Zeteein

That's true- I first worked on figuring out the first part of Constant Billy in D by transcribing it with ABC (now I know what everyone is talking about when they complain about C#!), and now I think I'll take your advice and try to change another song to D just by ear. Since I'm so new, I don't know the scales of all the keys yet, so I thought transposing one song to many keys would be a good way to start learning them. But now I'm having fun with D and so maybe I'll learn a few songs in that key before moving on to another!

thanks! That really helps

I feel like the answer to this question is already on this site somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it. I'd like to know how the ABC notation system works, and how to convert Constant Billy, which is in the Bertram Levy tutor and has been entered into Tune-o-matic, from C to other keys. I'm just looking to learn to play it in other keys but I'm fairly new to all this musical notation and though I can read it in C ok, I have no idea how to transcribe it to, say, D. I'm just looking to become more comfortable playing in keys which are not C, and I figure if I start with a song I already know in C, that it will be easier. Thanks!

...I usually convert with my itunes. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1550 it's worth a try!

Not having that third row is pretty limiting. I just got my Rochelle, and though I do realize that it has limitations as well in different ways, I think it's a great beginner's tool. The move up program which most places offer is also appealing: spend $350ish now on the Rochelle, and when you're ready to move up, you can trade it in for full value towards a higher end instrument. BUT - that means you should be careful of which company you buy the Rochelle from, because you can only trade up with the place that sold it to you (or so I understand). I bought mine from Button Box, and will likely trade up to a Morse Ceili when I have the money and when I'm good enough to really play in public. Perhaps I'll practice for a year or so - make sure I'm going to really stick with it. If you decide to go with a 30 button, I suggest purchasing Bertram Levy's Concertina Demystified to go with it. I have four tutors at the moment, and Levy's book is more comprehensive and moves faster than the others. In addition, Levy doesn't use a tablature, which means you go straight into reading the staff - something I wish all concertina tutors would do. I find the tablature (especially since there are several different systems) fairly annoying! Levy's is also the only one I've found which really focuses on chords from the beginning. Whether or not you intend to play with chords a lot, I think it's beneficial to learn them; doing so forces you to work with both hands from the start!

Rosie - if you're still looking for a tune book, get the Concertina Demystified. I have four tutors right now, and this one is the one I return to every day!

I just got my Rochelle a few weeks ago, and though the bellows are stiffer, etc etc, than a fancy high priced instrument, I think that this is a perfectly fine instrument to learn on. It seems that the Rochelle filled a void in the concertina world: a reasonably priced beginner's instrument that isn't total crap and doesn't lose its value. I'm promising myself that when I am good enough to really play in public (after a few years, perhaps!) that I'll treat myself with a higher quality concertina. But that gives me something to work towards. I, like you, was playing on an old, chafing, 20 button - but mine started to fall apart within a month or so. The Rochelle was certainly a step up! I got mine from Button Box, and was surprised how quickly it arrived. I haven't had much other contact with them, but it seems that the community here has had great dealings with them and lauds them for their customer service. I highly suggest the Bertram Levy Concertina Demystified to go along with it - I've been working on the the first three lessons, which are fast moving basics (and I LOVE that it's teaching me on a normal staff, and starting on octaves and harmonies very quickly) and the rest of the 11 lessons are all specifically for the 30 button - introducing each extra button on the top row with a few exercises and then a song in a key which uses it. I find the DVDs with the songs and lessons very helpful, too, because it really makes a difference to hear how the song should sound while you're learning to play it! Well worth the money - and as the tutor suggests, I'm beginning to see how you really can spend months at a time on each single lesson. The other tutors that I've been playing with focus pretty much on melody only - each using their own type of tablature. It's true: learning on a normal staff is just as easy to learn as tablature, and then you'll never have any problems when you pick up new music (and the tune-o-tron is full of songs sans tablature).

Leo - Thanks! I hadn't been taken to that page, but another with just the login and password prompt.

Do I have to register separately to use the tune-o-tron? I'm signed into the forums, and when I try to go to the tune-o-tron, it says "if you were registered, you could save this in your tunebook" so I try to sign in, but it doesn't recognize me. But I'm still signed into the forums the whole time...

Well, I drive a van in which we've fitted a nice double bed with little compartments beneath...it's a great way to tour! In fact, the compact size of the concertina was one major attraction...at the time I was considering concertina or drums (you can see how easy the choice was in the end!)

Hey guys - thanks for the great replies! I'm really just beginning - I got my Rochelle a few weeks ago after playing one of those cheap 20 button Chinese paper bellows disasters for about a month, at which point the thing started really falling apart. I'm looking to play any type of music for now - I'm working through the tutors, and finding that I'm making good progress on my own - but I really learn best when I have someone to show me the ropes and make sure I'm not developing any bad habits. I'd probably be good with one lesson every few weeks, actually - but I'm a social learner, so this all-books approach leaves me feeling somewhat empty. In fact, I've only ever seen the concertina played live once, and at the time I was busy contra dancing! My boyfriend is a folk musician (robinsonleeearle.com, for anyone interested) and I've begun singing with him when he performs. I've been wanting to become a more active part of the music, and I'm so excited to have found the concertina because I think it's just such a beautiful instrument to play with his guitar or banjo. I'm far from playing with him live (I figure I'll practice at least a year or two first!), but we're starting to do some simple songs like She'll Be Commin' Round the Mountain at home. So I guess I'm looking to play his folk songs on the concertina. But I think that at this point, I'm happy playing anything - I love the way Irish music sounds and I'm excited to play Celtic music - as well as old sea shanties (I have the ocean in my blood - I have some pirate ancestors, actually). As long as the song is good, I'm happy playing it! I went to the House of Musical Traditions recently, and they only had a listing for an English concertina system instructor, so I'm very grateful for two fantastic leads on instructors. This forum really is a great resource - what a unique community of people who act as such even when online!

I wonder if it would be possible to offer a cheap kit - a Rochelle kit or a Jack/Jackie type kit - this would give people who are interested in learning to make a concertina a chance to practice on something for a few hundred dollars. Then when attempting a Clover kit, they would have some experience! Just an idea...I know that putting together a whole set of instructions is probably an intense and tiresome task. But I'll bet a lot of concertina players might enjoy the learning experience of putting together a kit without the financial commitment of a Clover.

Well, I don't know about Sean, but I just purchased a Rochelle after reading all this. In the end, as a recent college grad with about 2,000 to my name, the $350 price is truly all I can afford!!

Howdy, I've been working through some of the tutors and books, and I'd like to find an instructor who can help me get to the next level. I live in Arlington, VA. I'm happy to pay the going rate for an hour a week or so - even if you've never taught before, that's ok! Thanks~ Sara

...this is such a difficult choice to make. Should I get a Rochelle C/G from button box, with the plan to eventually move up to a Morse D/G, or should I get a Stagi G/D right now, knowing that this instrument won't give me the bang for the buck that the Rochelle would give (and doesn't seem to have the upgrade program), but that it'd be in the tuning I want to play in the long run? I guess my question really is, if I learn C/G for a year or two and then switch to a nice D/G - how much of a change is that for the player? I'm mostly looking to figure out accompaniments to my boyfriend's original songs (he's a folk musician), and so I'm not looking to play traditional music necessarily. But he often plays in weird tunings and is based in DADGAD, so I feel like having a very accessible D would be my best bet for playing with him. Has anyone made this type of C/G to G/D switch before? Would it be worth the extra money to get a G/D Stagi now? Thanks! I'm not sure if this is the right forum for these questions - sorry!