Baffling question

[TheThreeSeas]

Hi all, new to playing my anglo concertina but am falling in love with it. One challenge I find is that my practice can be pretty loud and fills the house with minimal effort. I'm sure that won't be as much of a problem when I'm better, but for now I was wondering if adding a baffle to dampen the sound a bit is effective/ worth it/ wise to do. I've only just heard it mentioned so any insight into how that works and what to purchase would be really appreciate! 

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

I know others will give you great advice soon; but give yourself time to develop your new found skills. Sensitivity on loud and quiet is combination of bellows pressure, and other things which you will get, with practice. I have found different acoustics in each space you practice within can make sound louder or quieter also. 

Less pressure on bellows; quieter and more pressure; louder sound. 

[Łukasz Martynowicz]

Buy some cheap, crafts EVA foam (2mm thick) and stuff it into fretwork in an almost airtight manner. Leave only couple of square mm of gaps. The concertina should be 15-20dB quieter and this whole procedure us entirely reversible due to push-fit nature of it. If there is enough room under the fretwork you my simply glue a foam cutout under the entire fretwork (you have to have a glue seam all around though, including around buttons) and then poke some holes in it until reeds start speaking freely.

[AndyNT]

The bellows control to play quieter is definitely a skill to develop with the Anglo.

Exactly how quiet is however dependent upon how the reeds on your concertina have been set.

[gcoover]

It can be a common problem with beginners, pushing too hard in an effort to force the notes out. And too, coupled with the fun of making a big noise either consciously or subconsciously!

 

Subtlety and a lighter touch come with time and familiarity with the instrument and the tunes.

 

But Andy is right, the reeds of many of the less expensive instruments won't sound unless given a hard push or pull.

 

Gary