Accidentals, Pain Medication, And The Holy Grail

[Rhomylly]

Wow! Last night I finally made it back to the weekly Irish slo jam (for us newbie folks). I really, really need more accidentals than the 20-button C/G offers. All the tunes in D were just beyond me. Okay, *most* of the tunes in general were beyond me, but it would have been nice to be able to pretend more...

 

Do 30 buttoners normally include that elusive C#? I continue to dream of a fabulous upgrade in the spring.

 

Couldn't play much, though, even if I didn't know the tunes. An inconsiderate feline houseguest bit me Tuesday night in the left forearm -- and I do most of my bellows manipulation with my left -- and it hurts like a you-know-what.

 

The only reason I went , as opposed to staying home and nursing my bellowing arm with Advil and ice like a smart little do-bee, was because a friend promised to bring his Wheatstone English for me to mess around with for a few minutes. And he did. Having never been near a Wheatstone before that I know of, opening the case felt like I was opening a trunk that contained the Holy Grail. What a beautiful beast it was! Black (ah, my favorite), #31128 which dates it, I think he said, sometime around 1924. He picked it up on Ebay a couple years ago from, I think, Chris Algar. The bellows were like butter, as opposed to my 2-month-old box with bellows that still creak and pop with newness, rather like a potato chip, to continue the food analogy.

 

But I totally ramble too much. The main question here being: how many accidentals does the average 30-button anglo have? (sounds like a set-up for a bad joke, doesn't it?)

 

Edit: The slo-jam seems to have a low critical mass for free-reeders. A button box player has been there, but not when I've gone. Ditto a piano accordion player. I think that's funny.

Edited September 25, 2003 by Rhomylly

[stuart estell]

The accidental row on a 30-button can vary, but you'll always get the mid-range C# (unless you're playing a really bonkers custom layout ).

 

If you're really lucky you'll get a mid-range C# in both directions, which can be quite handy. My C/G has both the mid-range Eb and C# both ways, which is nice for some harmonies.

[Michael Reid]

You might want to look at this article on choosing a chromatic-row layout and this article with color-coded layouts for 30-button Wheatstone/Lachenal anglos.

[Rex]

Here is a diagram:

http://www.pied-crow.com/30btn0gc.gif

The C#s are just outside of the Cs and in the same direction (push). Easy to remember. This is how my recently aquired Bastari is set up. I am not sure about the bass buttons in this diagram.

 

By the way, I think I play The Blarney Pilgrim in D without needing a C#.

Edited September 25, 2003 by Rex

[Helen]

Is the feline houseguest still alive?

 

Helen

[Rhomylly]

I will definitely check out those articles! Thanks much.

 

Feline houseguest is still alive but not being petted much. It really was my beagle's fault. He lunged for her at exactly the wrong time...

[Helen]

Hiya Rhomylly,

 

I'm still lusting after your weekly Irish slow jam. How wonderful. I got a used 30 button Anglo just so I could have the C#. Well, now, some of the other #s have come in handy too. I really really want a new 30 button or possibly 24 button Anglo, but I'm with you. (Desire there, money not yet).

 

Bellow on,

Helen

[Helen]

PS Rhomylly,

 

See how nicely our 2 dogs are getting along. They have not once lunged out of their posts into the next one.

 

Ta,

Helen