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Disappeared from my cache when I went back to find it.

Bowed Psaltry.

As a contra dance musician, I'd suggest playing some accompaniment at first to establish the rhythm. Just a spare bass line and a few chugs here and there. When you're comfortable with that, venture from it into simple versions or fragments of the melody. Contra tunes can be quite complex. Don't be in a hurry. I've been playing fiddle for dances for 50+ years and I'm 5 years into playing concertina but I don't feel confident yet jumping right in to the melody. Bumps and chugs for me for now!. I see you've posted, Jim. Hope this fits...😊

A lovely still life,,,,😊

Mr. Snope is still corresponding and intends to re-open his shop in Ashville when he's settled in there. He was able to match several buttons for my late model Wheatstone.

Sometimes transposing to a more playable key is not helpful. If you're playing an established repertoire such as contra dance music, the other musicians ( fiddlers especially ) will not likely be amused or accommodating. Such is the case with the Jeffries duet C core. The friendliest major keys are C,F,Bb and G. Having learned all my contra tunes in these keys I had my 50 button old pitch box bumped up to D core for D,G,C and A, transposing the instrument. Perhaps not doable for other systems but I would guess a C/G Anglo could be converted.

1. Left hand through the strap solves an achy wrist (for me) and allows for a floating hand and a prehensile thumb, essential because.... 2. I can play a bass line ( sparse ), chords ( spare ) and melody through the overlap zone on the LH, effective because.... 3. The 50 button ( at 6 1/4" AtF) Jeff duet reaches down into the Cello range and is chromatic through the Viola and Fiddle range, efficient because.... 4. A Jeffries stroke of genius was to include the Bb ( for a C core instrument ) in the two rows of the C scale allowing for easy fingering in C, F, Bb, and G, Eureka!, because.... 5, Converting to D gives me D, G, C and A. The most common keys for the music I play....😁

I play with much weirdness, Including left hand fully inside the strap and using thumbs to engage the bottom row of my Jeff duets. I've had one re-tuned to D core and introduced some bi-sonorics all with fabulous results ( and completely reversible ). I've experimented with flipping the box end for end ( which works surprisingly well ) for a different effect....😊

As a Jeffries duet player I would say no. Beyond their chromatic and split handed nature ( if you chose to play that way ) the note arrangements ( and thus the fingerings ) are very different. The concept of a duet is easy to ken but the specific systems...not so much.

As to the learning/practicing aspect, I have a minimalist approach to music theory. I play by ear and at 75 my noggin is so full of various musics that I intuitively recognize different scales and patterns. Just give me a key and a do re mi and I'm on my way...😄

I spoke to Bob recently. He intends to be relocated to Ashville by the end of this month.

The Jeffries duet is like that. I find myself changing fingerings a lot, often without thinking, to suit my mood or the particular flavor of a tune. The shared notes in the overlap zone offer many possibilities. Any note in the zone can be played 8 different ways using only the first two fingers on either hand.

I've always found it more enjoyable ( and easier! ) to emulate than imitate....😊

And when you acquire a C/G you will already know how to play it....😊

I don't know where you're located but I just noticed on facebook mkt. place Rome NY USA, a new looking Scholler with Instruction book for $100....😊