New Jeffries Duet Player

[Alan Ruff]

Hallo out there. I have been given a 51 button Jeffries Duet Concertina which was formerly owned by my grandfather and has lain unplayed since his death 50 years ago. It has now been renovated and I am starting to try to play it. I can read music and play piano to a poor intermediate standard, but have no knowledge or experience of concertinas. I seem to be on a sharp learning curve. Any advice on obtaining a tutorial book would be appreciated. I am told that my grandfather was taught to play by one of the Jeffries brothers whom he met in a pub in Stonebridge, Willesden, London. In the concertina box was a handwritten button diagram for the left and right hands (probably written by Mr Jeffries), so I know which button to push for which note. I do not know anything about push and pull or air control. If there is anyone out there, HELP ! (Please).

[Ivan Viehoff]

People seeking to learn duet concertinas of any system largely have to teach themselves with minimal assistance from prepared teaching materials. Jeffries Duet is probably the least played of the four main Duet concertina systems, because it has such odd fingering.

 

May I suggest you first look at the Maccann Duet website www.maccann-duet.com, where you will at least find Brian Hayden's "all systems" beginner duet concertina materials, and David Cornell's general duet concertina materials, and some fingering charts. You will probably find the older teaching materials reproduced on the site (mainly Maccann system) of not much use if you already have basic chord/key knowledge from playing the piano.

 

In terms of push/pull and air control, a Duet has the same technique as an English system concertina, so you could flick through some English system teaching materials. There are some thoughts on this (for free) on the Concertina Connection website, but I think some people violently disagree with what is said there.

[Greg Jowaisas]

Hi Alan,

 

Michael Hebbert has set a high standard for Jeffries duet playing among modern practicioners. If I was in the UK I would arrange my schedule around where he was playing and watch and try and learn his every move. He has a Topic album that you might try and find in the used record stores, "The Rampin' Cat".

 

Stuart Estill is a member of this forum and has been working on the Jeffries duet.

You might try emailing him.

 

My own, very elementary experiences, suggest patience. I've found that working on the core scale with three right hand fingers with the pinkie in reserve offers flexibility up and down. Ivan's suggestions of duet tutorials is a good one. Your piano experience and note reading should help.

 

That said, unless you track down a helpful player, it will just take some time and practice. Perhaps as encouragement I can add, that at least in my case, the Jeffries duet makes more "intuitive" sense then my limited experience with the MacCaan system.

 

Best of luck in your adventure, and if you'd like to compare "notes", drop me a line.

 

Regards,

 

Greg J

Edited May 23, 2005 by Greg Jowaisas

[John Vernon]

So, Where are you Alan ? If you're anywhere near me - Gloucestershire- I would be willing to give a bit of instruction . Rgds John

[Stephen Chambers]

Alan,

 

One consideration is that the Jeffries duet is based on the Anglo concertina, so the core scale of the instrument is related to that of a harmonica, the "blow" notes being on one of the middle rows, the "suck" ones on the other. The story goes that Charlie Jeffries was asked to design a duet for an anglo player, and came up with the design overnight ! And like the Anglo, or the harmonica, they are to be found pitched in different keys, like C or Bb, etc.

 

 

Any advice on obtaining a tutorial book would be appreciated. I am told that my grandfather was taught to play by one of the Jeffries brothers whom he met in a pub in Stonebridge, Willesden, London. In the concertina box was a handwritten button diagram for the left and right hands (probably written by Mr Jeffries), so I know which button to push for which note.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm afraid the only tutorial books were handwritten by members of the Jeffries family, like the button diagram you describe. They show, at best, scales and/or chords in various keys, like this one, online in the Jeffries System Duets section of the maccann-duet.com website.

 

I expect the way your grandfather learnt the instrument was probably the normal one (lessons from one of the Jeffries family), and he too probably had such a manuscript tutor book, perhaps added to as he went for his lessons.

 

The association between the Jeffries family and the Kilburn/Willesden area of London goes back to before the 1891 Census, by which time they were already living at Aldershot Road, Kilburn, and by 1901 Charles Jeffries snr. was living at Clarence Lodge, Church Road, Willesden, whilst his son William was at 6, Lennox Villa, Church Road, Willesden. Your grandfather may have been dealing with the youngest of the sons, Thomas Jeffries, who (then in his mid-seventies) was still in business, at 5, Craven Park, Harlesden, NW10 ("Late of 23, Praed Street, Paddington"), around 1960.

Edited May 23, 2005 by Stephen Chambers

[Chris Timson]

So, Where are you Alan ? If you're anywhere near me - Gloucestershire- I would be willing to give a bit of instruction . Rgds John

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And John is an excellent player. Even if you're not near Gloucestershire it would, I suggest, be worth making a trip over to see him some time. Even an hour or two with a competent player at the outset might save some grief further down the line.

 

Best of luck with it. I am delighted that you are keeping the instrument and learning to play it rather than just selling it - which given the price Jeffries duets have been attracting recently is an obvious temptation.

 

Cheers,

 

Chris

[JimLucas]

Jeffries Duet is probably the least played of the four main Duet concertina systems, because it has such odd fingering.

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I think you have that argument backward.

It's because it's the least played that its fingering system is considered odd.

[Mark Davies]

Mike Hebbert will be performing at the Bradfield Traditional Music Weekend 12th,13th & 14th August.Email me for details.

Email;edeophone@aol.com

[RELCOLLECT]

the "blow" notes being on one of the middle rows, the "suck" ones on the other

 

As you can see, the concertina is one of only few things in life that can both blow and suck at the same time...

[Animaterra]

And welcome, Alan! You have a concertina that many of us could only dream of owning. As a fellow Jeffries-inheritor (anglo, not duet), I wish you much joy in your instrument.

[Alan Ruff]

People seeking to learn duet concertinas of any system largely have to teach themselves with minimal assistance from prepared teaching materials.  Jeffries Duet is probably the least played of the four main Duet concertina systems, because it has such odd fingering.

 

May I suggest you first look at the Maccann Duet website www.maccann-duet.com, where you will at least find Brian Hayden's "all systems" beginner duet concertina materials, and David Cornell's general duet concertina materials, and some fingering charts. You will probably find the older teaching materials reproduced on the site (mainly Maccann system) of not much use if you already have basic chord/key knowledge from playing the piano.

 

In terms of push/pull and air control, a Duet has the same technique as an English system concertina, so you could flick through some English system teaching materials.  There are some thoughts on this (for free) on the Concertina Connection website, but I think some people violently disagree with what is said there.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Stephen Chambers]

... the "blow" notes being on one of the middle rows, the "suck" ones on the other

As you can see, the concertina is one of only few things in life that can both blow and suck at the same time...

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A bit like some of the posts around here then ?

[gcoover]

Alan,

Welcome to the elite club of Jeffries Duet players! There aren't many of us, but that doesn't mean you can't make a lot of racket once you get the notes and chords all sorted out. Michael Hebbert is indeed the undisputed master of the instrument, and the album "The Rampin' Cat" on the Free Reed label shows just what this instrument is capable of. Perhaps Mr. Hebbert has copies of his album, or perhaps someone could make a copy (assuming it is totally out of print - don't want to deprive Michael of his meagre royalties).

 

Since you already have the note diagram, specialise in the home key, learn the major and minor chords, maybe a seventh chord or two. If you play Anglo, do NOT try to learn the same tunes on the Jeffries Duet or you will never be able to play them on either instrument! The similarities are just enough to scramble your brain for good. And if you get out of the home key, you might never get your fingers unscrambled!

 

Morris and country dance tunes work really well, and believe it or not, so do old calliope tunes (this instrument is made to oompah). Schmaltzy waltzes also come fairly easily.

 

However, the best advice is to take it out of the box and leave it somewhere out in your way, like the couch or dining room table. You'll pick it up, play a few notes, and then throw it down in frustration. Next time you pick it up, play a few more notes before throwing it down - eventually you'll be getting some tunes to appear. And before you know it, you'll be exploring the complexities and joys of owning a very unique instrument that is capable of "octaves in the right hand and fistfuls of chords in the left", quite impressive at full steam!

 

Gary Coover

Jeffries Duet player in the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks

[Chris Timson]

As you can see, the concertina is one of only  few things in life that can both blow and suck at the same time...

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Really? I'd be interested in seeing your concertina ...

 

Chris

[Steve Morrison]

The Jeffries Duet Concertina Tutor By Gary Coover. Now available at Red Cow Music.