I am thinking about buying my girlfriend a concertina but i don't anything about them. I play fiddle and accordion and she wants to start the tina. I was wondering what key/system/style is generally used for irish music? I would greatly appreciate any other advice that could be given on the subject. Thanks!!
First make sure you have a spare couple of thousand quid to get her first concertina. Then find out if she has any inheritance in the near future to afford a better concertina when she outgrows the one you got her. And make sure she’s an obsessive-compulsive person so she might stick with it.
Oh… and get a 3-row C/G Anglo concertina for her if she wants to play ITM. Don’t be tempted by the lower price for English system ones. There’s a reason they're cheaper, but we don’t really need to go into that here and now because it could stir something up.
Good luck.
P.S. Go to www.concertina.net for more advice on where to find a concertina and such.
AJ, where are you located? Depending on where you are, people here might be able to recommend shops where you might get a sense of the possibilities (and prices).
Before you decide,let your girlfriend try all three different systems.some people get on with one system better than another,not everyone gets on with the push pull system of the anglo,the same applies to the English and theDuet.
The reason why the anglo was originally chosen was because at the time it was cheap,and Irish people did not have much money,it makes no difference.
[imo] Irish music Can beplayed successfully on all three systems.a former all Irish Champion Madeline O Dowdplayed the English.
Hey dick, when I started out many of the people around me at the time played Irish music on the English system. I was considering switching to English myself, but then I realized that the players in Ireland who inspired me in the first place were all playing C/G Anglos. I decided to stick with the Anglo and I'm glad I did. Many of the people who played English switched to Anglo when they realized the same thing. People I know who still play the English system have worked hard to make it emulate the sound of an Anglo.
So I'd say that even though it's possible to play Irish tunes on an English system, the Anglo is clearly more desirable for more reasons than it happened to be the one that was more available when it was picked up by "Irish people who didn't have much money." Isn’t it also very telling that as Irish music became more popular that the demand for Anglo instruments far exceeds that of English systems? I really don’t think it can be dismissed as simply being a misconception about the history of the concertina in Irish music.
My advice is that you choose the system based on the source of your inspiration. If you were inspired by Irish music being played on an English system, then that might be a better choice. But if Anglo players inspired you – then an Anglo is obviously a better choice.
I've played English concertina since the early 1980s. Over the past 10 years my interests have become ever more concentrated on Irish traditional music. And not quite four years ago I took up Anglo -- because playing Irish on English just wasn't fully satisfying, and the players whose music really excited me played Anglo.
Technique-wise, I'm still better (faster, more accurate) on English than Anglo. But I now play Anglo almost exclusively, and musically I'm happier than ever.
[can you play in every key?]
technically, yes, though some keys will be a tough go. but that should not be a worry, because you decidedly can play in the primary traditional irish keys with ease. (twenty button concertinas, are NOT fully chromatic.)
but that reminds me. i don't believe you've said what type of music your friend is interested in. if it's traditional irish tunes, go for the anglo and do english only as a last choice if anglo for some reason can't be done by this person. english concertina is beautiful , but it sounds much better for classical than traditional dance music (though that's not to say you can't play the latter well on it). more importantly, if it really is irish your friend is going for, anglo is the primary type used for irish.
i see there is a used ac norman anglo concertina available on the homewood site for $1350. if the concertina is little used and in pristine shape, that is a good price for a high-quality starter concertina. (i have no connection with this listing. i just think if the concertina is pristine, it's a decent price. normans have fast, riveted button action and are great for irish music.)
it is simply sick how much fun and how addictive this instrument is.
I don't have personal experience with the likes of the eBay concertina mentioned above, but there's a strong consensus among the concertina.net community that most, if not all, of those eBay bargain instruments are junk. Problems with unplayable notes, wrong tuning, and worse are common.
The Rochelle from Concertina Connection is a bargain instrument, but one that is under the quality control of a reputable maker and restorer. In Europe, you can buy from http://www.concertinaconnection.com. In the U.S., you can buy one from The Button Box (www.buttonbox.com) or Tedrow Concertinas (hmi.homewood.net/#Tedrow_Concertinas). Any of these dealers will make sure you get an instrument that is set up properly, and they will help you through any problems. I haven't played a Rochelle but I have played its English sibling, the 'Jackie,' and it is a great value.
But, as Phantom Button said near the top of this thread, be aware that good concertinas are expensive. A 'keeper' will likely cost you at least $1500 and perhaps a good deal more.
When you are practised across the rows, Beserker, it is feasible to manage Bb through to A on a C/G so you will have no problems burning melodion players off the map.
Phantombutton
There is much sense in what yousay,
of course I play Northumbrian music as well[which IMO ]suits the English],and also use the English a lot for song accompaniment[again I think it is agood instrument for this]TheEnglish concertina[imo]is better for airs
and is equally as good for all other tune types .
I still think it is good advice to try the systems first.
some people genuinely cant get along with one system .
Instead of buying the concertina for her,would it not be better to take her to a music shop and let her try the instruments out
Hi, I am upgrading from a starter concertina to next level. How does Morse compare against a Lachenal. The Morse is a little bit less expensive than Lachenal but is it worth it and would Morse hold it's value if I decided to trade up in a few years. Thanks for your help which is appreciated.
Concertinas
Concertinas
Hey all
I am thinking about buying my girlfriend a concertina but i don't anything about them. I play fiddle and accordion and she wants to start the tina. I was wondering what key/system/style is generally used for irish music? I would greatly appreciate any other advice that could be given on the subject. Thanks!!
AJ
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by berserker
Re: Concertinas
First make sure you have a spare couple of thousand quid to get her first concertina. Then find out if she has any inheritance in the near future to afford a better concertina when she outgrows the one you got her. And make sure she’s an obsessive-compulsive person so she might stick with it.
Oh… and get a 3-row C/G Anglo concertina for her if she wants to play ITM. Don’t be tempted by the lower price for English system ones. There’s a reason they're cheaper, but we don’t really need to go into that here and now because it could stir something up.
Good luck.
P.S. Go to www.concertina.net for more advice on where to find a concertina and such.
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: Concertinas
AJ, where are you located? Depending on where you are, people here might be able to recommend shops where you might get a sense of the possibilities (and prices).
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by boxist
Re: Concertinas
The "Rochelle" 30 button Anglo from Concertina Connection is supposed to be pretty good (I don't know first hand, however) and are very inexpensive.
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by PatrickJWK
Re: Concertinas
Before you decide,let your girlfriend try all three different systems.some people get on with one system better than another,not everyone gets on with the push pull system of the anglo,the same applies to the English and theDuet.
The reason why the anglo was originally chosen was because at the time it was cheap,and Irish people did not have much money,it makes no difference.
[imo] Irish music Can beplayed successfully on all three systems.a former all Irish Champion Madeline O Dowdplayed the English.
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Dick Miles
Re: Concertinas
if she does not paly currently, how would she be expected to know which one she gets along best with?
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Sunnybear
Re: Concertinas
"play"
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Sunnybear
Re: Concertinas
Hey dick, when I started out many of the people around me at the time played Irish music on the English system. I was considering switching to English myself, but then I realized that the players in Ireland who inspired me in the first place were all playing C/G Anglos. I decided to stick with the Anglo and I'm glad I did. Many of the people who played English switched to Anglo when they realized the same thing. People I know who still play the English system have worked hard to make it emulate the sound of an Anglo.
So I'd say that even though it's possible to play Irish tunes on an English system, the Anglo is clearly more desirable for more reasons than it happened to be the one that was more available when it was picked up by "Irish people who didn't have much money." Isn’t it also very telling that as Irish music became more popular that the demand for Anglo instruments far exceeds that of English systems? I really don’t think it can be dismissed as simply being a misconception about the history of the concertina in Irish music.
My advice is that you choose the system based on the source of your inspiration. If you were inspired by Irish music being played on an English system, then that might be a better choice. But if Anglo players inspired you – then an Anglo is obviously a better choice.
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: Concertinas
What Phantom said (really well).
I've played English concertina since the early 1980s. Over the past 10 years my interests have become ever more concentrated on Irish traditional music. And not quite four years ago I took up Anglo -- because playing Irish on English just wasn't fully satisfying, and the players whose music really excited me played Anglo.
Technique-wise, I'm still better (faster, more accurate) on English than Anglo. But I now play Anglo almost exclusively, and musically I'm happier than ever.
# Posted on September 17th 2007 by boxist
Re: Concertinas
There's a 30-button Anglo starter concertina for sale on EBay right now for $124.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220150376699&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&refitem=150160054593&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget
# Posted on September 18th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: Concertinas
I am located in Green Bay Wisconsin but am moving to dublin ireland in 11 days
# Posted on September 18th 2007 by berserker
Re: Concertinas
Can you play in every key?
# Posted on September 18th 2007 by berserker
Re: Concertinas
[can you play in every key?]
technically, yes, though some keys will be a tough go. but that should not be a worry, because you decidedly can play in the primary traditional irish keys with ease. (twenty button concertinas, are NOT fully chromatic.)
but that reminds me. i don't believe you've said what type of music your friend is interested in. if it's traditional irish tunes, go for the anglo and do english only as a last choice if anglo for some reason can't be done by this person. english concertina is beautiful , but it sounds much better for classical than traditional dance music (though that's not to say you can't play the latter well on it). more importantly, if it really is irish your friend is going for, anglo is the primary type used for irish.
i see there is a used ac norman anglo concertina available on the homewood site for $1350. if the concertina is little used and in pristine shape, that is a good price for a high-quality starter concertina. (i have no connection with this listing. i just think if the concertina is pristine, it's a decent price. normans have fast, riveted button action and are great for irish music.)
it is simply sick how much fun and how addictive this instrument is.
# Posted on September 18th 2007 by ceemonster
Re: Concertinas
I don't have personal experience with the likes of the eBay concertina mentioned above, but there's a strong consensus among the concertina.net community that most, if not all, of those eBay bargain instruments are junk. Problems with unplayable notes, wrong tuning, and worse are common.
The Rochelle from Concertina Connection is a bargain instrument, but one that is under the quality control of a reputable maker and restorer. In Europe, you can buy from http://www.concertinaconnection.com. In the U.S., you can buy one from The Button Box (www.buttonbox.com) or Tedrow Concertinas (hmi.homewood.net/#Tedrow_Concertinas). Any of these dealers will make sure you get an instrument that is set up properly, and they will help you through any problems. I haven't played a Rochelle but I have played its English sibling, the 'Jackie,' and it is a great value.
But, as Phantom Button said near the top of this thread, be aware that good concertinas are expensive. A 'keeper' will likely cost you at least $1500 and perhaps a good deal more.
# Posted on September 18th 2007 by boxist
Re: Concertinas
Go for a Rochelle for starters - under 200 quid.
When you are practised across the rows, Beserker, it is feasible to manage Bb through to A on a C/G so you will have no problems burning melodion players off the map.
# Posted on September 18th 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Concertinas
Phantombutton
There is much sense in what yousay,
of course I play Northumbrian music as well[which IMO ]suits the English],and also use the English a lot for song accompaniment[again I think it is agood instrument for this]TheEnglish concertina[imo]is better for airs
and is equally as good for all other tune types .
I still think it is good advice to try the systems first.
some people genuinely cant get along with one system .
Instead of buying the concertina for her,would it not be better to take her to a music shop and let her try the instruments out
# Posted on September 18th 2007 by Dick Miles
Re: Concertinas
Hi, I am upgrading from a starter concertina to next level. How does Morse compare against a Lachenal. The Morse is a little bit less expensive than Lachenal but is it worth it and would Morse hold it's value if I decided to trade up in a few years. Thanks for your help which is appreciated.
# Posted on November 30th 2009 by GAZEBO