Low D For Anglo Left-hand Thumb Button (drone Button)

[Michael Reid]

I have a 31-button C/G Anglo on order. I've been thinking about what note(s) to specify for the left-hand thumb ('drone') button. Middle C, both ways, is standard.

 

Nearly all of my playing is Irish traditional music. I've been working on incorporating the available low notes in my playing and I like the sound of them when used sparingly.

 

I've often wished for a low D (almost an octave below middle C), a note that's missing from standard C/G anglo layouts. Now I'm thinking about specifying that note for the thumb button. It seems like it would be useful in both directions, though I don't anticipate using it in true 'drone' fashion, i.e., holding on to it through bellows reversals.

 

I've read through other threads about drone buttons (like this one) without seeing any mention of low D's. So I'm looking for opinions, pro or con, on this idea. Thanks.

[Dave Weinstein]

I have a 31-button C/G Anglo on order. I've been thinking about what note(s) to specify for the left-hand thumb ('drone') button. Middle C, both ways, is standard.

 

Nearly all of my playing is Irish traditional music. I've been working on incorporating the available low notes in my playing and I like the sound of them when used sparingly.

 

I've often wished for a low D (almost an octave below middle C), a note that's missing from standard C/G anglo layouts. Now I'm thinking about specifying that note for the thumb button. It seems like it would be useful in both directions, though I don't anticipate using it in true 'drone' fashion, i.e., holding on to it through bellows reversals.

 

I've read through other threads about drone buttons (like this one) without seeing any mention of low D's. So I'm looking for opinions, pro or con, on this idea. Thanks.

 

I have a low D drone (D2, just shy of 2 octaves below Middle C).

 

I find I use it very sparingly; mostly to add a bass to a tune that I don't know the melody for but that is in D. I wouldn't want to not have it, but I don't use it as often as I thought I would when I set up the layout.

 

--Dave

[michael sam wild]

Has any one had a low D, or other low notes for that matter , added to the left hand side other than as a drone, I could do with one as I like to get down and dirty. I'm working on The Stoney Steps at the moment and it depends a lot on low notes with runs up and down , quite tricky I wonder if that's why it's called the stoney steps? There's a nice version by Anahata on CD that accompanies the Hardcore English book by Barry Callaghan

[michael sam wild]

By the wayI'm talking about a C/G concertina

[John Sylte]

I changed my left thumb C drone to a D drone for the same reasons. It's not a Low D mind you, just one step above middle C... It's redundant of course because there is a push D on the G row and a pull D on the C row on a standard C/G box, but it does give your thumb something to do. A Low D would be cool too... I had no use for a C drone.

[Anglo-Irishman]

I have a 31-button C/G Anglo on order. I've been thinking about what note(s) to specify for the left-hand thumb ('drone') button. Middle C, both ways, is standard.

...

Nearly all of my playing is Irish traditional music.

 

Michael,

I'm not into ITM - I only play normal music with harmonies and such like. Where the standard C/G 30-b concertina lets me down, is where a tune in C major modulates to F, and I want to do that with a hefty C7 chord. A partial C7 is available on the draw, but it's awkward and thin, so I'd like the 31st button to have a Bb on the press. Then I'd just have to drop my thumb to make a C7 out of a full C chord.

 

On the draw, I suppose the low D above the Anglo's bottom C would be nice to fill out the bass octave, which has already got C, E, F, G, A, Bb and B in it.

 

Or, perhaps, a foghorn for pepping shanties up a bit ...

 

Cheers,

John

[Kelteglow]

I have a 31-button C/G Anglo on order. I've been thinking about what note(s) to specify for the left-hand thumb ('drone') button. Middle C, both ways, is standard.

 

Nearly all of my playing is Irish traditional music. I've been working on incorporating the available low notes in my playing and I like the sound of them when used sparingly.

 

I've often wished for a low D (almost an octave below middle C), a note that's missing from standard C/G anglo layouts. Now I'm thinking about specifying that note for the thumb button. It seems like it would be useful in both directions, though I don't anticipate using it in true 'drone' fashion, i.e., holding on to it through bellows reversals.

 

I've read through other threads about drone buttons (like this one) without seeing any mention of low D's. So I'm looking for opinions, pro or con, on this idea. Thanks.

Hi Mike I also have had a simular problem see posting (28th June 08 ) . One of my C/G concertinas (32 Key AC Norman) has been altered so that the the pull D (Bottom of L/H side G Row) is now one octave lower it gives me an good " um pa " on the pull D cord I do not miss the pull A that was in that position .I would like to make the same change on my 36 Key Wheatstone .ATB Bob

[Michael Reid]

I also have had a simular problem see posting (28th June 08 )

Thanks to the pointer to that thread--I found it very helpful, and I'm now leaning toward getting my low D by displacing the low F in the accidentals row, as dpmccabe suggested. I use the A (first button in the G row) a lot, so I wouldn't want to do without that one.