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Hello, everybody! I have played some simple songs with my accordion, such as oh susuana. Just now, I have a question. I don' t know if I need to fix the relationship between fingers and buttons, for example, the picture i = index m = middle ,r = ring ch = little finger. Or I should play this song in a flexible way. I hope you can share your suggestions and opinions. thank you I hope I can follow the rules like the anglo, (clear division of labour). Maybe, in this way, I can play a lot of music directly. When I look at a new music sheet, I don't need to make the fingering for too much time. However, it's not easy, because the little finger needs more practice, and it's short. At the same time, the left hand usually doesn't need to use strong index finger. For example, when I play C F chord, I use little finger, ring finger, middle finger and G chord, and I use ring finger, middle finger and index finger. This is a clear division of labor. At the same time, all the middle fingers are ok, even so it's easy. I'm not sure which one is right.

hi, i just register the account. i like this lovely instrument.there are three kinds concertina can be learned. it seems that the duet concertina is the most versatile.however, it dont become the most popular. I used to use an Anglo concertina and now have an English concertina. I wonder if there are some downsides to the duet concertina. I am from China. my friend share some knowledge with me .but he doesn't care the duet . luli

Hello everyone, This is my first ever post on concertina.net and I am relatively new to the world of concertinas (been playing for a little less than a year). I started with the Elise from Concertina Connection and am looking to upgrade now that I've somewhat got the hang of it. My ideal instrument would be the Beaumont from R. Morse & Co. but I was saddened to hear that they are no longer in production. If anyone has a used Beaumont that they are willing to part ways with, I would be very eager to purchase it from you!

A short ragtime played on the bayou to pay tribute to the Goddess Oompah: https://youtu.be/XFimLOCTqAs

Another version of a tune dedicated to Alfonsina Storni:

2 versions of this 2 voices Invention. The first one played acoustic: And the second one played a little slower with some reverberation added:

When the songs celebrating the alcoholic beverages are generally made with 3 chords and the same melody repeated dozen of times, Argentine people like to compose this kind of score which gives you an headache at first sight but becomes very fun to play on a duet as you go along drinking and playing it. For those who are interested I began to write the sheet musics of the different tunes that I'm playing and I'll send it here in another thread when it will be completed: https://youtu.be/CrD9q5qg-t4

I don’t often see new Anglo videos posted to YouTube these days, but thought I'd pass these on. The first from Robert Johnson in New York, I initially thought was an Anglo when I made this post but it has since been clarified as a Hayden Duet. And the second, only recently posted, of Chris Droney in 2014 (Gradam Saoil TG4) playing Anglo. Edited October 24, 2019 to clarify the types of concertina involved.

Some duet concertina players asked me about the sheet music for the tunes that I'm playing on Youtube. It's difficult to find music written especially for the hayden system and I didn't have enough time yet to write the scores of the arrangements, but recently I enjoy playing different pieces from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. For those who are looking for scores, who like also baroque music and don't mind to play it on a concertina, I think that it is a good source to find some tunes not too difficult to adapt and play on the different types of concertinas:

This tune has been composed by Lydie Auvray, a french accordionist living and mostly playing in Germany. It's quite popular among tango dancers in Paris. The video is directly inspired by german concertinist Musik Böhmer and his concertina from hell:

Hi squeezers - anybody in the west country over the next couple of days? I have two solo gigs at cracking venues over the next two nights- very different vibes but please c'mon down if you want to hear blues/folk/jazz on a 90 yr-old duet concertina and a 67 yr-old voice. Tonight, Thursday, April 16 I'm at The legendary Blues Bar , in Plymouth's historic/pretty Elizebthan Barbican quarter, from about 9pm. (It's next to the Old Custom House on the cobbled quay). I'll be emphasising the blues. jazz vibe with stuff from Fats Waller, Louise Armstrong, Jimmie Rodgers, The Louvin Brothers, Hoagy Carmichael, Bessie Smith & Ma Rainey etc..and my favourite, Randy Newman// but I'll throw in a few more folksy songs and tunes as well. FRIDAY, April 17, follow me about 15 miles inland, up the River Tamar, to the umbelievably quaint riverside village of Calstock( which is just inside the Cornish border) where I'll be performing at the converted Chapel Arts Centre - rapdily becoming on of the gems on the west country acoustic music scene.Sensational views behind the stage of the River Tamar and Brunel's famous railway viaduct...some people still come to the gig by train from Plymouth ! You can just about catch the last train back to the city.. and the trip is unique. I'll be doing a more folky set here, including Cornish mining stuff, some of my own songs, talking about the history/systems of concertina and getting people generally to have a jolly good Friday evening sing-song.Wolf - if you are reading this ( Old Blue Sailor) this is the same little riverside village where you heard my jazz trio in the pub. The Chapel Arts Centre is on the hill as you come on up out of the valley. Wish you could be here !

Hiya squeezers in the south/west of England . If you are around, and can get there, I have a solo gig this FRiday, Feb 6, at the Wessex Acoustiuc Music Club, held at the British Legion in Blandford Forum, Dorset.I can promise you English/Irish/Scottish folk, some of my own west country songs and a fair sprinkling of 1920/30\'s jazz and country blues like Jimmie Rodgers, the Louvin Brothers. And even ol' Hank Williams. Never heard a duet concertina? Then try and get along.

I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to lead the mixed systems duet concertina workshops at Kilve last month - it was intensive, tiring stuff as these things are, but I'm not sure it's possible to have more fun with buttons and bellows. And great too to spend a couple of days in the company of Harry Scurfield and Dave Townsend. I was delighted too to receive some very positive feedback from my tutor group, thank you gentlemen and scholars every one. Gavin* *I've been asked to remove the MP3 links that were here previously - however, if new, cleaned up recordings become available later and I have permission to do so, I'll add them to this post.

https://soundcloud.com/gmatkin/a-nightingale-sang-in-berkeley With St Valentine's day coming up, this seems very fitting. I hope it makes you all smile! Gavin