on this - both on the starting position and the general shape of the bellows when playing. Many Thanks Les

Hi Moira, Yes, I've just discovered this in Wim's book and only just grasped what he means. I have very long fingers, so for me this is working and definitely making a positive difference to my playing. Having said that, if you've found something that works for you then that's fine.

Hi, Can someone please tell me how to pronounce Wim's name correctly? Thank You! Les

Hi, This is just to let you know that I have added two new lessons to my page over the last few days. What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor and Skye Boat Song. If you are interested in these lessons please keep checking and scrolling to the bottom of the page as I aim to add new videos regularly. Many Thanks Les

Hold out for a Jackie. Everything else I've ever tried has been not worth buying. I now own an expensive Lachenal as well but I still really like my Jackie. It's loud, very responsive and has its own unique sound. OK, it's never going to be a Wheatstone but it's still a very worthy instrument. Check out my teaching videos and you can get a really good idea of the sound.

My wife runs a small company called Porter's Lotion UK. She had split fingers and thumbs every winter all her life and tried everything there is - literally every product you can name. She stumbled upon the parent company in the USA, ordered a bottle of lotion and never looked back. Because she was so impressed with the product, she asked to be an importer and six years on, her little company is helping people in the UK and Europe who come back time and again because it really does work. I don't think there is any better recommendation than personal experience. If you are in the US, go straight to Porter's (www.porterslotion.com) or in the UK/Europe www.porterslotion.co.uk If you want a sample bottle, it's quite reasonable and if you mention this website, she will waive the postage cost.

If you click the links below the titles you will be able to view these videos on You Tube. Scroll to the bottom to see the latest. The first few are general videos and then you will see the lessons which you can view in numerical order. In general, the videos lessons will gradually introduce more technique/theory over time. All lesson videos have a short summary of their contents under the title. All tab sheets and documents can be downloaded from my website www.daddylongles.com - Go to "Concertina Music". Please be aware that I use my own tablature for these lessons with some standard musical notation here and there. There is a special video which explains this tablature. I will add to the list as I record more videos in the future and hope very much they may be of use to any beginners on this instrument. General Videos:- A Short Video To Introduce Myself https://youtu.be/YPg80a4SvNM An Introduction To The English Concertina https://youtu.be/iG8-3dsSWkc Understanding The Layout And Learning The Notes On The English Concertina https://youtu.be/aor69M4oEf0 My English Concertina Tablature Explained https://youtu.be/VwSVDqsz02k ​The Jackie 30 Button English Concertina Versus a 48 or 56 Button Model https://youtu.be/IhvrtWpby8g The Jackie 30 Button English Concertina Compared With a Lachenal 48 Button Model https://youtu.be/iVPD6zP5Wro Looking Inside A Lachenal Vintage Concertina https://youtu.be/KZEKtMEWGMI The Lachenal Concertina Slide Show https://youtu.be/TbgAHsr5LHY Opening Up An English Concertina To Try To Fix A Fault https://youtu.be/artO0jTQDvY Looking Inside A Jackie Concertina https://youtu.be/kQ6ivydMAiQ Marcus English Treble Concertina - First Impressions https://youtu.be/2nGCWZUY2wE Lesson Videos (Perfect for a beginner - filmed with three cameras in HD):- Video Lesson 1 - Morning Has Broken Key of C major. All notes on rows 2 and 3. How to hold the instrument. The position of Middle C and D in relation to the thumb straps. Simple harmony - two buttons played together. Advice on practice and fingernails. https://youtu.be/WZ2LaPOOiDU Video Lesson 2 - Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Key of C major. https://youtu.be/2VDVFSsWKvY Video Lesson 3 - On Top Of Old Smoky Key of D major. F# played for the first time. Expression with bellows. https://youtu.be/8iyyLtxXQLw Video Lesson 4 - The Day Thou Gavest Lord Has Ended ​Key of G major. All notes in the scale of G major used. Muscle memory. Tone through confidence! First ornament (a mordent). 3-note chord on the end of the piece. https://youtu.be/afvyAA30DKA Video Lesson 5 - In The Bleak Midwinter Key of C major. Two-note chords. Another mordent. Dotted notes. Staccato notes. https://youtu.be/q7VuoGXYo18 Video Lesson 6 - He Who Would Valiant Be Key of C major. Dotted notes. All notes in the scale of C major played in this tune. https://youtu.be/S0W9vxQrnJM Video Lesson 7 - What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor? In the D Dorian mode - (D minor). https://youtu.be/fMaRBGiRg4I Video Lesson 8 - Skye Boat Song Key of C major. Lots of low notes!! https://youtu.be/pr7DDagGaf0 Video Lesson 9 - Be Still Key of D major. F# and C# played. All 8 notes in the scale of D major played in this tune. Tasteful ending!! https://youtu.be/cw3UE5tm1Ok Video Lesson 10 - Danny Boy Key of C major. 12 notes used - the most so far! Grace notes added. Expression. Rubato. https://youtu.be/SgHp96YBlS4 Video Lesson 11 - Home On The Range Key of D major. Ornaments - mordent and grace notes. 1st finger used on row 1 accidentals for the first time (C#). 4-note chord on the end. https://youtu.be/jtW-zXwnTuo Video Lesson 12 - Shepherd's Hey Played in four keys G major, C major, D minor and A minor - all using the same pattern of buttons. 1,3,8 chord played on the end. https://youtu.be/aS_wrS8g7bI Video Lesson 13 - Oh My Darling Clementine Key of D major. Low C# used so you need to play it with finger 1 on that top row. Interesting ending - an A major chord broken up and with appropriate fingering. https://youtu.be/4nQs5o0LvqU Video Lesson 14 - Away In A Manger Key of E major. Four sharps!! F# C# G# and D#. Changing the fingering to suit the tune https://youtu.be/5mAxiZN1dSk Video Lesson 15 - Cattle Call (Theme To The Woodentops) Key of G major. Playing the tune in harmony. 6/8 time. Reversing the bellows on identical phrases to get a different tone. https://youtu.be/COOIJaSPrJg Video Lesson 16 - The Aldbury May Song Key of D major. Reading the dots (musical notation) for the first time! https://youtu.be/7Otxq4pUChQ Video Lesson 17 - The Grenadier And The Lady In A Aeolian mode (A minor) Tab and sheet music - more advanced timings to learn on the sheet music https://youtu.be/_jgV3NYHu5g Video Lesson 18 - Speed The Plough In G major Tab and sheet music. Playing quavers smoothly. https://youtu.be/ObHGH7ZNfsI Video Lesson 19 - Silent Night Playing in A major for the first time. 6/8 time signature. Left hand change of position for the fingering to make it comfortable to play the G# and C#. https://youtu.be/vd33vmRqk-g Video Lesson 20 - Drink To Me Only In G major. Played and explained as single notes and also in harmony. https://youtu.be/AXUufZhkRec Video Lesson 21 - Happy Birthday In G major. This is a good key for all to sing in. https://youtu.be/eRLAayXeBbc Video Lesson 22 - Amazing Grace In G major. Played in single notes with ornaments and then with a drone. This is the first time I have featured a drone - a low G played all the way through to give us a sort of bagpipes effect. https://youtu.be/JHRPlQDAO2s Video Lesson 23 - The Irish Washerwoman In G major. Playing the same button with different fingers on this Irish tune. https://youtu.be/JgQ1pAxJvjo Video Lesson 24 - Where Is Love? (Oliver!) In C major. Lovely tune with quite a lot of accidentals https://youtu.be/QiP3ZgVrQMw Video Lesson 25 - The Red Haired Boy Not in its usual key of A but in G here. I play it with a hornpipe feel - again, this is unusual ​but I think it works well. https://youtu.be/Oi5RTJdeTmg Video Lesson 26 - Sankta Lucia A lovely old Swedish Christmas song in G. Features a C# accidental. https://youtu.be/Q2hY8TJNrbQ Video Lesson 27 - William Taylor's Tabletop Hornpipe A lovely tune in E minor. My wife dances to this in her Morris side. https://youtu.be/5T16nlsb6fA Video Lesson 28 - Bobby Shafto In G major. Two versions of the tune and some ornaments in the B part. https://youtu.be/ZGA64xajQYI Video Lesson 29 - Captain Maguire In D major. Quite a brisk and cheerful tune to warm your fingers up! https://youtu.be/i41Ui98E33w Video Lesson 30 - Yankee Doodle In D major. Very well known tune. https://youtu.be/z65oX_vIhwo Video Lesson 31 - Jon's Polka In D major. In this lesson emphasis is placed on changing bellows direction at the correct moment. https://youtu.be/H9R9Qgi82Xg Video Lesson 32 - Gaudete In G aeolian. In four parts. Again the emphasis is on correct bellows technique. You can hear all four parts together at the start of the video. https://youtu.be/ahAvKfXR3yo

Well, I took the plunge and bought a Lachenal 48 button EC yesterday and I have made a video this morning where I have demonstrated the difference in size, weight and of course, tone. I guess this might be useful to someone who is either starting out or thinking about upgrading . I play "In The Bleak Mid Winter" on both at the end of the video. Please click the link below to see the video:- https://youtu.be/iVPD6zP5Wro All the best Les

Yes, I guess this is a good idea. I'll look into it.

Wow Pete that looks amazing!

Another easy lesson. This time I introduce an easy ornament (a mordent) and a final three-note chord. Video here:- https://youtu.be/afvyAA30DKA ... and the tab is attached. all the best Les The Day Thou Gavest Lord Has Ended.pdf