Layout memorization and further resources from your own experience

[Cliff Ermatinger]

Greeting, Omnes.

 

I've been away from this forum and the concertina for quite a while after a brief attempt at the EC some years ago. Other instruments encroached on my time and then work seems to always get in the way of hobbies for some reason...

 

As I venture into the world of the English concertina again, I wanted to ask members their counsel on the following:

 

Which absolute beginners book/videos do you find the most effective? One of you already kindly sent me a DM suggestion of the Butler and Anderson resources (thank you!). Does one of those (or another!) come up as a winner in your estimation?

 

How did you best go about memorization of the layout (I've got a sweet sounding 48 button rosewood Wheatstone).

 

I appreciate any tips and leads you can offer.

 

Cheers!

 

Cliff

[Tiposx]

This is just my experience:

I didn't memorise the layout as such. I just played the tune based on the sheet music and the "lines are on the left". After a while the button positions became second nature. Learning by repetition.

The biggest step forward for me is to drop the dots as soon as possible for each piece of music. By this I mean memorising what the music should sound like, and allowing the fingers to find the right buttons.

The music sounds much more lively when played by ear and memory. I can also play as fast as I need to, close my eyes sometimes, walk around freely.

I should add that I only play single note melodies.

 

[Paul_Hardy]

For a modern beginners book and CD resource, look at Alex Wade's book https://www.mallyproductions.com/product-page/the-english-concertina-absolute-beginners-alex-wade-and-dave-mallinson-book. 

 

Regarding learning layout, I agree with what Tiposx said about lines on the left and just get a feel for the pitch. Play a tune you know well (When the Saints Go Marching In?), and keep playing it over several days until your fingers don't go wrong.

 

However  if you've played other instruments like fiddle, mandolin or guitar, then you probably know at least some of the progression of 5ths (F, C, G, D, A, E, B,...). The lowest note (G) on an English is the same as the lowest note on a fiddle, and the next few notes up the column are the same as the next three fiddle strings. The other inner columns on the English concertina follow the same sequence from a different starting note.

 

The outer rows just work without much thought - if you play an inner note during a tune and it sounds a bit wrong, then you probably want the immediately adjacent outer column note, so next to F is F# which you need if playing in sharp keys, and next to B is Bb which you might need if playing in flat keys.

 

See also other threads about starting from a good home position - e.g. https://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?/topic/28226-i-dont-understand-the-thumb-straps-and-pinky-rests-of-the-ec/#comment-239146.

 

Happy squeezing!

 

[JonesB]

Thanks Paul and Tiposx

I am an Anglo player who has just  a month ago started learning English (Wheatstone 48 treble) ….. so far really enjoying it.

I know a month isn’t long but I can follow the dots on most easy tunes without too much trouble although I do have problems jumping long stretches eg working down around g then having to get up to f. Seem to miss it every time which is extremely frustrating.

What I have also failed to do is play from memory (as Tiosx suggested) which I can do easily with my Anglo. Early days yet as it took me two years to get up to speed on Anglo.

One thing I will try Paul is your suggestion where to place “home” fingers G,B and AC which is nicely placed halfway up so this may help my problem.

Note: Found WCCP video conference useful just watching yourself and the team playing for an hour or so.

Brian Jones

[Don Taylor]

I have found this app (Apple and Android) useful in developing 'muscle memory' for finding distant buttons: the 'Complete Music Reading Trainer' by Binary Guilt Software.

 

It has a microphone mode (which you need to turn on in its settings) which allows it to recognise notes as you play them.  There are various scenarios programmed into it but the basic one is just a scrolling set of notes that you have to recognise and play on your concertina.  It is like a touch typing tutor.

 

There may be other, better, apps that do this sort of thing but this one has helped me.

Edited February 16 by Don Taylor
typo

[Cliff Ermatinger]

Thanks so much for the helpful counsel!

 

My music reading skills began with the Highland pipes (only 9 notes!) and singing Gregorian chant for decades. My tin whistle learning was all by ear as was my ukulele. My cello is in bass clef and is my most recent instrument - so not a lot of theory going on yet. I'll use this foray into the EC as an opportunity to better understand the circle of 5ths and, with the good advice you so generously gave me put the theory to practice.

 

Once again, thank you all.

[Paul_Hardy]

12 hours ago, Cliff Ermatinger said:

My cello is in bass clef and is my most recent instrument

 

I too switched from cello to English concertina, and treat the bellows as I would a cello bow for phrasing.

 

Regarding reading music, particularly for folk tunes,  I generally don't try and read each note. I look carefully at the first couple to get my location on the instrument (side, row), and then look for simple patterns - short runs up and down the scale, arpeggios (runs with every alternate note, so all on the same side), up-one-and-and-back triplets, down-one-and-back, etc.

[Cliff Ermatinger]

Thank you, Paul. As opposed to Highland pipe music in which there is little space for personalization of the music in terms of technique - we have to perfectly replicate every punctilious grace note perfectly as written - this is kind of freeing.