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I am looking for a 30 button Anglo concertina. I have just started playing and am making some headway. The wife is getting interested and I'd like to get her a nice beginner instrument. Money is tight so I can't afford most of the lovely instruments on here. If you have a good beginner instrument you want to get to a new home, please contact me. I'm in Canada, it would be nice to keep shipping manageable.

Just finished the Noel Hill concertina school at the Transfiguration Spiritual Center in northern Cincinnati, and it was overwhelming. More instruction, insight, and camaraderie than you could shake a bellows at, in a setting so peaceful and accommodating that there were absolutely no distractions from playing and learning. Wake up, eat, play, eat, play, eat, play, sleep. Repeat. Five intense and intensely valuable days for anyone interested in learning Anglo from a master. I was in completely over my head, but the shore was always nearby and lined with helping hands. The same setting in Cincinnati is already locked down for next year's school, and I'm definitely planning to return. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Greetings, first post here as I've just acquired my first concertina about a week ago, a 30 button C/G Rochelle anglo. First thing I did was buy Gary Coover's new shanty book and his Civil War book (which I discovered while looking for Sea of Thieves sheet music, great work on Grog Mayles, Gary!) However, I have been unable to find any good sheet music for The Dreadnought, I've heard some great renditions of it, obviously one being Ewan McColl and the other being an instrumental of a version by Robert White & Tim Laycock, searchable on google under "The Dreadnought Tea Clipper" as well as an mp3 attached. I'm interested in finding some form of sheet music for any version that doesn't just provide the melody, but extremely interested in this "Tea Clipper" version. Any help would be appreciated! The Dreadnought Tea Clipper.mp3

I keep hearing how versatile the anglo 30 button is and i'm looking for songs you can accompany. with the problem of chords in one direction i'm having trouble finding this versatility everyone talks of. could you please give me some songs that you can play with accompaniment. I recently found "what shall we do with a drunken sailor" and that was pretty fun to play cheers. oh and I bought garry coovers book about songs with accompaniment thanks for the suggestion

I have a C/G Anglo Suttner concertina for sale. It is in excellent condition with 31 keys, 7 bellow folds and ebony ends. Jeffries layout. Please PM for more details. Thanks!

Greetings, A few years ago I was given this 34 button C/G anglo. It came with what looks to me like its original wooden box, minus the carrying handle and key. The instrument belonged to my great-great grandfather, who lived in east London sometime in the second half of the XIXth century. As you can see from the photos, instrument is in pretty good nick, considering no-one must have played it for many decades. It is pretty much in tune, although a couple of reeds buzz and the two buttons at the treble end of the right-hand side accidentals row don't produce any sound. Apart from that, the straps need replacing as the leather is very nearly worn through where they go through the brass loop at the end of the hand rest. As far as the layout goes, I haven't been able to find a layout that matches exactly. One feature that I have heard is a bit unusual is a low C drone button on the left hand I haven't opened the instrument yet, although I will once I have mustered up the courage. There are no markings of any kind that I can see on the outside, the metal facing on the right hand end has an oval window, but unlike other concertinas I have seen, there is no label in it. Does anybody know who the manufacturer could be?

I have a wheatestone C/G anglo with the standard 30-button layout on which I play primarily irish music. I have seen some discussion on modified/hybrid layouts for ITM, but they have all been focused on the mid-range, usually focusing the C#. I am getting fairly comfortable with the wheatstone system in this sense, but there is one thing that has continued to bug me. I would really like to have the D below middle C to throw in chords. As it is I can throw in a nice low G, A or E and even the odd C, but the one I would get the most use out of for irish music woudl be that D. Does anyone have experience modifying the layout in this range? Are there any particular issues one might run into or reason's not to do it. I realize that there could be some issues with differently sized reeds on the low end. Here is the mod that seems the most obvious to me. Remove the low F natural on the pull (top row, far left) and replace that with the low G. (That low F is probably my least used button on the left hand side anyways). Then replace the existing low G pull (Mid row, far left) with a low D pull. It seems like this should be fine space-wise as the G should be the same length or shorter than the F, and the D would be on the same as the low C, so there should be room for it. Plus I think it should only require one new reed since the low-G would just be moved. Moreover this layout seems like it would have nice options for a DA fifth and and an inverted GD fifth on the pull in that leftmost column, As well as a nice D octave combo in the middle row. The lowG-mid D pull that I currently use on the pull would be slightly more awkward, but not prohibatively so. I would love to know if anyone has advice regarding either the ease with which I can find someone who make such a modification (It is beyond my own tinkering ability and comfort) and also if anyone has other alternative layouts for the low range. I am not in any particular hurry, but I do think I will want to do it eventually, maybe once it is in need of a general tuneup. Of course the other option would be down the road to look for a different instrument with more than 30 buttons, but I have a bad habit of acquiring too many instruments as it is. Thank you.

Hi all, might be a long post coming up so bear with me! I recently acquired a new-to-me Rochelle and have been enjoying the last week or so, practicing an hour or two a day. I'm working through the beginning of Gary Coover's books Easy Anglo 1-2-3 and Anglo Concertina in the Harmonic Style. I'm planning on setting up a couple lessons with a teacher soon, but wanted to plunk around for a little while first to get a sense of what challenges I might be facing. I have a feeling a lot of my questions will be addressed when it comes time for one-on-one lessons, but this community seems like a wealth of talent and experience. I have some questions that I'd love input / feedback on from a concertina player's perspective - thanks for anything you have to share Practice Questions 1. What is a good "structure" for an hour-long practice session? Currently I start by playing a few of the "easier" songs from Gary's books to nail in the muscle memory. As they've become easier, I focus on consistent note length, tempo, and general "smoothness". Sometimes I see how fast I can or can't play something. The bulk of the session is then moving farther "right" in the practice books, getting to the next song down the list that I can't play easily yet. I enjoy that Gary's books seem to slowly introduce new skills with each song - slowly adding the G row, then the pinky finger, and so on. 2. Should I be working in music theory time? And is learning to play solely via tablature going to hurt me in the future? I'd like to make sure I'm "learning the instrument" and not just "learning songs". I have experience reading music / playing music from trombone in school for 6-7 years, but this instrument is, well, quite a bit different from low brass. Instrument Questions 3. How do I not run out of air? It seems like I'm constantly ending up with the concertina "closed". Maybe it's just the beginner songs I'm playing, but I don't often have enough "pull" time to compensate for how much "pushing" I do. I end up taking "breaths" via the air button between phrases, but this inserts a big pause into the music and isn't very smooth. 3a. How do I compensate for the lack of air pressure when using the air button while playing notes? I try to fix #3's problem by using the air button while playing notes, but then whatever note I'm playing loses a LOT of power. I'm not very good at compensating by simultaneously pulling/pushing harder -- is this the right approach? 4. One or two of my middle row buttons on the right side sounds very "tinny" when I play it - is this an instrument problem? The fourth button "down" in the right-hand C row has a sloppy buzz to it when I play - is this a function of a relatively cheap concertina, or could this be an instrument repair problem? I could record it tonight if it makes it easier. It's a little disappointing, I must admit. **EDIT** 5. Totally forgot to ask - the left side of my concertina sounds SO much louder than the right side. Is this expected? It seems obvious that the deeper notes would be louder than the thinner upper register, but is there a way to compensate for this while playing? Watching youtubes and such, I haven't noticed the low end completely overpowering the high end, but when I sit and play it definitely seems like the low notes are really "in front" of the higher ones. That's pretty much what I've been dealing with for a week now. I appreciate any advice y'all might have to share.

I am selling my 4-CD set, “300 Gems of Irish Music for All Instruments,” for only $5.99 USD. See https://greylarsen.com/shop/product/300-gems-recordings-mp3s-or-set-of-4-cds/. This price is good through March 31st, 2018. All six of my Irish music books and most of my CDs are also heavily discounted throughout March. For all the info, go to: https://greylarsen.com/webstore/st-patricks-month-sale/. This audio collection is a companion to my book “300 Gems of Irish Music for All Instruments.” (See https://greylarsen.com/shop/product/300-gems-of-irish-music-for-all-instruments/). All 300 tunes are notated in the book. Free excerpts are available as PDF downloads (at http://greylarsen.com/webstore/books/). (Scroll down a bit to find the excerpts.) Many of the transcriptions pay homage to recordings by great musicians and groups such as Matt Molloy, Martin Hayes, Sharon Shannon, Mary Bergin, Kevin Burke, James Kelly, Willie Clancy, Altan, the Bothy Band and the Mulcahy Family, as well as early 20th century recordings from revered masters Michael Coleman, Paddy Killoran, Dennis Murphy, Bobby Casey, Paddy Canny and others. The tunes are notated in a style that makes them equally accessible to players of fiddle, flute, whistle, accordion, concertina, harp, keyboard, guitar, mandolin, banjo, uilleann pipes – to all melody players. I play the tunes on Irish flute, tin whistle, and 49 of the tunes on my Wheatstone 12-sided anglo concertina from the 1930s. (See photo below.) This is an excellent resource for repertoire building and makes a nice gift. Also, I designed the tune sequence such that good medleys result when you play consecutive tunes one after another. (At least I think so.) To buy only the 49 concertina tunes, go here: https://greylarsen.com/shop/product/49-concertina-tunes-from-300-gems-of-irish-music-for-all-instruments/ For $9.99, you can get the entire collection as 300 downloadable mp3s, and save shipping costs. This costs less than getting the CDs if you are in Canada, Mexico or outside of North America. The mp3s can be found here: https://greylarsen.com/shop/product/300-gems-recordings-mp3s-or-set-of-4-cds/. Choose “MP3s” from the drop-down menu. The CD set is so inexpensive because I have piles of them on my shelves! Time to move them out into the world. I make no profit at this price, but I have the pleasure of spreading the music around. Thank you for your attention! - Grey

A very nice comment on "The Concertina Diaires" tutor (Heather Greer). A buyer, who is from Ireland but now living in C&E Europe, while waiting for his copy of the book to arrive, worked his way through the sample pages from the book that are up on our website, www.IrishTunebook.com. "I have read your sample pages [on your website], and from these alone I have learned more, and more quickly, than all the other books that I have on this subject put together. Please feel free to use this comment in your advertisments." Colin A. Just thought I'd pass that nice comment along. Oh, and in the coming week I aim to post downloadable music, with 'fingerings' for 30-button Anglo (Wheatstone but you can modify as necessary for Jeffries), two nice jigs in D major that go together very nicely as a complementary 2-D set: 'Seamus Connolly's' and the lovely, twisty-turny, 'Rosemary Lane'. If you want to really major out on an all-D set, adding in Tobin's Jig makes for a good third jig to include.

I'm looking into ordering a (accordion style) reed set for a 30 key C/G anglo build I have under work. I have an "early" Rochelle at the moment and through the build I hope I will get at least a smaller and lighter instrument. Aiming for an upgrade in the playability as well. Buying a better instrument unfortunately is not an option at the moment as money is scarce. Looking through the forum posts it seems several people have ordered reed sets from Harmonikas. I would appreciate any shared insight into ordering specifics (e.q. how did you specify the set) and price differences between sets (A mano professional, Tipo a mano & export dural). Also how am I supposed to read the plate dimensions (sortiment sizes pdf)? I'm not familiar with reed combinations used in accordions, so would the dimensions be different for reed-combinations specific for a concertina? Or would you happen to have them for a 30k c/g set? I'd like to start working on (drawing and machining) the reedpans as my access to a cnc milling tool is limited and in worst case any workshop access might come to an abrupt end. I'm aware it's not the ideal order of doing things but ah so it go.

Price is £2,000 plus shipping (about £100). Lachenal, new six-fold bellows, new pads/springs. Metal ends on ebonized wood frame. Good action. 30 button C/G plus bird-song and cock crow novelty buttons. Recently tuned to A=440. Made around 1930. Excellent visual condition and plays well. It is in Hong Kong at present. Steel reeds. The serial number is 114088. Here is a sound sample: https://drive.google...iew?usp=sharing The original case is no longer suitable because of the change to six-fold bellows from five. The Lachenal paper label is not an original: I think the paper a copy. E instrument is genuine.

Reposting this as I am still looking to sell a Jeffries concertina as above. In C/G with 26 keys, making it a lighter instrument. It's also very loud. The accidentals are C#/ Eb A/G Ab/Bb on the Left hand and Eb/C# Ab/G C#/Bb on the Right. metal ends original bone keys. Assessed by a knowledgeable friend as in good working order. Looking for around £3600 plus postage. Please see pictures as attached and feel free to ask any more questions, many thanks Jo, Sheffield UK

Check this little 20 button beauty out. Not quite 4" flat to flat. She is right in between Eb/Bb and E/B, and beautifully in tune with herself, but not as airtight as I would like. Serial number 48556 by one source appears to have been made 1876 ish? Is this a rare specimen or pretty common? It has amazing sound for such a small thing...

I am selling my 4-CD set, “300 Gems of Irish Music for All Instruments,” for only $4.99 USD. See http://greylarsen.co...-84SII1MytPIfg1 . This price is good through January 5th, 2018. This audio collection is a companion to my book “300 Gems of Irish Music for All Instruments.” (See http://greylarsen.co...products_id=107). All 300 tunes are notated in the book. Free excerpts are available as PDF downloads (at http://greylarsen.com/webstore/books/). Many of the transcriptions pay homage to recordings by great musicians and groups such as Matt Molloy, Martin Hayes, Sharon Shannon, Mary Bergin, Kevin Burke, James Kelly, Willie Clancy, Altan, the Bothy Band and the Mulcahy Family, as well as early 20th century recordings from revered masters Michael Coleman, Paddy Killoran, Dennis Murphy, Bobby Casey, Paddy Canny and others. The tunes are notated in a style that makes them equally accessible to players of fiddle, flute, whistle, accordion, concertina, harp, keyboard, guitar, mandolin, banjo, uilleann pipes – to all melody players. I play the tunes on Irish flute, tin whistle, and 49 of the tunes on my Wheatstone 12-sided anglo concertina from the 1930s. This is an excellent resource for repertoire building and makes a nice gift. Also, I designed the tune sequence such that good medleys result when you play consecutive tunes one after another. (At least I think so.) To buy only the 49 concertina tunes, go here: http://greylarsen.co...products_id=108. xsdz For $9.99, you can get the same collection as 300 downloadable mp3s, and save shipping costs. This costs less than getting the CDs if you are in Canada, Mexico or outside of North America. The mp3s can be found here: http://greylarsen.co...products_id=111 . The CD set is so inexpensive because I have piles of them on my shelves! Time to move them out into the world. I make no profit at this price, but I have the pleasure of spreading the music around. Most of my CDs are also on sale for $9.00 USD: http://greylarsen.com/store/catalog/index.php?cPath=22_40. And all my books are $7 off - http://greylarsen.com/store/catalog/index.php?cPath=25_44_78. Thank you for your attention, and happy holidays! - Grey

I'm new to this forum and to the concertina community and need some advice. A bit of background: I am a choral conductor and pianist. I'm the music director at a church in Dallas, Texas. I read music fluently and play by ear a bit but not am not gifted this way. In recent years I've discovered I enjoy a good stout in an Irish pub so have become curious about ITM (Irish Traditional Music) and that lead to doing some research on the concertina. I understand in broad terms the different key arrangements and the terms unisonoric/bisonoric of the English, Anglo and Duet systems. Here is my question: as a pianist and music reader will I make faster progress with which system? What do you think will be more intuitive and therefore I will be able to manage the learning curve in order to make music? I'm eager to hear your responses. McDouglas in Dallas

Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne's final recital at Leeds Uni has some of the most amazing anglo playing I have ever heard. After listening to this a few times yesterday, I'm speechless with admiration. Enjoy... https://livestream.com/uol/final-recitals-17/videos/157705262 Adrian

Trying to find a secondhand mid to high end instrument in the US with a Jeffries layout C/G, would consider 38 keys too. A Suttner would be first my first choice but I know they're rarely seen used. PM if you might have something - I've checked all the usual online shops. Thanks

All, Thought some of you might enjoy learning a few Christmas songs (from Christmas Concertina) so you can get ready for the big holiday season. So, here's an easy version of Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and perhaps my favorite arrangement in the whole book - In the Bleak Midwinter. The music includes the melody in regular musical notation along with button numbers for Anglo Concertina (Wheatstone/Lachenal accidentals). Also posted is an explanation of the tablature and numbering system. And, you can hear videos of these arrangements at: https://www.youtube.com/user/angloconc(Christmas Concertina playlist). Enjoy! Gary SilentNight-CHRISTMAS-CONCERTINA.pdf HarkTheHeraldAngelsSing-CHRISTMAS-CONCERTINA.pdf InTheBleakMidwinter-CHRISTMAS-CONCERTINA.pdf Tablature-Example-CHRISTMAS-CONCERTINA.pdf

I have a G/D Edgely Professional 30 button Anglo concertina in excellent condition, Pau Ferro wood, wooden ends, recently overhauled by the maker, for sale or trade. $2000 plus shipping, or might consider a trade for a comparable C/G Anglo or a Morse Albion English concertina in like condition. Pics to follow. Thanks

Hello good ole Concertina.net forum. I haven't been here in years! I've been playing all along, down here in the quiet confines of the Delmarva Peninsula. A few years ago my dear musician husband passed away and I have recently purchased my own house insurance to which I need to add my instruments on extra extension of coverage. I have a Suttner A2 Anglo #116 and I need to value a replacement. With a quick search on the internet I did not find anyone in the USA selling these off the shelf. Jürgen is still making these, but the wait is now 2-1/2 years. To me, the price is not just the price when you need immediate replacement and there is that long wait. How do I present this to the insurance agent at a price to be realistic in the face of potential catastrophe? It would be great to hear from you again. ~ Jan Dover, Delaware

Here's a video of John Watcham playing for Harry Taylor's Men at the recent Sidmouth Festival - a double jig in the Longborough style based on the Playford tune "Mundesse". https://youtu.be/eFW6s7c--PE More info on Taylor's Men here: http://taylorsmen.org/

looking for a Wheatstone layout anglo in G/D (or possibly even F/C) with left hand drone. Probably not after a Lachenal unless it's exceptional. what's out there?

Concertina player & harpist Michael Rooney will be performing in concert in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada. Details: Central United Church, 136 Cumberland St., Lunenburg, NS Canada Time: 7:30 pm Tickets: Available at the door or through http://boxwood.org/canada_events

Michael Rooney will be at the Boxwood Festival in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada from July 23-29, 2017. Visit the Boxwood website at http://boxwood.org/canada_artistsfor more information.