Anyone make an English Concertina with fewer buttons?

[spindizzy]

i think that while you're at it, why not have an english concertina in the key of D? i think that would really make it optimized for irish music, and you could still have it fully chromatic.

 

Then you'd be playing the centre two rows mostly, and this would actually be more awkward/congested than having a few accidentals - the f#s and C# go naturaly on a 3rd finger while the centre rows fall more under the 1st and 2nd

[m3838]

i think that while you're at it, why not have an english concertina in the key of D? i think that would really make it optimized for irish music, and you could still have it fully chromatic.

 

Then you'd be playing the centre two rows mostly, and this would actually be more awkward/congested than having a few accidentals - the f#s and C# go naturaly on a 3rd finger while the centre rows fall more under the 1st and 2nd

 

Depends on your playing method. If you play diatonically in two central rows, why would it be congested?

On the other hand, playing diatonically in D maj is as much "irish" as playing in A min is "french". What if you play for blue eyed red haired Irish singer, who needs C maj or F?

It seems like fully chromatic keyboards, capable of switching between the keys with the same fingering, all have their drawbacks.

Hayden is more suited for European diatonic music, C/B 5 row chromatic is large and fingering is not intuitive. Other keyboards favor certain keys: English favors central row (commonly C maj. I have one in F maj), Crane is in C maj too. Don't know about McCann.

[John Wild]

The photo ended up quite tiny, any chance for a closeup of the side? Thanks!

 

Here are a few new photos. hope they load OK

 

regards

 

John

[Chris Drinkwater]

The photo ended up quite tiny, any chance for a closeup of the side? Thanks!

 

Here are a few new photos. hope they load OK

 

regards

 

John

 

 

I like your wallpaper, John!

 

Chris

[david_boveri]

i think that while you're at it, why not have an english concertina in the key of D? i think that would really make it optimized for irish music, and you could still have it fully chromatic.

 

Then you'd be playing the centre two rows mostly, and this would actually be more awkward/congested than having a few accidentals - the f#s and C# go naturaly on a 3rd finger while the centre rows fall more under the 1st and 2nd

 

so are you saying that playing in the key of C is awkward on the english?

[spindizzy]

i think that while you're at it, why not have an english concertina in the key of D? i think that would really make it optimized for irish music, and you could still have it fully chromatic.

 

Then you'd be playing the centre two rows mostly, and this would actually be more awkward/congested than having a few accidentals - the f#s and C# go naturaly on a 3rd finger while the centre rows fall more under the 1st and 2nd

 

so are you saying that playing in the key of C is awkward on the english?

 

I'm sure that it's just lack of practice - Etrad and Itrad which I play, doesn't seem to venture into C much. When I do play in C I just use 1st and 2nd fingers on those centre rows. Playing in D or A brings my 3rd fingers into use as well .... shares the work out a bit !

[John Wild]

I like your wallpaper, John!

 

Chris

 

Wish I did !!"

 

On the detail of the instrument, as the lowest note is the G above middle C on the left, tunes in G which have notes below the keynote need to be transposed up to D. there are a lot of tunes in D which will fit in the range.

 

regards

 

John

[david_boveri]

i think that while you're at it, why not have an english concertina in the key of D? i think that would really make it optimized for irish music, and you could still have it fully chromatic.

 

Then you'd be playing the centre two rows mostly, and this would actually be more awkward/congested than having a few accidentals - the f#s and C# go naturaly on a 3rd finger while the centre rows fall more under the 1st and 2nd

 

so are you saying that playing in the key of C is awkward on the english?

 

I'm sure that it's just lack of practice - Etrad and Itrad which I play, doesn't seem to venture into C much. When I do play in C I just use 1st and 2nd fingers on those centre rows. Playing in D or A brings my 3rd fingers into use as well .... shares the work out a bit !

 

it's funny, because i play in the noel hill style of playing, which is largely focused around getting your two strongest fingers on each hand doing the majority of the work, so it's funny to hear someone say it could be negative to use only your strongest fingers!

 

i could see where balance would be nice, but if you think about it, it's like saying, "oh, i don't like playing on the white keys of the piano..."

[spindizzy]

i think that while you're at it, why not have an english concertina in the key of D? i think that would really make it optimized for irish music, and you could still have it fully chromatic.

 

Then you'd be playing the centre two rows mostly, and this would actually be more awkward/congested than having a few accidentals - the f#s and C# go naturaly on a 3rd finger while the centre rows fall more under the 1st and 2nd

 

so are you saying that playing in the key of C is awkward on the english?

 

I'm sure that it's just lack of practice - Etrad and Itrad which I play, doesn't seem to venture into C much. When I do play in C I just use 1st and 2nd fingers on those centre rows. Playing in D or A brings my 3rd fingers into use as well .... shares the work out a bit !

 

it's funny, because i play in the noel hill style of playing, which is largely focused around getting your two strongest fingers on each hand doing the majority of the work, so it's funny to hear someone say it could be negative to use only your strongest fingers!

 

i could see where balance would be nice, but if you think about it, it's like saying, "oh, i don't like playing on the white keys of the piano..."

 

I'm hoping for some other EC players to comment her ... but they've all gone undercover!

There was certainly a thread a while ago with a POLL for how many fingers you use on EC, with a general feel that more is better.

 

Chris

[chiton1]

I play with only my two (strongest) fingers, and therefor playing in C is easiest for me. In the beginning I have thought about having a concertina build in "D" for me, but when several other keys (including D) proved not too difficult to play in on a regular instrument I skipped the thought. Still from time to time there is a tune that is much easier played in C than in D and at such times the old longing for a "D" concertina comes back to me......

[Chris Drinkwater]

i think that while you're at it, why not have an english concertina in the key of D? i think that would really make it optimized for irish music, and you could still have it fully chromatic.

 

Then you'd be playing the centre two rows mostly, and this would actually be more awkward/congested than having a few accidentals - the f#s and C# go naturaly on a 3rd finger while the centre rows fall more under the 1st and 2nd

 

so are you saying that playing in the key of C is awkward on the english?

 

I'm sure that it's just lack of practice - Etrad and Itrad which I play, doesn't seem to venture into C much. When I do play in C I just use 1st and 2nd fingers on those centre rows. Playing in D or A brings my 3rd fingers into use as well .... shares the work out a bit !

 

I mostly play Etrad, in the usual session friendly keys of D & G on my EC, using 3 fingers per side. The key of C, which occupies the middle two rows of natural notes, is really the easiest key to play in, with usually just two fingers, if you are playing melody only, which is a shame as I rarely have occasion to play in the key of C.

 

Chris

[m3838]

I mostly play Etrad, in the usual session friendly keys of D & G on my EC, using 3 fingers per side. The key of C, which occupies the middle two rows of natural notes, is really the easiest key to play in, with usually just two fingers, if you are playing melody only, which is a shame as I rarely have occasion to play in the key of C.

 

 

All this talk in the thread makes me believe the people are trying really hard to skip the learning process. Playing with only two fingers on the English is justified only if the rest are missing. You disrespect the instrument. Try switching to guitar, but don't forget to play only with the right hand. Why try harder? It's so difficult! And only right hand sounds so rich and full.

If you are playing with the EC in the air - use whatever available: 3 fingers per side.

If you are playing sitting with EC on your lap - 4 fingers per side.

And why would you do otherwise? Oh, I know, because it's so difficult. (which is actually NOT)

[chiton1]

I mostly play Etrad, in the usual session friendly keys of D & G on my EC, using 3 fingers per side. The key of C, which occupies the middle two rows of natural notes, is really the easiest key to play in, with usually just two fingers, if you are playing melody only, which is a shame as I rarely have occasion to play in the key of C.

 

 

All this talk in the thread makes me believe the people are trying really hard to skip the learning process. Playing with only two fingers on the English is justified only if the rest are missing. You disrespect the instrument. Try switching to guitar, but don't forget to play only with the right hand. Why try harder? It's so difficult! And only right hand sounds so rich and full.

If you are playing with the EC in the air - use whatever available: 3 fingers per side.

If you are playing sitting with EC on your lap - 4 fingers per side.

And why would you do otherwise? Oh, I know, because it's so difficult. (which is actually NOT)

 

I know that Wheatstone intended the instrument to be played with to fingers, and I do play all the notes and chords, so I do not think there is much need to change my method of playing. I think I do well enough and have fun playing that way. I do not have the time and the wish to change. But I can assure you I do play the wooden flute with three fingers per hand, and depending on which keys I use even up to 4 or 5!