townpiper

Aha! Another banjoist! I have my 5-string tuned in the classic gCGBD, which gives me my comfortable C major as the "home" key. For songs that don't fit my voice (or the banjo) in C, I use F, which is the next easiest key in classic tuning, or G, which is easy for just chording along. It's interesting that, although the banjo is in theory and practice a chromatic instrument (especially with a capo and a fifth-string spike), I get along as a singer with just two keys a fifth apart - which is what the Anglo also provides! Cheers, John Hi John I use two banjos -one tuned to G, the other to E to cover all the bases- be nice to own a longneck, but I already have these, plus a tenor for Irish stuff. Looks like its the c/g anglo for me. Favorite instrument is pipes, though. Regards Bought a Hohner 20 button anglo on ebay- turned out to have faulty keys and it stunk like cig smoke.The guy wouldn't accept a return, so I contacted Hohner, and THEY WERE GREAT!! Sent me out a new one- all I had to was ship the old one back. Those guys went above and beyond... Facing possible pressure from ebay, the seller refunded my shipping costs. The new box is chinese, but it sounds great- I'd recommend Hohner for their willingness to stand behind their products. Got a DVD tutor by John Townley -uses split screen demonstration- short (45min DVD) but real helpful...

Aha! Another banjoist! I have my 5-string tuned in the classic gCGBD, which gives me my comfortable C major as the "home" key. For songs that don't fit my voice (or the banjo) in C, I use F, which is the next easiest key in classic tuning, or G, which is easy for just chording along. It's interesting that, although the banjo is in theory and practice a chromatic instrument (especially with a capo and a fifth-string spike), I get along as a singer with just two keys a fifth apart - which is what the Anglo also provides! Cheers, John Hi John I use two banjos -one tuned to G, the other to E to cover all the bases- be nice to own a longneck, but I already have these, plus a tenor for Irish stuff. Looks like its the c/g anglo for me. Favorite instrument is pipes, though. Regards

Thanks John. Easy and no-hassle is what I'm looking for. I'm a bass/baritone so maybe c/g 30 button anglo. When I do banjo, I tune in E (a la Seeger etc...)- gives me a lower range and easier to sing with... Regards, Paul

That depends. Do you whish to accompany your own (or someone else's) singing or rather do some instrumental soloing? How does your musical "thinking" basically work? Apart from that, I renew my hint at the formidable approach by A. L. LLoyd (applying an English Concertina, which I personally find very suitable for that nautical stuff): ...and may you be lucky to get your copy (if you wished so)! Thanks mate. Probably not a lot of soloing as in jigs and reels etc.., more just accompanying myself... something like Lou Killen did way back when... sort of like a phrase or two between vocal verses with a chordal accompaniment. What I like to do is get folks singing along.....not just listening. Maybe English is the way to go, perhaps less hassle than a diatonic concertina. What do you think?? Thanks and fair winds to you Hey sailor Thanks mate--- just downloaded a copy of A. L Lloyd's Leviathan--that's exactly what I want to do....So he played and English concertina, right???

That depends. Do you whish to accompany your own (or someone else's) singing or rather do some instrumental soloing? How does your musical "thinking" basically work? Apart from that, I renew my hint at the formidable approach by A. L. LLoyd (applying an English Concertina, which I personally find very suitable for that nautical stuff): ...and may you be lucky to get your copy (if you wished so)! Thanks mate. Probably not a lot of soloing as in jigs and reels etc.., more just accompanying myself... something like Lou Killen did way back when... sort of like a phrase or two between vocal verses with a chordal accompaniment. What I like to do is get folks singing along.....not just listening. Maybe English is the way to go, perhaps less hassle than a diatonic concertina. What do you think?? Thanks and fair winds to you

I play bagpipes and other folk instruments. I'd like to expand my repertoire to include sea chanteys etc on concertina. Which is the best style (Anglo, English, 20/30 button etc?) I really have no idea where to go from here. Any suggestions. will be appreciated