Advice for an accordionist at how to use an Anglo concertina.

[Jaime_Dergut]

Hello everyone,
recently, I've been playing for an irish band around my area and they are fascinated that I play the accordion.
However, some of them asked me if I would be interested in also playing the Anglo Concertina for the sessions.

So, my question is: How different is to play the concertina for an accordionist? Will it be a nice combo or should I rather focus on the accordion?

Personally, I love my accordions and I will never put it second to another instrument, but I must admit that the concertina sounds interesting and has its advantages (I could carry it alongside the accordion at the same time with both hands, let alone take it to an airplane easily).

I would appreciate your advice and whatever wisdom you can share.

Thank you for your attention.

Jaime

ps: This is the concertina I was suggested to buy. Looks pretty neat and made in Ireland, which is a welcome change.

 

[Dingo40]

Hi Jaime,
I'm no expert on concertinas but it seems to me they and accordions would be like chalk and cheese to play: there would be very little in the way of direct transfer of skill.

 

[vivdunstan]

I’m a long time (45+ years playing) piano accordionist. A year or so ago I got an Anglo C/G 30 button concertina to learn it. My Yorkshire granddad played the concertina long ago. I find them interesting complementary instruments. The push/pull of the Anglo is a contrast to my accordion, but I find it an interesting challenge. I am used to handling bellows, which helps. And I tend to play harmonic arrangements which reflects my accordion chord background. I would say it can be a fun thing to do. The concertina is also a very nice compact instrument. If you do get one I recommend checking out some of Gary Coover’s Anglo concertina books, which use a very helpful notation, and cover a large range of tunes. I like experimenting on my wee squeezebox and have started arranging new tunes for it. Much fun.

 

[vivdunstan]

there would be very little in the way of direct transfer of skill.

Bellows and juggling two sides at once is easier for an accordionist taking up the concertina in my experience. With the Anglo the big difference is the different notes on push/pull. But the concertina does have a surprising amount in common with bigger squeezeboxes.

 

[dunlustin]

This place:

McNeela Music - Irish Musical Instruments | Shop Accordions, Bodhrans, Concertinas & More

Discover a wide range of high-quality Irish musical instruments at McNeela Music. Shop accordions, bodhrans, concertinas, and more. Trusted since 1979. Free shipping available.

mcneelamusic.com

probably has the widest selection of Anglos aimed at the Irish market, so maybe look at other instruments they have.

Try

Concertina.net Discussion Forums

www.concertina.net

As the source for all things Concertina but beware it can be addictive.

Apart from a bellows there is very little common ground between Anglo and PA.

I believe the Wren is a beginner 'box' - players of Irish music seem to trade up pretty quickly, speed seems to be the thing.
Two basic styles: Irish and Harmonic. Be sure to get the right learning material - some free mat'l around on line. Irish favours the Jeffries layout, others care less

 

[Jaime_Dergut]

Hi Jaime,
I'm no expert on concertinas but it seems to me they and accordions would be like chalk and cheese to play: there would be very little in the way of direct transfer of skill.

I think so too. It should be natural to believe that, but you never know for sure. Right?

Sometimes, things that look obvious are that simple.

 

[Jaime_Dergut]

I’m a long time (45+ years playing) piano accordionist. A year or so ago I got an Anglo C/G 30 button concertina to learn it. My Yorkshire granddad played the concertina long ago. I find them interesting complementary instruments. The push/pull of the Anglo is a contrast to my accordion, but I find it an interesting challenge. I am used to handling bellows, which helps. And I tend to play harmonic arrangements which reflects my accordion chord background. I would say it can be a fun thing to do. The concertina is also a very nice compact instrument. If you do get one I recommend checking out some of Gary Coover’s Anglo concertina books, which use a very helpful notation, and cover a large range of tunes. I like experimenting on my wee squeezebox and have started arranging new tunes for it. Much fun.

I also see it as a challenge.
Since getting a Chromatic button accordion could be kind of inconvenient in the USA, maybe a concertina could serve as a practical complementary instrument.

Besides, a woman friend of mine said it looks cute so that could be a bonus, ha.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Jaime_Dergut]

This place:

McNeela Music - Irish Musical Instruments | Shop Accordions, Bodhrans, Concertinas & More

Discover a wide range of high-quality Irish musical instruments at McNeela Music. Shop accordions, bodhrans, concertinas, and more. Trusted since 1979. Free shipping available.

mcneelamusic.com

probably has the widest selection of Anglos aimed at the Irish market, so maybe look at other instruments they have.

Try

Concertina.net Discussion Forums

www.concertina.net

As the source for all things Concertina but beware it can be addictive.

Apart from a bellows there is very little common ground between Anglo and PA.

I believe the Wren is a beginner 'box' - players of Irish music seem to trade up pretty quickly, speed seems to be the thing.
Two basic styles: Irish and Harmonic. Be sure to get the right learning material - some free mat'l around on line. Irish favours the Jeffries layout, others care less

I'll take a look at those, thank you.

The concertina seems pretty convenient to carry around as complementary instrument so I might just get one from them. I will decided tonight.

 

[TomBR]

Maybe too late but here goes anyway.
Apart from familiarity with bellows there is virtually nothing that will transfer from piano accordion to anglo concertina when it comes to playing tunes. Getting up to "session speed" for playing Irish music on anglo will take a long time.

If the main focus is playing along with songs then the anglo shouldn't take too long BUT in the normal keys D/G/A you'll be playing across the rows from the start.
I'd suggest considering a G/D concertina if you can find one, it'll give you a much faster entry to cheery tune playing.

All that said, C/G anglo concertina is a wonderful little instrument in so many ways, but it takes some learning!
Good luck!

 

[Jim2010]

If you haven't already purchased, the English concertina is also widely used in ITM and may be an easier complementary instrument for you since it is chromatic rather than diatonic. As mentioned by others, concertina.net is a great resource.

 

[cat]

Several different types of concertinas. If you would like something similar to an 'accordion' the various 'duet' type layouts are the way to go: these are unisonoric with bass in the left hand and treble in the right. English concertina is also unisonoric but with alternating (right/left) scalar patterns, so perhaps not as immediately intuitive for an accordionist. For traditional Irish session tunes, anglo is the bog standard, but you'd have to come to grips with a bisonoric system.

I started on anglo, so playing diatonic button accordions - also bisonoric - is much the same.

 

[Jaime_Dergut]

Thansk everyone for the comments.
I already ordered an Anglo concertina from McNeela instruments, the Wren 2.

Let's see how it plays. I think it would be a nice complementary instrument due to its size and portability.

 

[TomBR]

Good luck Jaime, I hope you'll really enjoy it.
Anglo concertina is a fascinating musical Rubik's Cube!

(I like the description of an Anglo as "a twittering black caterpillar.")

The forces involved in playing Anglo are tiny but be careful to relax! I didn't and gave myself shoulder problems.

 

[Jaime_Dergut]

Good luck Jaime, I hope you'll really enjoy it.
Anglo concertina is a fascinating musical Rubik's Cube!

(I like the description of an Anglo as "a twittering black caterpillar.")

The forces involved in playing Anglo are tiny but be careful to relax! I didn't and gave myself shoulder problems.

Thank you, Tom.

While I was reading older threads here about the concertine, I saw some of yours where you mentioned to have experienced some painful injuries while practicing.

Can you please tell me more about it? Also, what should I avoid in order to not injure myself while learning the concertina?

 

[Tom]

Thank you, Tom.

While I was reading older threads here about the concertine, I saw some of yours where you mentioned to have experienced some painful injuries while practicing.

Can you please tell me more about it? Also, what should I avoid in order to not injure myself while learning the concertina?

Hi Jaime,
Main advice I have is to be real careful about your posture while playing. Concentrate on keeping your spine and neck straight and don't tip your head to the front or the side. Try to sit comfortably on the front of your chair with your knees at a right angle and your weight on your feet.

 

[TomBR]

Hi Jaime, the other Tom has given some good advice in the meantime!
Yes, I think because I was trying very hard but the actual amount of force needed to operate the concertina is very small I was tensing against myself. I can't remember the details but I gave myself something similar to "frozen shoulder" which was surprisingly painful. Some physio exercises sorted the problem quite quickly.
I don't think it would be a problem for most people, just give the shoulders a wiggle and shake out tension in the arms every so often - and follow other Tom from the USA's good advice!
Cheers
Tom

 

[Tom]

Oh, it was to the other Tom, sorry! Anyway, glad you've found some solution TomBR!

 

[TomBR]

Oh, it was to the other Tom, sorry! Anyway, glad you've found some solution TomBR!

No problem, your reply was more detailed than mine! And thanks.
T2