[Addicted Beginner!]

Hi

I use a pad of non slip material (sort of rubberish mesh) mainly to stop the concertina from slipping around on my knee. I guess it would also reduce the wear. I notice that most people tend to hold the concertina on the left knee. I wonder on what basis they do this. I am right-handed but hold the concertina on the right knee. Does being right-handed or left-handed make a difference

chris

 

Having it placed on the left leg you can easily free your right hand to reach your glass or cigarettes, for right-handed people that is of course.

[Addicted Beginner!]

I've been fighting with playing it quite a few different ways, and I'm certainly having better control over the fingering since I stopped relying as much on the pinky rest. I've had the best results with the bellows on the knee and opening and closing from the top, but I just found a way to mount a strap to the Jackie without having to install any extra hardware to it. Playing standing up is a whole different ballgame, but considering the kind of music I aim to play, I think the extra effort should pay off.

 

Hi folks, some additional note to the accordion:

First thing: the really biiig boxes have an extra cloth (a bit like a small pillow type of thing or thin plastic) between chest and bellows to avoid damaging the bellows during the years. If not you´ll see after quite some time the black material being rubbed off.

Second thing: one of the corners of the bellows actually sits on the leg (next to the pelvis) and have metal caps on all corners for protection. When pulling you´d move it out and downwards and there is not really a lot of contact to the leg anyway.

 

Back to the concertina:

I still find it difficult to sort of bend it over the leg having the bellows placed actually on the leg. I prefer the left-side-on-the-leg-version. It still makes it easier for me if I have the left leg higher than the right (concertina case will do) - I find it easier to take control over the instrument.

And I use to walk around while playing not standing :-)

it makes me stop thinking about holding the instrument or when which finger where - I just play while moving through the flat.

Since one week I´ve got a new instrument, playing it like mad and no effects on thumbs or little finger at all.

 

greetings

Christian

[Out Of Tune Chords]

Howdy:

 

I was practicing away last evening attempting to work out an accompaniment for a song I am working on when I noticed a few of the three note chords I was experimenting with sounding odd and dissonant.

 

These were all triads in their root position.

 

Anyway after hearing the offending cluster of notes, I played each of the offending chords broken up as foillows.

The thirds sounded fine.

Then the fifth sounded fine.

Then when I put all three notes together, I heard the offending cluster which was not very harmonious. Close but not right on the mark.

Something is definitely going on here but I cannot figure out what it might be.

Are the reeds not in "synch" when the three buttons are depressed?

Maybe someone can clue me into what I am guessing is a somewhat common occurance.

All help and advice is appreciated deeply.

 

Best,

Perry Werner

 

Hello, some other idea here:

Please consider that a reed doesn´t produce a "proper" sound like an (electric) organ, it´s more or less like a bell, meaning every single note is put together by different high and deep sounds. So one perfectly tuned concertina may play well with another, but only on the push or pull. Or well with one and not with another. Acutally you never know. As well the resonance of the instrument is playing a role - a reed may sound outside the instrument perfect but put in again out of tune.

 

have a good sunday

Christian

[Concertina Recordings..]

These days you can buy a turntable that plugs right into your USB port, if you want. I haven't tried them.

 

Tom

 

Hi folks,

 

There is as well another easy device which connects the computer with the headphone slot of any player. That is used via the sound card - found that pretty easy.

 

Christian

[Accordions]

Well, I played the concertina first (english system) and went than to the accordion.

I´ll tell you why.

Coming from the organ I decided to take a little break. Getting to know the concertina was wonderful getting to know an instrument using reeds... Playing Irish and English tunes for quite a while I came across the the accordion. Meanwhile I play M3 - the possibility to play left and right hand like on a piano.

And guess what? It made me more sensitive to play the concertina in a matter of technique. Well, it sort of remained the same: the wind gives the heart to the instrument but the technique gives the opportunity to express it.

 

Christian

[Yall's Opinion]

Hello,

 

I can´t give a comment concerning the instrument, I never played a Bastari, not even seen one in the real live.

 

But, I can´t image playing a concertina with a tremolo - to me that sounds wrong. It would be a combination of two things which don´t belong together. Yes, I never heard this type of brand but still I would prefer a single reeded instrument.

 

Christian

[What Do We All Look Like?]

Hello folks,

 

I may not post very often here, but here´s as well an image.

A bit old, but ...

 

greetings

Christian