Lakeland Fiddler

No, I was serious about the sweatshirt, it just seem to be a good idea. I'm not familiar with darkroom bags, so I accept you opinion on that. I was joking about the duffle coat though

Probably easier and closer to hand, how about putting your concertina in a sweat shirt and playing it with your hands up the sleeves. If it's really heavy duty muting you're after, try a duffle coat

You're right Rod, but me being new to the instrument didn't fully realise the full dynamic range of the concertina. DW has only ever heard concertinas played full chat for morris dancers and as a result, had visions of me waking the whole street. I've been practicing all aftrnoon. The tone is beautiful and sweet, not too loud at all

That's a great way to save your own personal web space. I host my pics in Photo Bucket and linked them to my site (The site is not up and running at the moment). I also do that with Myspace.

Well, if my time spent posting on the Fiddle Forum is anything to go by it's suprising that I find time to Practice anything

Thanks all for the welcome and the encouragement I was up early this morning. Sat for a while just noodling around the buttons trying to get a sense of direction, feeling the rows and spaces. I eventually managed to get a C major scale starting at middle C. After an hour or so I worked it up to two octaves. I also worked out the G major scale but my right thumb is getting sore. I've made an adjustment to the thumbs straps and it's much more comfortable now. I've been watching a tutorial on Youtube where the first tune is Go Tell Aunt Nancy so I'll give that a shot this aft. Any suggestions for other beginner tunes? What was the first tune you played on your conc?

Yay! I've just got my first concertina! I've been looking for an English concertina for a few weeks now and I've been snooping around on this forum looking for tips and advice. Today I went to visit an old friend I met whilst playing fiddle for a morris side, she has lent me a Wheatstone 48 key treble concertina that she feels needs playing to keep it healthy. I'm as chuffed as a cat with two tails . I arrived home and was just getting it out of it's box to see if I could manage to play a scale in C, but DW has reminded me that it's after 11pm so I'd better not. I can't wait 'till morning

The tunes I play at the moment are in the keys of F, C, D, G and A, anything else is beyond me on the fiddle. So I can't see me wanting to play in any others unless I need to make adjustments for a singer, but that's way in the future. Edited to make more sense

Thanks for the info. I was recently lent a beginners concertina by a friend, the playability of the instrument put me off ever buying anything less than a fully restored vintage model. The bellows are stiff, the buttons are not level, some need to be pressed right into the hole in the ends before they play and there is a double note on one of the keys. But reading the reviews and opinions on this forum of the Jackie, I am begining to think that buying one may make good sense.

I've read this thread with great interest since I've had the same thought as the original poster. May I revive this topic and ask one more question? Are the buttons on the Jackie spaced the same as the vintage Wheatstones (I find it difficult to tell from the pics) making the change from one instrment to the other easy?

Oops! two more post while I was typing That's an interesting idea. I've just missed this months session (last night) so I may give it a try next month if my shifts work out right. You took the words right out of my mouth Theo.

I've just recieved an email back from Chris at Barleycorn Concertinas. He has a large amount of English concertinas in stock, but as with most dealers, his stock is being sent to Whitby in time for the folk festival. Looks like I'm going to have to wait a month or two before making a purchase. Or I could always go to the Whitby Festival

Thanks for the replies I went to the Music room last week but they had no stock and the staff new very little about concs. To be fair, they are all away during festival season, but I was a bit disapointed. I'm hoping to get to Hobgoblin in Leeds next week sometime. I've emailed Barleycorn Concertinas just now, so hoping for a reply soon. Hmm just a little over my budget atm Great stuff, that's just down the road from work. How come I didn't know about this already.

Hello, I'm new to this forum and as yet, do not play the concertina. I'm looking for a good quality English system instrument. Can anyone suggest a shop or a dealer where I can buy one. Most of the musical instrument shops I visit only have cheaper beginers outfits. I'm located in Lancashire but prepared to travel to buy. Thanks in advance, Martyn