Steve the beginner

Doesn't happen for me. I practice a few hours each day. Hasn't been a drop of rain since the middle of April.

The second part is quite sweet.

Are you so sure of that, mate? According to Dan Worrall, who I trust in these matters, that is Gerald R. Ford, Jr. as an infant, with concertina, June 1914. Chris Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm... Gerald Ford's image has just taken a turn for the better. I understand that Richard Nixon was an accordionist. In the abscence of an actual concertina player having held office, perhaps this makes him the number 1 president? (as far as this forum is concerned). Should I have kept with the lead of jdms and referred to President Nixon as just plain old M? Perhaps the honour of being "number 1" president (on this site) belongs to Idi Amin. I am led to believe that a recording exists of him playing button accordion, and that he played casually for relaxation and his own enjoyment. Is anybody able to confirm the existence of this recording, and if so, is it authentic?

I don't see what you have to be proud of John, This is the 44th time in a row you have failed to elect a concertina player as president!

I recommend to you an invention known as the "piggy bank". Drop the few hundred at a time chunks into this invention. It works just like a layaway. When the piggy bank contains sufficient for a concertina purchase, break it open and use the money to buy the instrument of your dreams!

http://www.yahoo.com/ Animation of a concertina player, dancing around the big red word "YAHOO!" at the top centre of the page.

I think VP candidate Sarah Palin has thrown quite a wrench into the likely hood of an economically beneficial outcome for obtaining a majority in the upcoming presidential race. I don't want to get a political debate or argument going here so please refrain from responding and we'll just let it go if possible. Possibly the political event most likely to spark interest on this site would be removal (or.. .. *shudder* .. .. ..increase) of the import duties attracted by concertinas! On politics and this site I can speak only for myself s2maur. My interest in Sarah Palin (on this site) goes no further than does she play concertina, or actively encourage/support the playing of concertina? (Many members will be aware that HRH QEII actively encourages and supports playing of the Great Highland Bagpipe, and that this has positive results for piping in general) Failing that, does she (or any other public figure) play/support any other free reed instrument? Or another instrument often used for Anglo-Celt traditional music alongside concertina? (ie, fiddle, tin whistle, harp, banjo, etc), or failing that, ANY musical instrument whatsoever? (Minor) Collateral interest in any government's policies: Would they intend to "block" or otherwise impact on concertina.net or the access to this site by members in their country? The reason for this site's existence (concertina playing) is a skill which once acquired, cannot be removed from you by any means political or economic. It is a skill and can be taken from one by physical impairment only. You may be richer than the Sultan of Brunei, or lose every last razoo in your abovementioned portfolio, I'll be equally prepared to talk concertina with you, swap (or give) music, tips, critique playing style and even share instruments.

I've done a little homework and added a few notes to Hardy's version to make it match the playing in the video: http://www.tangosite.com/concertina/pub/dennington-bell Thank you Michel for this bit of homework. Taken from your written score, Dennington Bell is (to my ear) one of the couple of dozen or so sweetest tunes of all time. Hopefully at Christmas (if it isn't too hot & steamy) I'll be able to shanghai a video operator, find a shady tree, & with accompanist, make a nice outdoor video of it. Your homework has been put to good use here. I am completely & totally incapable of hearing a tune & playing it (playing from ear) I have to battle away for ages from a written score. I am eternally thankful to those who share music on this site, as I hear so many nice tunes, but have not a hope of playing them unless somebody generously makes a written score. Of the 72 melodies I have memorised on Anglo, Dennington Bell is by far the most violent in the continuous changes of direction it demands. The little muscle above the tricep can only take so many runs through before crying quits.

Woody Guthrie. Credit where it is due please! :-)

Carrying a concertina through screening in east asia can have it's moments. At least in the anglosphere the word "concertina" is known (even if only in the context of folding walls in a wedding function centre). 20-yo Indian girls on a Singapore screening station can really take some convincing that it is a legitimate and valued musical instrument, or that "concertina" is even a word in English. I'll take advice from earlier in the thread & call it "mini-accordion" from now on.

Deepest apologies, Basjan, for the doubts. Now we all want to buy your Crabb!

One photo only. A sterile exterior shot. No internal photos, only one end visible. No peripheral objects (eg table) in the photo (and that should be "in the photo(s)") Seller with a number instead of a name and zero feedback. Promoted on this site by a member (Basjan) with no previous comment history, and a sterile profile. A seller who joined ebay at the same time as Basjan joined this site. A ridiculously low starting price. Not one aspect of this listing smells kosher to me. Is there ANYTHING about this listing which does not set off anyone's "scam antannae"?

Couldn't fix it the problem wasn't a buzzing reed (perhaps a "sympathy vibration" as describe above by Tony) have since encountered an actual buzzing reed, which responded brilliantly to the method recommended above by Frank Edgley. Thank you all for the advice.

Would I be correct in assuming this melody sounds particularly pleasant on an English? The tune-o-tron now likes me. Problem solved (an operator problem, there is nothing wrong with the tune-o-tron) It is an amazing tool. For transcribing by hand, I found it more accurate to read from ABC than from staff notation (no lines to confuse with my no longer youthful eyes, just simple unmistakable "a-b-c") Now that I have seen the tune-on-tron in action, my .midi/sheet music software is found to be wanting, must find something better. (or perhaps my software is fine, just suffering from operator trouble)

Lester, Pete, thank you for the pointers. Got it all written down now & turned into midi. The tune-o-tron didn't like me, but once you know the code (thank you for the link Lester) it is straightforward (& quite fun) to copy it onto music staves. A very pretty melody, much nicer than the version I had filed away to learn. I stand in awe of anybody who can sight read (play) from that ABC notation.