My First Tune

[Simon R]

This great site gave me, a complete concertina newbie, lots of really useful advice when looking to buy a quality, affordable instrument. Through a contact on here, I got hold of an early Bastari Goblin, leather bellows, metal buttons, perfect condition. From the design of the hard case that came with it, I'd guess early 80s manufacture, though I'm not sure. 

 

Anyway, I've never played concertina (or anything squeezy) before, though I do have proficiency on some other instruments. This is my first level one effort at a tune, a week after getting the instrument,  composed while trying to learn real tunes from instruction books. I'm making progress with the Sailor's Hornpipe, but it'll be while before I share a recording of that...

Edited October 18, 2022 by Simon R

[Ken_Coles]

Simon,

 

Much better than I did after one week (back in 1992!). Welcome to the madness.

 

Ken

[Simon R]

Thanks, Ken. I've been playing guitar for over forty years so playing an instrument that's not laid out chromatically is, er, interesting. I love the physicality of it though, the combination of breath and button tap. 

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

Keep up the practice as sounding very promising so far.🌝🌝

[Roberta Kogut]

Wow! I'm so impressed!  You have a sweet sound!

[James Fitton]

As others have said, very well done after just a week. I'll be interested to hear where you're up to after a month!

[Simon R]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. This is a little tune I've been working on called Crump's Geese. Its mainly about getting taps going with the right hand where I have a fingertip missing on the middle finger so have to work extra hard. I also wanted to avoid 'breathing in' on the short chords and getting unwanted diatonics. I've had an online lesson with John Kirkpatrick which was great, and he's got me practicing bass-chord oompahs. I'm having one lesson a month to try to develop proper technique, but this tune is just a bit of fun.