SIMON GABRIELOW

Welcome, I think you picked the right forum ( in my opinion). I started on here a little while back and have not regretted it ( I also have my late father's button accordion as well as concertina, and lately a Chalumeau).. so there is a mix of folk on here. All different backgrounds, views, and character ( as you will find out)😊😊

I was wondering if sometimes the reeds would be tuned to different note; if diatonic instrument were to be used ( one note in other out)?

Yes, there can be a lot of twiddle on those sites. The You tube ..has also had reputation for eg. Our Aunty Fran's cat playing with Percy parrot type silly things! But there again you can make them interesting too; as many here link videos to c.net from tube channels, which I suppose is better.

At last you have found your much awaited 'tedrow'... Enjoy it and learning all the ins and outs of musical things🌝🌝🌝🌝🌝

It reminds me of all those fingering rules for piano playing often recommended. Years ago, my late Mother always told me tale of her been expected to go for piano lessons, even though she knew she had little facility for it ( she was a visual artist as her skill).. so she was out off by method. However she did remember her five finger technique, to a degree. But by admission had little interest in playing piano. She would have instead liked a flute, she always tdld me. Incidentally, she rarely attended her piano lessons, instead opting to buy an ice cream and before returning home!😊😊

I am known for barely holding my concertina in my own unusual method😊...whole hands inside the straps. ( What a rebel I am!,).. So it could even be possible to use the thumb to reach notes also..! Which I do not do as it is like being contortionist.

On a serious point .. English system is different to Anglo, so be aware of this fact, and I would choose one system that you feel most comfortable with, and then stick with it. Anglos have two notes on one button remember ( one in on bellows and another when bellows out). English has one note in or out ( two reeds tuned to same note). I am NOT an English concertina player, but thought you should be aware of switching from one to other, as it could be confusing your learning at this early stage. I hope the postman realised this as he did a jig round and about the post office too😊😃

Your post office is probably having a musical event with your concertina?maybe they always wanted to play one themselves!!😊😊😊

Oooh what a carry on, that is for melodeon ( I have one of those accordion ones ) and maybe you can use numbering in a slightly different way. But concertina book I started on simply gave numbers 1 to 5 for each side .. the numbers above being for right hand, whilst numbers below stave, for right hand. I think too much technical detail on page can be discouraging and inhibit learning process.

I think that with concertinas developing between musical periods of history; they came after most classical instruments were well formed and had their methodical academic technique already put in as gospel.. then concertinas were left to be developed and discovered more by practical discovery, in a wide variety of social settings too, and each person had made their own way of playing them That is their advantage over the rigid 'you must do it.. can't do it that way'. Approach that maybe keyboard or other instruments maybe encourage more; free reeds are almost literally that, in that you are "free" also to make up your own rules as you see fit!🌝

I do not know how heavy or light the other makes are . But my instrument is more than light enough to hold easily in just one hand! And I am never aware of it being an issue. As for cheap, and beginners, I also believe that you can get a lot with a little less sometimes🌝 As I said recently elsewhere ..you can create a masterpiece with but a pencil if need be ( and do not need a full set of paints)🌝🌝

When I started I used a basic tablature as you described; numbers according to button position, and mark to indicate in or out of bellows, and then numbers below stave for left side and above stave means right hand keyboard side to be used. But really I concentrated on using most available fingers, including little fingers to reach higher notes. But, I do not think there is one way of doing this, and it may vary from person to person, as to what is best for individual's hands, at that moment. With Anglo I think you have even more fingers available to reach notes ( traditionally) .. certainly, I would say that using all fingers is good practice and not to use only two or three, because more advanced pieces often require some dexterity and complex finger twisters to reach successfully!😊

I watched the video described here, which I think was made by one of the c.net people? And found it very interesting. It seems two delightful ladies have bought most of the equipment from the old manufacturer, and are now producing the concertinas🌝 I do not know myself how they are to say; but all I can say it was lovely setting in Italy! I have my one and only Hohner branded Anglo 30 key instrument, which I bought in 1999 ( in UK).. and later on found it was made in Italy by the Brunner Musica ( now no longer trading) and possibly Stagi. I have been happy with my instrument, and it has done me well over two decades, you can get teething problems .. but once overcome I find ( personally) the steel reed strong tone very pleasing. But there again I have only ever used this concertina of mine🌝. Steel reeds, resin plastic buttons, reeds mounted on wooden blocks,with felt valve flap thingies . The plastic is small traditional size buttons and 'plastic' I use generally in term ( as i see no reason not to use it myself ( my own thoughts) How they are now I do not know.. but best of luck with your decision. You can hear my own Hohner (Stagi made) on my YouTube channel to get idea of sound and action; type in my name (Simon Gabrielow ,) and go to videos to see?🌝🌝 Note; I am NOT a paid brand ambassador for the company😊😊

You should play music as you feel is best for your own style; as you have here, and it will then be your own personality which comes out, that's the best way, I think.🌝

Kathryn, have you ever tried playing the Chalumeau? One in C, without keys? Because this also makes the player have to use limited resources ( 1 chromatic octave).. I have taken to this kind of instrument just this year and it compliments the sound of concertinas, I think, with its single reed, and sound quality🌝

A very jaunty tune indeed! Very pixey like; I can well imagine them dancing around a garden creating in a swirl, a 'fairy ring'.. on the ground...😊

I think that if your write a good tune [ with a bit of rhythm to it] - or a nice melody that gets your own feet tapping then you know you may be well on the way to a success [even if you did write it yourself] sometimes they seem to almost 'write themselves'.. Although I haven't as yet found anyone to dance my "Dance the Gannet" tune 😊 [ maybe the birds will do it instead?}.

Yes, it's the case😊 I think you may notice this original thread topic is over 15 years old! So maybe the images are long gone ? Dated from 2008 ( was back yester year!)😊

I would not think it really matters what key instrument is in as long as you have a chromatic choice of notes you can play in multiple different keys(as that is what those additional notes on rows are for).

I watched this video on CNET a while back and I found it very interesting. One off the folk on here made the trip to Italy to do his documentary.

Yes,I agree, a lot can be played and made of a 20 button Anglo concertina alone (I had already found 300 pieces of music to suit my 20 button in C and G years back). It was made in GDR and very reliable to use. And there's one player we all know of here on C.net that shows (as goes 20 button concertinas).. how marvellously they can be played (C.W)..

What a cheerful post of yours it has made a lot of us smile on this.C.net ..I have no doubts!😊😊 Sometimes I think an instrument picks it's owner like a favourite pet; and I am hopeful that your obvious enthusiasm will endure, all the hurdles, and little errors inevitably ahead in learning process.. and that you will soon become a confident player; and share your progress on this site once you feel brave enough to do so?

Many years ago now, I inhertited accordion from my Father, who played it quite often. He never learned to read music much, but played a selection of loud cheery pieces best he could. It was 2001 when I started to use his hohner C sharp accordion myself ( and I practiced ).. got better with time, and found the jump up from my 30 key Anglo very helpful; as many of the buttons produced the same note in layout, and it was the bigger scale in button placement that is the only big difference. ( Bigger physical jumps for the fingers). So it made it easier overall. Also, using the basses to the left side was straightforward, because using Anglo concertina also have to be supple on both hands ( left and right) when playing. His accordion ( which for first ever time in over two decades of owning it now)I recorded playing it myself on video, ( my you-tube channel).now as my own of course, has not hundreds of basses, but a selection with chords on them and a couple of single note options also. Back in 1984 when he bough it it would have been middle range price.. but the memory and sentiment attatched to it is priceless to me. He recorded an audio tape playing it himself years ago .. 'very lively and loud'! But with a typically cheerful sound.😊 You can hear his own playing audio on my 'tube channel' also..

Well done (at last).. now you know what a massive world the free reed family of instruments covers! Many people do not realise the choice out there. When I was waiting for my Anglo; years ago.. I spent time reading up on the 30 key system and prepared myself for the leap ahead in playing ( from my 20 key one).. so by time I got the newer one.. I already had method practiced Inn my mind's eye.

It's very much s personal choice as to which instrument will suit you. I am mundanely happy with my one, but there again I have never really shopped around for others for years. I use my own I instrument as a means to an end in itself; for making music. There's a huge choice of them everywhere, and some good offers secondhand maybe? Or new concertinas being made ( for all budgets). Also some very cheap ones ( caution)!. And these can have synthetic bellows .. best to have leather bellows; as they last longer. New ones may still need 'working in' to get them playing fluently. Over here in UK very few music shops left to go and try them out .. but maybe you can locate a real shop and ask to have a go? It is amazing how differently each instrument can feel in the hands and how that can affect your playing technique. There's the Italian makers producing modern concertinas using all the equipment from previous factory; which was featured here on c.net last year, I think. Best of luck with your decision.🌝