Bob Norris

Bob, I played along with the first two of your pipes clips on my G/D Anglo. It seemed to work just fine in those keys. People rarely complain about the G/D sounding too high... it is a 4th below a C/G. In the key of D on a G/D you can often play a tune or parts of a tune in both a low or high octave. So if you want it lower, play it down. Also, if it's low you want, there are octave C/G instruments that really rumble. The Button Box has made them http://www.buttonbox.com/morse-ceili.html To play with our smallpipes (they are 9 notes same as the GHP) I have to start on the d row second button down from the top with a pull (low G for us) then next button up on a push ( low A for us)and so on a and so fourth,, was that about where you were playing? If I do that on the G row it dosent match at all. Operator error on my part Im sure. Perhaps I can make a recording of both scales and upload. Wait, There is an old recording of myself and my son playing a tune I wrote for a fried who died. It was the first take and not so great however it IS with our smallpipes: http://www.triadhighlanders.com/press/th_files/Scott6.mp3 Lovely A mix tune there, too bad the recording cuts off before the end. I am a sucker for the sound of pipes and concertina. What I heard can be played cross row in your choice of octaves on the G/D. Cross row required. The lower octave must be played mostly by the left hand and the upper octave by the right. The tune only goes up to a high A which is a high note, sure, but most tunes have them. So what's your question? Thanks, Ill re record it and put it out there. Being a NON accomplished Concertina player I play ON the rows. The D Row (closest to me) I can do this perfectly with he small pipes but the G row (using the same buttons) is not in the same pitch. It is somewhat if I move down the row but then all what im used to button wise is different. So I guess my question would be is there another concertina C/G other?? that would allow me to play on the rows that would be lower pitched? Sorry to be such a concertina dimwit

Bob, I played along with the first two of your pipes clips on my G/D Anglo. It seemed to work just fine in those keys. People rarely complain about the G/D sounding too high... it is a 4th below a C/G. In the key of D on a G/D you can often play a tune or parts of a tune in both a low or high octave. So if you want it lower, play it down. Also, if it's low you want, there are octave C/G instruments that really rumble. The Button Box has made them http://www.buttonbox.com/morse-ceili.html To play with our smallpipes (they are 9 notes same as the GHP) I have to start on the d row second button down from the top with a pull (low G for us) then next button up on a push ( low A for us)and so on a and so fourth,, was that about where you were playing? If I do that on the G row it dosent match at all. Operator error on my part Im sure. Perhaps I can make a recording of both scales and upload. Wait, There is an old recording of myself and my son playing a tune I wrote for a fried who died. It was the first take and not so great however it IS with our smallpipes: http://www.triadhighlanders.com/press/th_files/Scott6.mp3

Bob, I played along with the first two of your pipes clips on my G/D Anglo. It seemed to work just fine in those keys. People rarely complain about the G/D sounding too high... it is a 4th below a C/G. In the key of D on a G/D you can often play a tune or parts of a tune in both a low or high octave. So if you want it lower, play it down. Also, if it's low you want, there are octave C/G instruments that really rumble. The Button Box has made them http://www.buttonbox.com/morse-ceili.html To play with our smallpipes (they are 9 notes same as the GHP) I have to start on the d row second button down from the top with a pull (low G for us) then next button up on a push ( low A for us)and so on a and so fourth,, was that about where you were playing? If I do that on the G row it dosent match at all.

Hello, I have a G D anglo and play with our Smallpipes. I have to use the D row which is quite high. Could someone recommend a different key Anglo that would play lower. For the record I mostly play on the rows. Here is a sound clip of our smallpipes,, its the one in he key of A http://www.cancart.net/johnwalshbagpipes.com/skins/default/en/images/smpipes_mp3s.htm

Another reason I would like stand mic's is so I can step away from them when needed to quiet things down during tunes I am not as familiar with.

I could buy a mic stand and mic's like these and just rig em up,, whatcha think? http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Audio-Technica-M4000S-3Pack-Mic-and-Stand-Kit?sku=483254

Thanks! However Im not drilling holes in my box. Anyone had success with two stage mikes on a stand at concertina height?

Hello, Started playing with a group on stage,,last night as a matter of fact and my question is,,what is the best way to mike a concertina? I had one mike but because the sound comes out both sides (imagine that) it didn't pick up well.

Not so fast: The tune as it is usually played would be in the dorian mode (A minor with an F#), but in this sound clip, the 6th note of the tune is a C# (the tune is shaped a little differently than usual) and an A scale with F# and C# but G natural is mixolydian. Here's the common (dorian) version: X:1 T:What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor M:C K:Ador e2e2 eAce|d2d2 dGBd|e2e2 efga|gedB A2A2|] And here's what I hear on the sound clip (mixolydian): X:2 T:What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor M:C K:Amix e2e2 eABc|d2d2 dGAB|e2e2 efga|gedB A2A2|] Edited to add: Bob is clearly playing on the D row, using the notes of the D major scale, which are the same as the notes of the A mixolydian scale, in a different order. The 2nd clip, which he calls the D scale, uses the same notes, but starts on a low G. For reference, I play with Scottish Smallpipes that have 9 notes, Low G, Low A, B, C, D, E, F, High G,High A So according to this last post it is in the key of D correct?

Interesting, I have 3 rows,, I call the one closest the "D" row and the middle the "G" row. The third(farthest away) I cannot play at all along the rows as I do. Is this correct or?

So why is it called a g/d? Could it be a g/a?

Still confused, but that's normal for me;)v

Hi, Ive been playing the concertina about a year. Its a G/D 30 button anglo. I can play it pretty well. I dont have any recent recordings but here is one of "Drunken Sailor" from the first week I started. Its in the key of D with A Smallpipes. There is a Irish sessions group a few towns away and I want to give them a go however I sent theses clips to a D whistle player and he said it is not in d. I play the rows. Any suggestions? Drunken Sailor: http://www.triadhighlanders.com/music/1drunkenpiper.mp3 D Scale: http://www.triadhighlanders.com/music/concertinascale.mp3

So anybody started a site for online concertina lessons? I would be very interested.

Whew, I was beginning to think I was alone Yea, 6 is pretty wild although its usually less because some us are dual and more musicians. Most of what I have been playing is accompaniment notes. The link above was just something I pecked out after I realized there were other buttons Hopefully some Anglo player will jump in and direct me a little. Thanks again!

So bad I should delete my post?

That bad hu?

Hi peeps, Quick run down,, been playing a few months on a G/D Anglo. I play with the rows on the d row with our Ceilidh band playing notes and not cords. Semi fast Irish tunes. Well, Ive been playing around so to speak and I have been pecking out tunes on the g (middle row) adding notes like cords on the left and playing the tune on the right. Yea I know this is hard for a piper to do I was wondering if anybody knew ant tunes that use the same row? Here is a recording me playing one of these tunes I came up with. Dont laugh please http://www.jamestownceilidhband.com/band/carla.mp3

Very helpfull as well. I do play Irish style. Our notes run (on my d row) from row 1 left (closest to me) second button top (pull) low g first button (push) Low A First button (Pull) B The its on to the right side. I have just figured out I can produce these 3 notes on the middle row on the right thus freeing up the left hand. I think I started this way but thought it was weird not using my left hand for anything. I will now learn new tunes both ways. I still would like to try something with cords , even something simple. Our Bagpipe scale as follows: Low-G Low-A B C D E F High-G High-A My Anglo playing our scale using both sides of the Concertina http://www.jamestownceilidhband.com/band/concertinascale.mp3

Thank you, This has been very helpful. I was afraid I was doing something wrong as there are not teachers around here so m winging it. Yesterday I experimented with alternative fingering and indeed it can speed things up. I'm not to far along that it is going to confuse me ,,,,, much

Bob, With my folk group, I play the concertina in two modes - let's call them "fiddle mode" and "rhythm-guitar mode". The first is mainly melodic, with occasional "double stops" or final chords. The second is chord-only, and I use it mainly to back up the fiddler's dance tunes. I may alternate the modes in the course of one dance tune. Chordal accompaniment easy, really. All you need is a set of "chord shapes" like guitarists have, covering the I-IV-V7 and relative minor chords of the keys you play in. Back in 1888, when the Salvation Army were still playing anglos, they brought out a tutor for chord accompaniment, which has been made available by list member David Chambers as a PDF file at concertina.com: http://www.concertina.com/chambers/booth-s...ertina-1888.pdf This is for a 26k Anglo in Ab/Eb, but transposed to Bb/F, so you have to transpose the nominal keys to the tuning of your anglo. The I-IV-V7 chords for each key are shown. I've found that, once you've got the chord shapes off by heart, you can add them, fully or in part, to your melody line when you're playing solo. Hope this helps, Cheers, John Thanks, I was thinking it would be difficult (on an anglo at least) to play "fiddle mode" tunes as your moving in and out so fast. I will explore "rhythm-guitar mode" more. For the record I play a 30 key G/D Anglo however I mostly only use the D row but I just realized I can use the lower right keys on the right hand to get the same notes,, arg,, and now that I have learned about 10 tunes using both left and right keys

Hi, Well I have been playing my Anglo for a couple of months now and Im hooked. I play Irish/Scottish music with our Ceilidh band. I play notes and harmonies and it sounds darn good. Now,, Cords? Say what? How hard would that be if your playing the tune using both sides of the box (to cover our scale) Anyone care to delv in

Hi, This is kinda off topic but perhaps someone may know. Im sure many of you are multy talented session players. Im looking for an 18" tunable t bar Bodhron, a case and some tippers. Also looking for advise. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Thanks!

I dont know what im going to do with now that i have it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,NOT!!!!

Interesting, I was just trying to learn this tune as well. I play a G/D anglo and play on the d row with our small pipes. Wish I had some sheet music