Pete Fitzgerald

Michael, I've figured out the tab conversion for a tune I'm working on from the info and tools you've posted on your website. Wow, that's an incredible resource with a huge amount of info - thank you for creating it!! Pete

Gary et al Much appreciated, that helps! I'll certainly be focusing just on the melody line for the immediate future... Pete

Hi Gary I am very much a novice at reading music and tablature, much like Victor described in his initial note. While I look forward to deciphering and learning from your books, I must confess to being quite lost at fully understanding the Tablature Example. I suspect it is because you are covering so much in the example graphic you posted, and use in your various books, that it’s easy for a complete newbie to be overwhelmed… Let me try to explain where I get confused. If the numbers above and below the staff represent the concertina button(s) which match the specific note(s) that appear on the staff, why are there so many other button/numbers shown in the example graphic? Entirely apart from various notes being duplicated across the concertina, some button/numbers appear to represent the same musical note on the staff, but an octave apart from what is actually shown on the staff, and others appear to represent other notes altogether (perhaps representing cords or ornaments?). What is being represented by these various numbers? Additionally, some button/numbers are also accompanied by dashes, ostensibly indicating the button should be held for a time, but why do the dashes then not match the length of the note (e.g. quarter, half, whole) shown on the staff? Lastly, I notice that occasionally there are button/numbers both above and below the horizontal line which is used to indicate a “pull” on the bellows, as with the D Major scale on page 62 of the Easy Anglo 1-2-3 book. How should that be interpreted and applied? I’m sure the explanations are all self-evident to those with more musical experience, but it is unfortunately a bit of a puzzle to a complete beginner such as myself! Could you elaborate on these points when you get a chance? Many thanks! Pete

Nicholas and Paul, I believe you've identified some of the most commonly cited "intermediate" hybrids being produced today. It's always interesting to hear folks' experiences with these instruments. Part of my focus on the Clover is the relative lack of comments/feedback about the Clare, so any and all info is appreciated!

Thanks Paul! The ICC "Clare" is indeed another instrument I am considering, but was hoping that a used Concertina Connection "Clover" might be coming up for sale in the not too distant future. I assume they are roughly comparable, unless someone who has experience with both instruments has other thoughts, but have yet to try either myself as yet ....

Hello, I'm a new player looking to upgrade my instrument (a Rochelle 2), and would be particularly interested in a second hand c/g Clover (or similar). Please PM me with the details if you have one available. Thanks!