Row Layouts

[pmmack]

Ok, so now it is time to expand my keys!

 

On a C/G box, C is the outer-20b/middle-30b row and G in the inner row.

 

So, on a D/G box, which is really the outer/middle row?

 

How about on the A/D box?

 

It would seem that the boxes would still remain tuned in 5ths, which would make them C/G, G/D and D/A.

This would make the G/D box lower than the C/G and reedier sounding and the D/A box rather high and thin.

 

Is this correct?

 

I see refernces back and forth:

 

http://www.hmtrad.com/sbx-info/sbx-pick.html

"The 20 button instruments only have the notes from 2 major scales, usually C on the top row and G on the bottom row. (Other common tunings are G/D and D/A)."

 

http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/cats/160N.html

CASTIGLIONE C1 20-BUTTON ANGLO CONCERTINA

keys of G & C

keys of D & G

keys of A & D

[Daniel Hersh]

This is generally correct--a G/D is a fourth below a C/G and a D/A is a whole tone above it. D/A concertinas are not common, but they don't have to sound thin--as with most things, it depends on the quality of the construction.

 

Daniel

 

(...)

It would seem that the boxes would still remain tuned in 5ths, which would make them C/G, G/D and D/A.

This would make the G/D box lower than the C/G and reedier sounding and the D/A box rather high and thin.

 

Is this correct?

 

I see refernces back and forth:

 

http://www.hmtrad.com/sbx-info/sbx-pick.html

"The 20 button instruments only have the notes from 2 major scales, usually C on the top row and G on the bottom row. (Other common tunings are G/D and D/A)."

 

http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/cats/160N.html

CASTIGLIONE C1 20-BUTTON ANGLO CONCERTINA

keys of G & C

keys of D & G

keys of A & D

[m3838]

Nobody set it in stone that you 'must' play in C on a G/D. Quite contrary. The whole idea of C/G, G/D etc. is to make an instrument, on which home keys are easy. So if you want C - C/G is for you etc. If you'd like to play in all the keys - there are other layouts for you. I made 20 button chromatic instrument, where home keys is still C, but G is modified to have all the accidentals in two octaves (except middle C#). Melody is accessible in all keys, but harmony playing is not.

If you want to play common tune in common key, it doesn't matter whether you have C/G or G/D. A key of Cmaj is still a key of Cmaj.

[pmmack]

Nobody set it in stone that you 'must' play in C on a G/D. Quite contrary. The whole idea of C/G, G/D etc. is to make an instrument, on which home keys are easy. So if you want C - C/G is for you etc. If you'd like to play in all the keys - there are other layouts for you. I made 20 button chromatic instrument, where home keys is still C, but G is modified to have all the accidentals in two octaves (except middle C#). Melody is accessible in all keys, but harmony playing is not.

If you want to play common tune in common key, it doesn't matter whether you have C/G or G/D. A key of Cmaj is still a key of Cmaj.

 

 

Thanks!

 

That answers my question. I am getting better at playing across the rows, but still prefer to stick to the home keys. Accidentals are great, but I just enjoy playing around whatever notes are lacking.

 

Makes so much more sense to my "piper brain", as we do the same thing to get certain tunes on the Highland pipes, whether Great or smallpipes.