Caroline

I upgraded my beginner concertina to a Custom Clover and I love it. It is almost effortless to play and Wm Walker was great to work with. I was lucky enough to get on Wally Carroll’s wait list before he stopped taking orders, so I’m eagerly anticipating my first non-hybrid concertina. That said, the Clover will become my traveler— I don’t see any point in ever getting rid of it.

I am a huge fan of Caitlin's course. I also subscribe to OAIM. I find I learn more from Caitlin (I'm halfway through the "Improver Course," but I like the variety on OAIM and learning from other tutors. Plus there are tons of tunes. I'm just at the point where I am trying to play along with their pub sessions...but not nearly up to speed yet. I tried Jack Talty's course and I'm sorry to say, I did not like it and cancelled after a few lessons. If I had to chose one, I'd go with Caitlin.

I own quite a few musical instruments; my father taught me three chords on his tenor guitar and I went from there, becoming a frustrated musician, searching for my musical instrument soul mate. Thus, I can play, with probably no enjoyment to others, the guitar, ukulele, a bit of banjo, piano, and a teeny bit of tin whistle. My husband used to be a Civil War reenactor (before we met) and had purchased a 20 button G/D Anglo Stagi back in the 90s with the idea of learning some Civil War songs on it. I gave it a try once, but at that time I didn't like the sound of the notes coming out of one or the other side of the instrument, so I never went further than a few odd presses. We used it in our house as a decorative item just up on a bookshelf. One day, about a year and a half ago, my husband and I were joking around about the theme song from the "Pirates of the Caribbean," and I made the comment that I could probably play it on that concertina up on the bookcase. So I took it down and attempted. That afternoon I bought Gary Coover's Easy Concertina book on Amazon and started reading up on the instrument. Once I got the book, I started to learn the notes. I treated the instrument as if it was a C/G, but couldn’t play along with recordings. Needless to say, I bought a nice intermediate 30 button hybrid (Clover) and later ordered a Carroll that I hope to take delivery of sometime in August.

Hey Jody, is that the “phantom button” technique I read on The Session? I’ve tried that too. But I’m still a novice and I can’t make the tapping outside of the buttons work just yet. I’ll keep on trying though! and Simon, I thank you for the encouragement. caroline

I’ve been playing Anglo for about a year now and while I feel my cuts and grace notes are coming along nicely, I can’t say the same about my rolls. Now matter how quickly or lightly I tap the buttons, I can’t seem to get that nice little percussive chirp. Instead I feel I hear too much of the notes themselves. I’ve tried both holding down the rolling note and leaving it up. I’m wondering if it’s a matter of the mechanics of the concertina itself? I have a new CC custom Clover which I took delivery of last January. To me it seems very quick and responsive and it takes little effort to sound the notes or work the bellows. Any advice?

This is from a McNeela blog regarding storage: When storing your concertina, make sure that you keep the bellows compressed. Firstly, ensure that you have the bellows compressed by placing a tight elastic band around the instrument. Secondly, keep the concertina tightly packed in its hard case. Keeping the bellows compressed in this way prevents them from expanding and losing elasticity and means you won’t lose action on the concertina. i don’t use a band, but I always put mine back in its case after playing.

Here,s the tune list for Caitlin’s “Improver” course, which I am currently working on. I took the list from her course album which she offers for additional purchase. On the album she plays the tunes she teaches in the course, at speed, in sets, and with accompaniment. I find the albums a great for getting the tunes in your head before you start learning them. Kitty Gone a Milkin’, Music in the Glen (Reels) The Morning Lark, The Bohola (Jigs) The Rookery, Joe Cooley’s Morning Dew, New Mown Meadow (Reels) 
An Ciúnas (Slow March) 

An Gliomach, An tSeanbhean Bhocht, Paddy Finley's Fancy (Reels) 
Dances at Kinvara, Aughton House (Barndances) 

Silver Spear, The Floggin' (Reels) 

 Mrs. Galvin’s, Coleman’s Cross, Baitheadh Bhruclais (Jigs) 

Sunday’s Well (Waltz) 

Murty McMahons, Lucky in Love (Reels) 

Spotted Dog, The Nightingale, The Cow that Ate the Blanket (Jigs) 

The Lacaroe, The Green Gowned Lass, Green Fields of America (Reels) 

 Farewell to Whiskey, Dark Girl Dressed in Blue (Polkas) 

Within a mile of Dublin, I have no Money (Reels) 

The Linnet’s Chorus, The Beautiful Goldfinch (Waltzes)

Just a quick note on Caitlin’s video lessons. She does not teach ornamentation in her beginner lesson set, so that’s 25 tunes, no ornamentation. OAIM on the other hand, Edel Fox starts practically from the get go.

Like you, I also started with a 20 button Stagi. I found early on that it was very limiting In what I wanted to do, but it got me through many of the basics. As other have recommended, Easy Anglo 1-2-3 by Gary Coover is a great beginning book, especially if you also want to learn to read music as well. If you want to play predominately Irish Traditional style, then I can't speak highly enough of the online lessons offered by Caitlin nic Gabhann at irishconcertinalessons.com. Go to YouTube and you will find quite a few free "samples" of lesson offerings, and videos of songs from Coover's books. See what type of playing you are interested in and go from there! Welcome to the Rabbit Hole!

I think that the Jeffries configuration is actually pretty common among those that do primarily Irish Trad. If you ever decide to order a concertina from the maker, you usually get your choice of layout. You can also decide to have some of the buttons customized to absolutely fit what you are looking for. Carroll Concertinas have a layout which has even more choices for C#s: https://www.carrollconcertinas.com/images/CarrollButtonConfig.jpg

That lone C# is the reason why Irish traditional players favor the Jeffries configuration where you have the C# on both the push or pull.

I started playing the Anglo about a year ago. I'm 64 and like you, dabbled in different instruments and am a proficient typist. These are my observations regarding my "learning curve" this last year: First, I have had the most successful "tutor" experience with the lessons that Caitlin Nic Gabhann offers on https://www.irishconcertinalessons.com/static_pages/home . I also pay for OAIM, but I like Caitlin's style and pace better. I did not really like Jack Talty's available through McNeela's. I also bought several book tutors (Coover etc.) I am most interested in Irish Traditional music though, so again, Caitlin's are the better fit for me but I like the books for reference. Second, I can read music and know quite a bit of music theory but I am trying my best to train my ear. That being said, what I have discovered is that with the concertina, it is MUCH easier for me to use the ABC notation over the dots. I don't know if it's the typist in me, or the myriad of choices of notes on the concertina, but I find that for reference the cheat sheet I prefer is the ABC. Third, get a 30 button C/G Anglo. I started on a 20 button Stegi G/D that was a gift. I treated it as if it were a C/G but could not play along with the video lessons. After about 4 months I bought a great intermediate concertina (CC Clover) but I had a few rhythm issues initially from not being able to play along and I could not learn how to roll due to the stiffness of the buttons...I did get build my finger strength however! Fourth, be prepared to part with some cash. I have already decided that I want to trade up from my hybrid to a concertina-reeded instrument. Luckily I got my name on Carroll's wait list just in time! Have fun...the darn thing is extremely addictive! Caroline

Sandra, Your Easy Anglo 1-2-3 book has information about left-hand chords, especially on the last two pages. That can get you started.

I am a relatively new Anglo player as well—less than a year. I was considering a McNeela model but I was dissuaded by others and told by many, “get the best you can afford.” I was moving up from a Stegi, and was already addicted to the Anglo, so I went with CC’s custom Clover, made here in America and as a hybrid, softer on the wallet. I can’t say enough about the support I’ve received from them during the break in period; maybe I’ll be trading up on a Walker model or getting a Carroll or Suttner in the future. I absolutely do not regret my decision.

Agreed. I was in high school when “Sundown “ was released. My magnetic compass had pretty much been set to folk early on by my dad singing Burl Ives, Johnny Cash, Kingston Trio, and Limelighters on his Martin tenor guitar. I discovered Gordon Lightfoot on my own. He will be missed.

Aesthetics: You can call me shallow, but this played a large role in my first concertina purchase. I love beautiful things: a stirring aria, Bernini statues, fine perfumes, the Arts and Crafts Movement. Beautiful woods, fine leather, and simple, artful designs all played a role in my decision to get the Clover, especially since I had no opportunity to actually hear any instruments in person. I get all tingly when I pick up my concertina with it's lovely French polished wood, and that feeling is multiplied when I start to play it. Sound, feel, looks all matter to me. I'm sure by the time I'm ready to step up from the hybrid concertina, tone and action will override aesthetics, but for now I am very happy with my choice!

When I placed my order, William told me, "All the woods listed are filtering woods, meaning they reduce the brightness of the reeds, which is what you want with accordion type reeds." The woods were four different walnuts, two padouks and a quilted maple, which is the one I selected.

I have the Clover and I'm very satisfied. I think that there are several upgrades: Italian accordion reeds, choice of wood, etc. I opted for the custom Clover, mostly because of the Wakker bellows and wood finish. It's a beautiful instrument and I don't regret spending the extra cash to get what I wanted.

I know people who use diaper bags to deter thieves too!

Hi Smougy, I can't speak to the Troubadour or the Peacock, but I just received my Custom Clover from CC about two weeks ago and I am 100% satisfied. It is a beautiful instrument and sounds great. William and Karen were very helpful and showed great patience for all of my questions. (I got the French polished, quilted maple and it is gorgeous!) I had been learning on a Stagi Anglo...there is absolutely no comparison. Caroline

The Stagi gifted to me had this little sticker on it. Not sure if it came that way from the manufacturer?

Hi Kim, I was gifted a D/G Stagi (Anglo 20b) back in August. I began learning on it, but treating it as if it were a C/G. About two months later I ordered a Clover from Concertina Connection, which should ship this week. The only drawbacks I have found is the inability to play along with recordings and no accidentals save F#. I feel I’ve made good progress learning to play across the rows, using both Irishconcertinalessons.com and OAIM. I’m hooked and can hardly wait for the Clover. Caroline

Thank you for answers and anecdotes!

Greetings! New concertina player with a question. I've been learning on a "gifted" Stagi 20 button and I'm getting ready to commit to an intermediate instrument. My question concerns bellows papers. Do the bellows' papers have any use beyond making the instrument aesthetically pleasing (yes...I like the look of them!) Do they protect the bellows in any way or add/detract from the music? Has anyone regretted adding the papers to their concertina? I've enjoyed and learned so much from reading these forums. Thanks to all!