Notemaker

Very nice book. Kindle version, now working the first tune, ' The Banshee'. Noticed on both parts reverse bellows from Push G to draw D, MR LHS 5P 3D ..it first occurs in Bar 2 first part. In other bars the same phrase occurs. I know this may not be accurate for most players, but I am 'used' to getting my low D on the push off the inside row. And it does not feel as if it is wrong - because there are two bellows changes using the book setting. Please correct me if wrong. Thanks

Yes ! both are correct. Thank you for helping.

A Happy New Year to all. Thanks for helping. The last two reels are 'The Humors Of Castlefin', and 'The Wise Maid', AKA 'The Merry Ploughboy' in some parts of Scotland. What are the names of the first two ? Thanks in advance for helping,

Father O'Flynn. Jig. X: 2 T: On The Top Of Cork Road R: jig M: 6/8 L: 1/8 K: Dmaj "D"dAF DFA|"G"Bed "A"cBA|"D"d2d "A"efg|"D"fdf "A"ecA| "D"dAF DFA|"G"Bed "A"cBA|"D"d2d "A"efg|1 "D"fdd d3:|2 fdd d2|| |:g|"D"fdf fga|"A"ecA ABc|"Bm"d2d fed|"A"cAA A2c| "G"BGB Bcd|"D"AFD DFA|"G"dcd "A"efg|1 "D"fdd d2:|2 "D"fdd d3||

Love the tunes, great playing as well. What make of Concertina do you use? Is it an Anglo? I would love to be able to play those tunes but I am no expert, still learning from Alan Day's excellent tutor. Perhaps you might consider a selection of easier tunes for beginners? Thank you again for the wonderful music, I am very impressed. Best regards ..

Well not bending notes on the Concertina, but talking about similarity between the C/G Anglo and a standard C Harmonica, or a G Harmonica. Sorry for the error.

Unusual for me to comment on such a topic, yet feel that, in this case, must. Decades of playing 'Irtrad', and folk tunes on Harmonica have taught me a great lesson; we can play a D scale tune on a diatonic tuned G instrument. So if we elect to start off with the C/G Anglo Concertina; already, with barely one cross row button, can easily play the D scale on it. Bonus, without any effort, can also play tunes in C Major, A Minor, F Major; and off of the G row, A Major, needn't mention E Minor because, well! its a pig on any system, yet a nice pig because when we get that far in, just a bit more fun. Now about the idea that G/D instrument is easier than the C/G, yes! but as mentioned above, only for a few tunes. It can be a very bad idea if our compass includes Classical, Folk, Morris, because most of that is done with the C/G. Thank you.

Over my time on CN I have read some lovely stories about the hobby. Among those a few loved so much that I saved them, and their entire thread, to my local data drive. Being the Holiday season, today meandering through it, I came upon a couple bringing back to me lovely memories of times past. So wishing all the wonderful community a joyful season, I commend to you the same.

A wise choice, great instruments, well made and supported. Thanks

You are off topic, wildly so. But I do not sink to your C&F troll level by insulting you,

12 years is a long time playing on anything! Well, you have done your research and now you want to confirm what you already know. But first, may I ask what did you want to achieve with your previous instruments besides sessioning? I ask because I have experience with other genres besides Irish folk dance music, and think that an adherence to any genre alone is narrow, rather like learning Guitar to play 'Sultans Of Swing' on TikTok. Like how many of those are there? probably thousands. So, like I see many who embraced playing the Flute, one ought to get the best quality possible on day one. IOW wasting time with an inferior quality instrument is little use when the mechanics of performance so much depend on quality of build. Nowhere is that more critical than with the free feed family. Too, accordion reeded Concertinas lose value like a new car, 30% of it as soon as you walk out the door of the shop where you bought it. OTOH Concertinas with real concertina reeds in them increase in value as time passes. Why? Well for one thing they sound miles better than the Chinese made instruments do. For another, the bellows and action is infinitely better quality; the latter is probably the most essential player difference. Yes you can learn to play fancy on a cheapo box, but you'd have learned far quicker on a new Carroll, for example, or a classic Crabb or Jeffries, not to forget the superb quality found in the Suttner instruments. Those are very, very popular in Ireland these days, and I can hear why. Then there are other makers here on this site who's work is outstanding, need I mention Colin Dipper? But if Irish trad in the US is sessioning on Phoenix and similar, hey go with the flow :0). For my part I also love Morris and folk singing with the Anglo backing it. So those types would not pass the test of sounding, even closely, like the classic English built instrument. Good luck.

Thank you Wally. I can now publish Noel Hill's layout on my Flicker page :0)

Thank you Wally. That explains Noel Hill's recommended layout very well. Below my reading of your directions, which may save some typing.

Thank you Wally, this is what I suspected of makers model button layout.

Several sites mention this but do not actually diagram it. So what is the Irish version of Jeffries button layout? I attach three diagrams I made from reading comments about it and wonder which is 'Irish layout' correct. Secondly one author states he used Neol Hill's button layout, so what is that? Thanks.

That's the whole answer! Thank you.

This comes to mind when I try out an unfamiliar instrument. I must say my late Crabb Anglo is very comfortable, but the Rochelle, I used have, was not! And my newer rig, a splendid modern make, feels tighter than the Crabb. Wondering if there are set patterns for small - medium - large, hands? Thanks in advance.

PM in private thanks

Anyone else? I hope he is still around.

Mention of reverting the order of RHS 3rd Row BTN 1 & BTN 2, ie d#'' / c#'' with c#'' / d#'', in order to make playing in D Maj, A Maj, easier. I wonder if makers are adopting the change? Too wonder if Techs are doing this mod for players? Is it hard to do? Costly? Thanks in advance for any help.

Some reading here led me to wonder are there any rules for breaking 'in' a new classic style Concertina? Here I am wondering about the leather bellows, also steel reeds in brass shoes. I ask because a Harmonica has to be played in carefully. Before blowing into it, care taken to warm it up in cold weather .

I recall reading some time ago, that it took a professional company about a month to make one Anglo Concertina. But today most makers are working in small workshops with few helpers. I wonder how long they need to complete a basic classic style C/G 30 Btn Anglo Concertina? Thanks in advance.

Well I could only find one which https://mcneelamusic.com/concertinas/the-phoenix-concertina/ I liked with the Jeffries layout, and am thinking about it. Yet if, instead, I find something similar elsewhere may have a go at it I should mention, already have, and enjoy, a beautiful original Crabb 30 Btn C/G made in April 1965 by Henry and Neville Crabb. But; it is Wheatstone layout which sort of blocks me from some pieces best done in the Jeffries. I did consider modifying my beloved Crabb, but when I realized that would mean cutting on the reed slots, decided against. Most especially as the 2nd playing owner and the lovely condition of the instrument; it would be a crime to destroy an original !

Looking at McNeila, (Dublin Ireland), Concertinas and wondering how much extra cost will be added for tax / import duty, if I purchase from there. Any help muchly appreciated. Thank you.

Sorry, my bad. I was mistaken about which reed you suggested. I have but two RHS keys over it, K1 the 2nd octave, C#""/D#"", and K4 C#"""/D#""" . Clearly modifying D#"" K1 wont work because it is needed for other scales. Anyway modifying this Concertina might not, in the long term, be a good idea. Instead I hope to acquire another with the Jefferies layout, not particular as to reed type, traditional or accordion. Thank you.