Question:
I want to learn to play the concertina, and my first problem is finding one.
I've never played any accordion or concertina before, so apart from the
trouble of finding one at all, is choosing which type.
I know from playing the harmonica that I get frustrated at not having a
full chromatic scale. This leads me to think that maybe I should get an
English concertina, or a duet (I think those have the full scale, right?)
As for learning to play, I have to rely on the only person I know who plays
the concertina in Sweden (though he is certainly not the only one - any
Swedes read this?), and he has an Anglo.
So, my questions are:
1. What is a good choice of instrument for me?
2. Where can I buy one, preferably used, preferably not too expensive?
3. Any good books for beginners to learn from?
Answer:
Yes -- both do, though the Duet is usually more complex to learn, I
believe
Well ... since you are being frustrated by the limitations of an
anglo, you would probably find the English more natural. However, the
really good players of the anglo, with a three-row box, are able to play in
almost any key. They have to learn, for their individual box, since there
are variations in the setup of the boxes, at least two fingerings for each
key -- one entirely on the draw, and one entirely on the press. Sometimes
additional fingerings can be helpful in handling some tunes.You will pay more for a used good instrument than for a new cheap
one. However, your instrument's value will in all probabily at least hold
stable, or perhaps appreciate.
I don't know too many sources over there. One in England to whom I
have talked is Chris Alger (Barleycorn Concertinas). You can find a link
from my web page (URL in my .sig below) to his web page, and from there, you
can find his phone number (since e-mail to him is handled in a very
roundabout way, involving fax at one point. :-) Those who I know have dealt
with him have been very pleased with the results.
Check with Chris Timson's "Concertina FAQ" for other vendors.
Mos that I know are here in the USA, and would probably be a bit awkward for
you, given the distance.
This is going to depend on what instrument you pick up. The English
system is very easy to map onto the musical staff (the image of the buttons
can be superimposed directly, to make things easier to learn). Anglo can
be played simply in the keys supported by the first two rows, but beyond
that, it is a matter of learning your own instrument. I think that Chris
Timson's "Concertina FAQ" also lists some tutors.
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