Slipery Fingers

[ragtimer]

Slipping fingertips. It should not be too difficult to cap the buttons with some sort of non-slip material... (plastic/rubber). The capping could be domed, flat or even slightly concave...not permanently glued to the buttons but close-fitting caps. Not so tight as to prevent their removal if unsuccessful. Just a thought.

Concave seems like the right way to go. PC and typewriter keyboards have ussd concave keys since their beginnings, it seems.

 

However, slightly domed (convex) keytops make it easier to glisssando glide from one note to the next -- very handy when you run out of fingers and have to cheat a little, but don't want to sacrifice the legato smoothness of the passage.

 

In your case, staying on the correct original button is most important, so concave should work for you.

--mike k.

Edited April 29, 2009 by ragtimer

[tony]

You could try spraying your hands with deodorant.

[Patrick King]

Hello all,

 

I started to have the problem of sweaty finger-tips, and that would cause my fingers to slip-off the keys on my C/G Morse, 32-Key (same layout as the Jeffries C/G;) and at the same time I would get sweaty palm, which would be extemely annoying with the sweaty fingers. I started to wash and dry my hands very thoroughly when this problem first started (8 moths exactly ) and it worked for a while. It then came back again after using that method for about 5 months . I then thought it was probably caused due to the fact that I would play along to recordings that were on my computer in my room. Now, my room is a fairly small one (but I get to have it to myself because I'm 15 .) I got to thinking it was due to the fact that there was only 1 window in my room, so therefore, it isn't very well-ventilated at all. So, my journey goes to the outside world, of sitting down on a comfortable wooden chair, playing melodies along with the birds. ( or so it used to be before those Indian Myna Birds hunted all the other birds away. There are only the occasional magpie, parrot, and Rosella; those Indian Myna birds are the reason we're going to try get hold of a few traps to decrease their population ) Anyway, playing outside... the sweat-bath has had it's revenge.

 

I was wondering if anyone could give me any facts on how to stop my hands from sweating all the time, or possibly give me some suggestions. It is ruining my favourite time of the day. Please help.

 

Best Wishes to all,

Patrick

 

Slipping fingertips. It should not be too difficult to cap the buttons with some sort of non-slip material... (plastic/rubber). The capping could be domed, flat or even slightly concave...not permanently glued to the buttons but close-fitting caps. Not so tight as to prevent their removal if unsuccessful. Just a thought.

Thanks all,

 

Though I didn't want to go so far as renovating my buttons on my concertina, Rod. Thanks for the suggestion anyway. I think I may try the deodorant. I'm nearly out of it, I should've got some yesterday when I went into town with everyone else.

 

I will let you all know how the ideas go,

Thanks,

Patrick

 

P.S. I'll try and get a picture of my concertina as my profile picture today. I've had a bit of trouble with my camera, because I got it from the markets and it didn't come with a USB Cable, or software; even though it's got an SD Card slot, the device I use to look at my camera SD Card won't connect to my computer properly, so at the moment, I have no means of being able to put my pictures on my computer. Hopefully I will get it sorted out soon. and ahh... was does everyone think of my little 'wise saying' on my profile? Should I change it and write about myself? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Edited April 29, 2009 by Patrick King

[david_boveri]

Lisa said her fingers were slipping off the buttons.

 

Nope. Even when I come straight down on the buttons my fingers slip. Maybe the domed top of the buttons is too steep?

 

I may try a little rosin on my fingers and see if that helps.

 

I'll keep all the "sweaty finger" suggestions in mind too. I'm sure that will be an issue this summer.

 

well, i think it's hard to tell. your fingers can slip if you are pressing down fast, but they are not strong enough to maintain their own position. in other words, they could be flying wildly out of control, and not hitting as directly as you think.

 

i would try adjusting your technique in addition to trying to change the friction of your fingers. i am still trying to figure out how i like to have my fingers, but it is clear that just leaving them limp and relaxed as one is likely to do is not the most efficient approach. think of a piano playing... think of the tension and muscle strength it takes to get your fingers to hit down all the right notes AND with good articulation. i think the same thing goes for concertina. right now i'm pretty sure that good technique is to have a lot of tension in the fingers (a claw, if you will), but have a light touch on the buttons. i.e. the tension is keeping your fingers nimble and quick, yet not forceful. it has been my experience that this works best on piano, but not on flute.

 

like i said... that is what i am working on right now. i can't say it is the right answer, because i havent gotten the sort of articulation i want yet on the concertina. my fingers are not strong enough for the button control i want, so who knows what it will look like when my finger strength gets to where i'm hoping to be.

 

 

Hello all,

 

I started to have the problem of sweaty finger-tips, and that would cause my fingers to slip-off the keys on my C/G Morse, 32-Key (same layout as the Jeffries C/G;) and at the same time I would get sweaty palm, which would be extemely annoying with the sweaty fingers. I started to wash and dry my hands very thoroughly when this problem first started (8 moths exactly ) and it worked for a while. It then came back again after using that method for about 5 months . I then thought it was probably caused due to the fact that I would play along to recordings that were on my computer in my room. Now, my room is a fairly small one (but I get to have it to myself because I'm 15 .) I got to thinking it was due to the fact that there was only 1 window in my room, so therefore, it isn't very well-ventilated at all. So, my journey goes to the outside world, of sitting down on a comfortable wooden chair, playing melodies along with the birds. ( or so it used to be before those Indian Myna Birds hunted all the other birds away. There are only the occasional magpie, parrot, and rosella; those Indian Myna birds are the reason we're going to try get hold of a few traps to decrease their population ) Anyway, playing outside... the sweat-bath has had it's revenge.

 

I was wondering if anyone could give me any facts on how to stop my hands from sweating all the time, or possibly give me some suggestions. It is ruining my favourite time of the day. Please help.

 

Best Wishes to all,

Patrick

 

i've heard a suggestion of putting a quick, light coating of anti perspirant on your hangs and then wiping it off.

 

a quick search on google shows some people recommend washing your hands with soap and water and then trying them, which dries out your hands enough temporarily to overcome sweating. i might recommend washing them twice in a row if necessary (sometimes i do this when my hands feel greasy).

[Patrick King]

1. I don't want to renovate my concertina with plastic on the buttons.

2. Deodorant- I'm not going to try that just in case it causes any damage to the concertina itself even though it will be on my fingers.

3. I've tried washing my hands with water- though I haven't tried washing them with soap and water 2 times. Will let you know if it works.

 

4. I don't want to try changing anything on my buttons on my concertina because I own a very expensive concertina and don't/can't afford/ fork-out for repairs on it. Your dealing with a Morse concertina here; one that I waited 6 months for because I live in Australia. not my own home-brand concertina.

 

Any more suggestions? I'll try the soap and water 2 times tomorrow morning and let you know how it goes after trying it for a week.

 

Cheers,

Patrick

 

BTW- Promised to put a picture up, even though it's for my profile picture.

Edited June 30, 2009 by Patrick King

[LDT]

I have a similar problem...which is why I like my long nails..I get some grip stops my fingers sliding off. lol!

When I mentioned a similar problem on melodeon.net got a couple of suggestions.

http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,1880.0.html

[PeterT]

The important thing is that the tips of your fingers should strike directly downward on the centers of the buttons. Do they do that? If not, try slight adjustments to your hand and finger positions -- including flexing slightly the tip joints of the fingers -- to see if you can't come closer to that ideal. You could have Teflon against grease, and if you press straight down on the center, nothing should slip (anthropomorphically, because it shouldn't be able to decide which way to slip )

I have to say that, having read through this thread, I don't understand the "problem". Jim appears to have summed it up best, with his comment (above).

 

Here we are, with a "heatwave" in the UK (well, at least in the deep south), with temperatures and humidity well up. So, with sweaty hands (which brings back memories of summer festivals in years gone by), I've tried as hard as I can to get my fingers to slip off the buttons. I've not even managed it once.

 

So; what are my playing "conditions"?

 

(1) Angle of "attack" on the buttons is as described by Jim.

 

(2) Buttons are domed.

 

(3) Cross-section of the finger tip is much larger than the cross-section of the button, leaving impressions on the finger

tips after even a few seconds of playing.

 

(4) Fingers are generally on/off the buttons fairly quickly, and, as a result, there is very little "travel" on the buttons.

 

 

So; for those having problems, I would ask whether their playing "conditions" vary from what I have described above. Pay particular attention to where the impressions are left on the finger tips.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[Simon H]

Ok here's a way, I don't have a problem with this but I thought of this, tried it and it works. It won't damage your instrument and unlike talcum and deodorant there should be no particles that might get in the instrument.

 

Get some pva glue. Perfectly safe and non toxic. Apply smoothly to your fingertips. Allow to dry. This will form an invisible and ever-so-slightly tacky film on your fingers. Play instrument. Peel off/renew as necessary. This works on my nickel plated buttons. Different button materials may have different coefficient of friction with pva. If you want ultimate grip use copydex instead which is pure latex. also non toxic.

 

Dont use superglue/cyano or you and your instrument will be even closer bonded than before.

 

Peeling copydex off your hands is almost more fun than playing.

[drbones]

Ok here's a way, I don't have a problem with this but I thought of this, tried it and it works. It won't damage your instrument and unlike talcum and deodorant there should be no particles that might get in the instrument.

 

Get some pva glue. Perfectly safe and non toxic. Apply smoothly to your fingertips. Allow to dry. This will form an invisible and ever-so-slightly tacky film on your fingers. Play instrument. Peel off/renew as necessary. This works on my nickel plated buttons. Different button materials may have different coefficient of friction with pva. If you want ultimate grip use copydex instead which is pure latex. also non toxic.

 

Peeling copydex off your hands is almost more fun than playing.

I like this idea. You wouldn't even leave fingerprints on the instrument when playing. And if you suddenly decide go awry of the law and steal somone elses, they couldn't trace it to you!

[Stephen Chambers]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned button material in all this, since the only slipping problems I've ever experienced were with buttons made of delrin. I think they probably had a dull finish when the instrument left the maker's workshop, but by the time I was given it to play, that had become a highly polished gloss one from lots of playing - my only solution was to hand it back to its owner.

[Frank Edgley]

I think only one or two posts mentioned this, but it is the best solution: strengthen your fingers. This is a more long term solution---longer to achieve your goal, and longer lasting effects. If you have to keep putting "stuff" on your finger tips and later removing it, you will eventually get tired of this and the frequency of your playing will eventually decrease. It may work as a short term solution, however. Perseverence is the best way to achieve your long term goal. When your fingers are stronger, it will take less effort to keep your fingers from slipping. If your fingers are not strong, more effort is required, your fingers are more tense, and control suffers. Seventeen or so years ago, when I made up my mind that I needed to improve my playing, my little finger and ring finger kept slipping off the buttons. This was so frustrating I often had the urge to do something "unpleasant" with my Dipper. But fortunately, common sense, and economics won out over passion, and I kept at it. Eventually, (and it took quite a lot of practising) it paid off.

[david_boveri]

I think only one or two posts mentioned this, but it is the best solution: strengthen your fingers. This is a more long term solution---longer to achieve your goal, and longer lasting effects. If you have to keep putting "stuff" on your finger tips and later removing it, you will eventually get tired of this and the frequency of your playing will eventually decrease. It may work as a short term solution, however. Perseverence is the best way to achieve your long term goal. When your fingers are stronger, it will take less effort to keep your fingers from slipping. If your fingers are not strong, more effort is required, your fingers are more tense, and control suffers. Seventeen or so years ago, when I made up my mind that I needed to improve my playing, my little finger and ring finger kept slipping off the buttons. This was so frustrating I often had the urge to do something "unpleasant" with my Dipper. But fortunately, common sense, and economics won out over passion, and I kept at it. Eventually, (and it took quite a lot of practising) it paid off.

 

here here! i agree (and said so earlier, ;P). it is all to easy to forget finger control when playing the concertina.

 

i also dont think delrin should cause a problem. i have played around 30 or so concertinas (i've lost count), with all different sorts of buttons, and i have never played a concertina that i thought would cause me to slip.

Edited July 1, 2009 by david_boveri

[david_boveri]

Hello all,

 

I started to have the problem of sweaty finger-tips, and that would cause my fingers to slip-off the keys on my C/G Morse, 32-Key (same layout as the Jeffries C/G;) and at the same time I would get sweaty palm, which would be extemely annoying with the sweaty fingers. I started to wash and dry my hands very thoroughly when this problem first started (8 moths exactly ) and it worked for a while. It then came back again after using that method for about 5 months . I then thought it was probably caused due to the fact that I would play along to recordings that were on my computer in my room. Now, my room is a fairly small one (but I get to have it to myself because I'm 15 .) I got to thinking it was due to the fact that there was only 1 window in my room, so therefore, it isn't very well-ventilated at all. So, my journey goes to the outside world, of sitting down on a comfortable wooden chair, playing melodies along with the birds. ( or so it used to be before those Indian Myna Birds hunted all the other birds away. There are only the occasional magpie, parrot, and Rosella; those Indian Myna birds are the reason we're going to try get hold of a few traps to decrease their population ) Anyway, playing outside... the sweat-bath has had it's revenge.

 

I was wondering if anyone could give me any facts on how to stop my hands from sweating all the time, or possibly give me some suggestions. It is ruining my favourite time of the day. Please help.

 

Best Wishes to all,

Patrick

 

Slipping fingertips. It should not be too difficult to cap the buttons with some sort of non-slip material... (plastic/rubber). The capping could be domed, flat or even slightly concave...not permanently glued to the buttons but close-fitting caps. Not so tight as to prevent their removal if unsuccessful. Just a thought.

Thanks all,

 

Though I didn't want to go so far as renovating my buttons on my concertina, Rod. Thanks for the suggestion anyway. I think I may try the deodorant. I'm nearly out of it, I should've got some yesterday when I went into town with everyone else.

 

I will let you all know how the ideas go,

Thanks,

Patrick

 

soap here is key. keep in mind that you do not only have to contend with the sweat your fingers and palm are producing now, but the accumulated oil from throughout the day. also, make sure to use a good bath towel to dry--it will absorb the oil and of course moisture generated from washing. i would recommend a good lather and scrubbing, full rinse, and then repeat. i dont think it is necessary to dry your hands between washings, unless of course it still doesnt work. often times i wash my hands, dry, then play my concertina, only to find my hands still feel greasy. then i go back and wash again, and the problem is gone.

 

let us know how it works. i do have other suggestions, that will not harm your concertina or put on any residue, but we'll hold off to find if they are necessary.

 

P.S. I'll try and get a picture of my concertina as my profile picture today. I've had a bit of trouble with my camera, because I got it from the markets and it didn't come with a USB Cable, or software; even though it's got an SD Card slot, the device I use to look at my camera SD Card won't connect to my computer properly, so at the moment, I have no means of being able to put my pictures on my computer. Hopefully I will get it sorted out soon. and ahh... was does everyone think of my little 'wise saying' on my profile? Should I change it and write about myself? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

so, i assume that you did end up putting some info in about yourself? cuz i check your profile and it's got some info on you. i think that's pretty good! the saying is nice too. what sort of music do you play? i'm assuming irish...

Edited July 1, 2009 by david_boveri