Worthwhile to switch from G/D to C/G anglo?

[s2maur]

If you have more than just a passing interest in ITM then an Anglo C/G is the only way to go.

I don't know a single person who plays traditional Irish music on a G/D concertina.

 

David, I only know of one person. They have been playing on a G/D for over ten years and do a very good job on ornaments and chords but if one listens closely, you can tell the ornaments do not match those played on a C/G anglo and even though they can play the modal chords, they are often inverted. Furthermore, they do not venture too far out of the keys, and their modes, of G, A and D. They can play the key of C but in the same position that a C/G player would be playing the key of F.

 

I switched from a G/D early on after having a conversation with Chris Algar when I was contemplating the purchase of a better instrument. His first response to my question about which key, either G/D or C/G, would be better he asked, "Do you want to play in the Irish Tradition?" I had to ask him what exactly that meant and after his explanation, I decided I wanted a C/G. Instead of just learning new tunes and forgetting the ones I had already learned on my G/D, I chose to re-learn them on the C/G. Actually, I think it helped to reinforce the new fingering positions. It also helped my ear to hear and my fingers to feel the intervals. It was a good example of a Suzuki method for the anglo concertina.

 

It was challenging and often, in the beginning, very frustrating as my fingers automatically went into there old positions and reaching for buttons that no longer played the familiar tones of old.

However, I feel that for me, it was well worth it.

 

Steve M

[David Levine]

I didn't say it couldn't be done. Just that I didn't know anybody who did it. This sounds similar to the Anglo vs. English concertinas for playing ITM (forgive the acronym- I assume we all have a good idea of what it means) argument. Sure, you can play ITM on the EC. Sure, ITM can be played on the G/D Anglo. I'm sure there some folks out there who do play the G/D well enough to play ITM and that there are people who know these people. I don't know anybody who does it convincingly.

Those instruments are on the fringe of the tradition, along with the marimba, the sheng, the saxophone, the five-string banjo and the hammer dulcimer. There are musicians who have played those instruments well enough to play traditional Irish music, but those players are fairly rare. When they are good they are remarkable. Those instruments -- along with the EC and the G/D Anglo -- are seldom recommended for ITM, and with good reason.

 

For me as an Irishman born and bred .... this is irrelevant. There are some pretty good musicians, with a deep understanding of the tradition, who were neither born -- nor were bred -- in Ireland.

[m3838]

And David's statement is problematic for other reasons too. A G/D has the same key layout as a C/G, just pitched a fourth lower. The fingering for playing in D on a G/D is identical to the fingering for playing in G on a C/G, the fingering for A on a G/D is identical to D on a C/G, etc. Lots of Irish tunes are in D or A and a G/D works just fine for them with whatever Irish fingering system you want to use.

 

Sounds logical to me. Except for "irish fingering". It implies some set standard for playing certain number of tunes. The tunes that need to be fingered differently, by decree fall off the borders of been irish. An instrument for irish fingering therefore must be declared to be C/G 30 button overkill Anglo.

 

 

 

 

 

[TomB-R]

If you have more than just a passing interest in ITM then an Anglo C/G is the only way to go.

I don't know a single person who plays traditional Irish music on a G/D concertina.

 

Okay there's a semitone in it but I wouldn't want to dismiss Micheal O'Raghallaigh's playing on his G#/D# Jeffries!!!

[michael sam wild]

This is getting away from the original question and what the member wants to play.

 

 

I garee that G/D is best for full chordal style in G/D/A etc

 

C/G is best for Irish music in normal fiddle and flute keys but I know that a lot of great Irish muisc players have other concertinas for playing in other keys so a G/D would just be another string to the bow. I like mine for songs and I sing a lot of Irish songs.

[JimLucas]

An instrument for irish fingering therefore must be declared to be C/G 30 button overkill Anglo.

Misha, are you declaring for a 30-button Jeffries layout, or Wheatstone?

Besides, 30 buttons is not overkill. It's reputed to be the perfect murder.

[m3838]

An instrument for irish fingering therefore must be declared to be C/G 30 button overkill Anglo.

Misha, are you declaring for a 30-button Jeffries layout, or Wheatstone?

Besides, 30 buttons is not overkill. It's reputed to be the perfect murder.

 

I don't declare a thing.