Chords

[Levi & Sara]

Hello.

I have a 20 button concertina that is in the key of C/G. On the C chord, I press 3,4,5 buttons pressing the bellows in. When I change the fingerings on the C chord (buttons 1,9,10), and open the bellows, it doesn't sound right because it raises the octave. How do you play a complete measure in a song staying in the C chord or any chord, so that it sounds correct? I have 3 books, and none of them go into detail on chord playing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Levi & sara

[Jody Kruskal]

Hello.

I have a 20 button concertina that is in the key of C/G. On the C chord, I press 3,4,5 buttons pressing the bellows in. When I change the fingerings on the C chord (buttons 1,9,10), and open the bellows, it doesn't sound right because it raises the octave. How do you play a complete measure in a song staying in the C chord or any chord, so that it sounds correct? I have 3 books, and none of them go into detail on chord playing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Levi & sara

 

Hi Levi and Sara,

 

Sorry, you have to make do with the octave change. If you get a 31 button instrument with a left hand thumb button you might get the pitches F/C on that thumb button with a nice low C on the draw. Otherwise the draw C chord is quite wimpy and that is just the way it is.

[Daniel Hersh]

As Jody said, this is just one of the limitations of the Anglo. This sort of thing is one of the reasons that some of us Anglo players have begun exploring the duet systems instead.

 

Hello.

I have a 20 button concertina that is in the key of C/G. On the C chord, I press 3,4,5 buttons pressing the bellows in. When I change the fingerings on the C chord (buttons 1,9,10), and open the bellows, it doesn't sound right because it raises the octave. How do you play a complete measure in a song staying in the C chord or any chord, so that it sounds correct? I have 3 books, and none of them go into detail on chord playing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Levi & sara

 

Hi Levi and Sara,

 

Sorry, you have to make do with the octave change. If you get a 31 button instrument with a left hand thumb button you might get the pitches F/C on that thumb button with a nice low C on the draw. Otherwise the draw C chord is quite wimpy and that is just the way it is.

[david fabre]

There are, however, a few tricks to work around this problem.

The simplest is that, whenever your melody involves a note in the opposite

direction (for example a F or A in a bar where you want to play a C chord),

you take advantage of this by taking a big "breath" with the air button

so that afterwards you can continue your chord playing on the push.

If you operate the air button simultaneously with playing the note,

then no interruption can be heard. After a little practise this becomes fairly easy ;

I often do this automatically without even noticing it.

 

So don't run too quickly to buy a duet

[Levi & Sara]

There are, however, a few tricks to work around this problem.

The simplest is that, whenever your melody involves a note in the opposite

direction (for example a F or A in a bar where you want to play a C chord),

you take advantage of this by taking a big "breath" with the air button

so that afterwards you can continue your chord playing on the push.

If you operate the air button simultaneously with playing the note,

then no interruption can be heard. After a little practise this becomes fairly easy ;

I often do this automatically without even noticing it.

 

So don't run too quickly to buy a duet

 

Thank you for your very helpful reply.

When you have to play an F or A note, when the bellows are being pulled out, you are not playing any notes with your left hand, only pressing on the air button on the right side, and then notes on the right side?

What is a duet concertina?

If you are for instance playing an F on the right hand, what notes could I play on the left hand to give the song more body (if any)?

 

Thank you again,

Levi

[David Barnert]

What is a duet concertina?

Not all concertinas are Anglo or English. There are several "duet" systems that pretty much have this in common:

 

• Play the same note whether pushing or pulling
  
• Have complete chromatic scale on right for playing melodies
  
• Similar on left, an octave lower (and reduced range) for playing chords, harmonies, drones, etc.
  

For more info, have a look through:

 

http://www.concertina.com/maccann-duet/index.htm

 

and

 

http://www.concertina.com/other-systems/index.htm

 

I play the Hayden duet concertina.

[Jody Kruskal]

 

If you are for instance playing an F on the right hand, what notes could I play on the left hand to give the song more body (if any)?

 

Thank you again,

Levi

Lots of choices there. The right hand F is a draw note and there are lots of left hand draw F chord notes to choose from.

The F one octave down, button #4.

The C above that being the fifth of the chord F, button #9

Two possible buttons for A being the third of the chord, buttons #5 and 8. I prefer the 8.

 

OR...

 

Depending on what goes with the song, try a D minor. Play that with buttons #3, 4, 5.

 

OR...

 

Try a G7 chord using buttons # 1, 2, 3, 4.

 

 

Also, a B chord goes with the F as well. That sounds great in the second inversion spelled with buttons #2A, 4, 5A.

 

Confused about these button numbers? Go to my Tune of the Month page for February '09 and at the bottom of the page click on "Guide to reading the tab score." That should open up a page with the button numbers explained. Ignore the buttons 1A - 5A as the 20 button instruments don't have those.

 

Good luck!

[hjcjones]

When you have to play an F or A note, when the bellows are being pulled out, you are not playing any notes with your left hand, only pressing on the air button on the right side, and then notes on the right side?

 

No, you can play notes at the same time as using the air button. Using the air button at the same time allows you to recover more bellows than playing the note alone. You may have to increase the bellows pressure, as the air button obviously takes some air away from the reeds.

 

Written down it sounds very complicated, but it soon becomes second nature and is an essential element of playing the anglo, certainly in harmonic style. Many players, myself included, find themselves continually making small adjustments of the bellows with the air button throughout the tune, almost without thinking.

[david fabre]

 

Also, a B chord goes with the F as well. That sounds great in the second inversion spelled with buttons #2A, 4, 5A.

 

 

I think this makes a B-flat chord (not B natural).

I mostly use it when playing in the keys of F or Dminor, but it

may work also when playing in the key of C (giving a mixolydian flavour)

 

David

[david fabre]

When you have to play an F or A note, when the bellows are being pulled out, you are not playing any notes with your left hand, only pressing on the air button on the right side, and then notes on the right side?

 

No, you can play notes at the same time as using the air button. Using the air button at the same time allows you to recover more bellows than playing the note alone. You may have to increase the bellows pressure, as the air button obviously takes some air away from the reeds.

 

Written down it sounds very complicated, but it soon becomes second nature and is an essential element of playing the anglo, certainly in harmonic style. Many players, myself included, find themselves continually making small adjustments of the bellows with the air button throughout the tune, almost without thinking.

 

However, if your instrument is of german or chinese construction this could be more difficult

to use the air button in this way, because the hole behind the air button is often too small to allow a fast "refill".

Edited January 18, 2010 by david fabre

[Anglo-Irishman]

No, you can play notes at the same time as using the air button. Using the air button at the same time allows you to recover more bellows than playing the note alone. You may have to increase the bellows pressure, as the air button obviously takes some air away from the reeds.

 

However, if your instrument is of german or chinese construction this could be more difficult

to use the air button in this way, because the hole behind the air button is often too small to allow a fast "refill".

 

To be a bit more precise: when using the air button at the same time as playing notes, you should keep the pressure constant, but this means that you will have to move your hands faster. The whole point of the exercise is to open or close the bellows more quickly than if you were just playing notes, without increasing the pressure on the reeds.

 

For this technique you don't need a large air-valve. You only open the air-valve partially anyway.

 

What you do need a decently-proportioned air valve for, is for gulping a bellowsful of air quickly between notes.

I've only played one Chinese concertina - a Rochelle - and its air-valve is, indeed, too small for a "fast refill". By contrast, I learned on a cheap East German 20-button, and don't recall having problems with its air-valve.

 

It is true that this "air bleeding" while playing comes naturally after a while. It's much akin to breathing through your nose while playing a mouth-organ.

 

Cheers,

John

[hjcjones]

[

To be a bit more precise: when using the air button at the same time as playing notes, you should keep the pressure constant, but this means that you will have to move your hands faster. The whole point of the exercise is to open or close the bellows more quickly than if you were just playing notes, without increasing the pressure on the reeds.

 

You've put it much better than I did. Of course, the aim is to keep the pressure constant. What I meant was that opening the air button will decrease the pressure, which you then have to compensate for.

 

It's much easier than it sounds!

[michael sam wild]

We'll be talking 'circular breathing' soon

[OldFox]

This forum topic seems to address chords for the Anglo - what about the English? I have made a New Year's resolution to add some value to my single button renditions - but am having difficulty in getting started. I take it that its possibly easier with an English; but advice gladly received!

 

PS. Don't fancy the circular breathing! heh heh

[Leo]

This forum topic seems to address chords for the Anglo - what about the English? I have made a New Year's resolution to add some value to my single button renditions - but am having difficulty in getting started. I take it that its possibly easier with an English; but advice gladly received!

 

PS. Don't fancy the circular breathing! heh heh

Hi OldFox

 

How's this look?

http://www.concertina.net/wm_english_chords.html

 

Thanks

Leo