Jump to content

BlueJack

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    42

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by BlueJack

  1. BlueJack
    What is does it look like and of what is it made? I have a box that came with my 1950s Wheatstone Anglo but no idea if the box was the original. I have a new box from Button Box and just kept the old one for what ever.
  2. BlueJack
    Well, first off I kept running out of air and 'gasping' for more with the air button. Then I figured out how to use the air button with a note button to get more bellows movement. Next, I started playing across the rows and now, on a 30 button CG I hardly ever use the air button. When I can't avoid it I try to make it part of the melody. Gasp...
  3. BlueJack
    "and one was the first tune I ever recorded myself playing, when I was teaching myself on an Elise in Afghanistan: " Too cool. I'd like to try that on my Anglo. Do you have dots or ABC or a reference? Thanks. Good stuff.
  4. BlueJack
    Hey, I'm not great, not legendary, and not particularly skilled; but, I squeeze because I like it. Don't know what being 78 has to do with it and don't really care. Just want to have a bit of fun with some music that "I" make not some electronic fizz when I'm alone on my boat. Best shot I have is getting my grandson to pick it up. iPhones are fine -- if they're charged. My Anglo only gets plugged into me.
  5. BlueJack
    Pushing 80 from the down hill side. Pretty soon pulling 80 from the uphill side. Push, pull, push, pull, etc. Don't see any need to stop. Lot's of air in the old bellows. Change key, pull, push, pull, push... and just a bit of scotch for the arthur-i-tus.
  6. BlueJack
    Try starting the B part with a left hand pull for the first three bars only reversing to push for the last E of the third bar. That uses all three rows but at least the fingering works -- (results may vary).
  7. BlueJack
    Well, now that I know what a Hurdy Gurdy is I happy for the confusion. I've seen a few on You Tube (never one in person, so to speak) and certainly never one in concert. What a daunting experience that would be, or would have been. If anyone has seen a Hurdy Gurdy player in action while chewing gum that would be treat -- tongue in cheek.
  8. BlueJack
    I was fascinated by Spencer Tracy playing the hurdy gurdy in "Captains Courageous". I thought it was called a concertina. I told my wife I would like one for my birthday. She found a Scholer 20 button and that's what I got. Fit me nicely, given no musical experience or talent, until I learned enough to know that I was missing a few notes. So, after a bit of research (pre-Google) I bought an EC. For me that was total confusion. Even a scale was a misery. After much bumbling about I got a nice Wheatstone 30 button C/G Anglo and have enjoyed playing "Happy Birthday" ever since. And a few other tunes in Irish and English style as well. Push, pull, it's kind of like breathing.
  9. BlueJack
    I've always played this in D minor because it fit my one row melodeon. So, taking it to E minor on my 30 button CG anglo was interesting. Works fine for me starting with the B push under my middle finger on the G row and going from there. Actually, I like it better. Working between the push B on the left and pull B on the right smooths it out. Thanks for the suggestion.
  10. BlueJack
    I read music on the Anglo just fine. No problem. It's the chords that have been my problem so I find your tabs to be the only answer I've found that actually work for me. Maybe some mods later but finally a place to start. Your Civil War tunes are next on my list. I just wish you would do the same thing for the one row melodeon. I know it must sound silly. After all, the one one row only has two chords and two bass notes; but where and when? If I was a musician I wouldn't ask, but I'm just a happy box squeezer.
  11. BlueJack
    I am looking forward to buying a copy when it's available. I started a collection of civil war tunes but your book will make it really work for me. Thanks in advance.
  12. BlueJack
    I have one of those. Bought it years ago in San Francisco. More than $60 but a good deal at the time. I keep it on my boat. It seems to survive the damp and what ever. I've made a couple of small mechanical repairs to the action but nothing serious. That G row G/D instead of the B/A is a problem when I switch from my Wheatstone (which I won't keep on my boat). But the G/D is the same as my old East German Scholer (which still plays fairly well but an octave lower). Something to squeeze is better than nothing -- especially when having a beer while sailing.
  13. BlueJack
    I have your book as well -- along with several others. For my purposes your tabs are the best. For some time I struggled with just where to sound the bass and now I can see what to do and then do it. Great job! Thanks. I'm curious, do you have some software that does that automatically or do you add the numbers and pull lines manually?
  14. BlueJack
    I am a sailor. I play my concertina while sailing and just sitting in port. It matters not to me whether it's a shanty, a foc'sle song, the theme from God Father or Over the Rainbow. I play because I like it and it makes me feel good. I sail because I like it and it makes me feel good. If there's never a fiddle aboard to be 'authentic' it's not a concern. It's the wind, and the music, and the sea. History is not a freezing agent.
  15. BlueJack
    Now that you mention it and I've thought about it, after a few years of squeezing and playing across the rows (Anglo 30 C/G) I use the air button to adjust the bellows at the beginning of a tune and when I close it at the end and store it. I think I owe that to Bertram Levy, even before latest book. When I started out on an Anglo 20 C/G I used the button quite often. Even on the old 20 not so much. Thanks for calling my attention to it.
  16. BlueJack
    Interesting discussion. I have about 100 tunes I play at playing -- some sound good to me and others, well...a bit more practice. In any event, when I can sit on my boat and play from memory that makes me feel good. Only my little dog is listening and as long as he doesn't howl all is well. So, being the only Anglo player in the area and having no audience I can entertain the gulls and my dog very happily, and occasionally my wife (violinists can be so picky).
  17. BlueJack
    I've found that sometimes changing keys makes a difficult tune a pleasant melody. I've always played across the rows but Bertram Levy's latest book has made a really big difference in my approach to my Anglo. Also, using a transposing software turns key changes into an adventure. Great fun!
  18. BlueJack
    My Wheatstone C/G 30 was built in the early 50s, shipped to South Africa, and after refurbishing, shipped to me in the early 90s. I've been playing since then with no problems. Still exactly in tune as well. I started a one row melodeon about six months ago but my concertina will be with me to the last squeeze.
  19. BlueJack
    At last I understand the source of my confusion. Concertina, melodeon, ocarina, pennywhistle, and harmonica; but I gave up the guitar and those other stringed thingies. On the other hand, the bodhran sound like thumping good fun.
  20. BlueJack
    I have a cheap Chinese 20 button C/G which I've kept on my boat the last few years. No problems so far. Wasn't great to start with, still isn't, but no deterioration either. Works just fine to amuse the grand kids on a Sunday afternoon sail. But, I keep my Wheatstone 30 C/G at home.
  21. BlueJack
    I've been around this marina once or twice. Go to Amazon and check William Main Doerflinger, "Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman." There's enough stuff there to keep you busy for a while. Have a good squeeze and don't forget the rum.
  22. BlueJack
    I've had my copy for a few days now. I must say it is exactly what I need and what I was looking for. In fact, I referred it to a fellow on Melodeon.net who is working on a tutor for the one row box which I also attempt to play. I am that impressed -- and hopeful.
  23. BlueJack
    Jim Besser, just got the ABC with chords. I do thank you. I'll be working on it over the Easter holiday. BlueJack
  24. BlueJack
    I use a program called Melody Assistant. I think I paid about $30 for it. The trial download is free so it's worth a few minutes to check it out. http://www.myriad-online.com/en/products/melody.html It will also load ABC and midi files, among others. Because the transposing is so fast I use it to find the best key with the fingering that suits me for a given tune.
  25. BlueJack
    Here is a nice free source of melody. http://www.flutetunes.com/ I've found several that I like that seem to fit nicely on my Anglo CG.
×
×
  • Create New...