gcarrere Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 Hi! I am a (McCann) duet player, and when I see early videos of great duet players, playing standing up on stage, sometimes on very heavy 81 button instruments, I wonder how they managed to do so! When I try my fingers won't face the keyboard properly. Anybody has an idea? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Colpitts Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 How heavy is your instrument? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Barnert Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 Some people add neck straps to their instruments (in a way that is completely removable without a trace, using the handrail screws). I generally play seated, particularly for complicated stuff, but I also play for Morris Dancing (simpler tunes), which I do standing. I have a 46-button Hayden, the same size as a 48-button English or 30-button Anglo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gcarrere Posted January 6 Author Share Posted January 6 My McCann duet weighs 1,7kg. Not so heavy. But the straps are in a very eccentric position, I think, so when I hold it, it leans forwards. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Geoff Wooff Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 (edited) Whilst most of the youtube videos show Duet players in a seated position, as far as I recall from watching the old players at ICA meetings in the 1970's, those who played standing up held their forearms more or less vertical. In this way the weight of the concertina is directed back into the base of the hands and there are less problems with the the instrument tilting forwards. Tight straps and the thumb wrapped around the hand rail will help too , along with practice and building up muscles. Look for videos of Perci Honri. Edited January 6 by Geoff Wooff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gcarrere Posted January 6 Author Share Posted January 6 Thanks Geoff! I'll try this, and get you feedback soon! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RAc Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 I presented my solution here: This mechanism also prevents the instruments from tilting. Works for me... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
soloduet Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Hi Gilbert, did you ever try to play standing while resting the concertina on one thigh like I do in this video? I think that it can also be a good compromise to experience the pleasure to play standing while keeping a good stability of the instrument, but I can't do that anymore with my 11 folds bellows: https://youtu.be/2TZZj3yzDAA Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gcarrere Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Hello Didie! That's what I did in the past every time it was possible, and still do today, I mean playing standing up, left end of my concertina on left thigh, left foot on a stool. I was just wondering if it was possible to play duets with both ends free, as english concertina players do ... but it's true they have this finger plate that helps a lot keeping the instrument in horizontal position. I've tried to tighten my straps, but with no significant results, apart from hinder the movement of the fingers! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Wild Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Tim Laycock plays his Crane duet standing, and performs an amazing rendition of bell-ringing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kelteglow Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 When I play at a Folk Club I like to play standing up if possible with a step or chair close by in case I tire .It helps I feel , that the audience see the concertina as well as hear my Anglo Concertina . When playing for Morris I always stand and use a folding step ( like guitarist use they are about £10 to buy) .Often with our Pensans Morris we play while walking in a procession .I then use plastic ratchet straps which I put all the way around the wooden ends of my concertina with a key ring attached to clip a shoulder strap to. When I had my new34 Key G/D made by Colin Dipper I asked for it to be made as light as possible so I could play it without support. He made the reed frames of Aircraft Aluminium Alloy . Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Barnert Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 3 hours ago, gcarrere said: I was just wondering if it was possible to play duets with both ends free, as english concertina players do 7 minutes ago, Kelteglow said: When playing for Morris I always stand and use a folding step As posted recently in another thread, this is me playing a 46-key Hayden Duet for Morris Dancing (in 1989). Thirty years later (until the pandemic shut us down), you could see me doing the same thing (albeit with a better concertina: this was a Bastari, I got my Wheatstone in 1994). Some trickier numbers (requiring the use of 4 fingers) are best played sitting with an end of the instrument on a knee, but Morris tunes aren’t generally that tricky. Notice I’m basically playing with three fingers, using my little finger to help stabilize the instrument (on both sides). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gcarrere Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Such interesting experiences! I keep the idea of the little finger, acting like on english concertina. But perhaps difficult on a McCann, when you're used to use your four fingers all the time. But I'll try, perhaps for simple tunes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Little John Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 I tend to let the instrument drop naturally, held essentially by the thumb end of the strap, as illustrated in this video. Nevertheless, I prefer to rest the right end on my right thigh if possible. It gives me better control. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv9oLUYlX-O/ LJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gcarrere Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 Wow! such a wonderfull tune, and wonderfully played! Surprinsingly your (beautiful) Crane duet tends to stay horizontal. Maybe it's possible with standard sized instruments: mine is bigger than that. Thanks, Little John! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Barnert Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 2 hours ago, gcarrere said: Wow! such a wonderfull tune... Warning: Thread drift (sorry).* As far as I know, the very first youtube video ever of a single person playing a concertina was Danny Chapman’s performance of the same tune from 14 years ago. * (He’s sitting down.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Little John Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 On 1/10/2021 at 6:52 PM, gcarrere said: Surprinsingly your (beautiful) Crane duet tends to stay horizontal. It might look that way, but it's actually 45 - 60 degrees below horizontal. Maybe this recent (i.e. 15 minutes ago) video shows it better. The key is not to try to hold it horizontal, but to let it hang naturally from the thumb end of the straps. https://www.instagram.com/p/CKJOjrvhN-c/ On 1/10/2021 at 6:52 PM, gcarrere said: Maybe it's possible with standard sized instruments: mine is bigger than that. The first example was standard size for a 48 Crane - 6 5/8 inches. I've done the same on a 51 button Crane weighing slightly more than your (1.79kg). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Little John Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 Coincidentally another thread led me to Dan Worrall's book on line and I came across this illustration. The concertina is being held 60 degrees below the horizontal, much as when I play standing. [I hope this isn't breaking any copyright or anything. Please remove it if so.] 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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