Which is more popular in sessions, the concertina or the box? Furthermore, which instrument is more welcome?
Are there reasons for peoples preferences ie. volume or tone?
A concertina will, at least, not drown out everyone else.
Boxes are good in open-air unamplified situations.
I grow increasingly aware that a session is one where you communicate and co-operate. Any instrument that dominates is unwelcome, in my opinion, by undermining the whole ethos of the situation.
( Don't get me started on tenor banjos ! )
I think I prefer the tone of the concertina too.
Pete, I've never thought the button box dominated to that extent.
I've sometimes found this a problem with PA if the bass is over emphasised, which tends to be much more of a problem with scottish style playing but rarely with button box.
The loudest instruments I've heard in sessions other than GHB or some border pipes have been certain concertinas. But I have heard more examples of concertinas that could have done with being louder.
Both are fine. Personally I prefer box, but I prefer button box to just about anything.
Tenor banjo doesn't have to be loud. I've never been told I was too loud in a session when playing the banjo. I've been told on many occasions I wasn't loud enough. I'd actually like to be able to play a bit louder for when the ocassion necessitated it (very loud pub etc), but generally I'm quite happy blending in.
As a concertina player, I have played in pub sessions in circumstances similar to those described above.
More than once I have been accused of playing with myself, especially when the concertina couldn´t be heard above the other instruments.
I can assure you, I wasn´t !
I love when there's concertinas in a session. To be honest i HATE it when a big paulo soprano accordion comes into a session and ruins the sound. I know i'm not alone on this one.
Concertinas over box anyday
I guess the reason I posted this thread is that there does'nt seem to be as many Irish box players locally. But it seems that there are a few more Irish concertina players.
I wondered if there might be a simple reason for this - group preference.
I'm just learning the b/c , and I'd hate to find out later that other sessioners secretly (or not so secretly) dislike the inclusion of a box.
There seems to be a good bit of division in the opinions, and in some cases, indifference - which pleases me . I realize that accordion is not everyone's cup of tea, but think that's part of what makes it special.
I noticed on a previous thread that leachim had rated box on the second tier of instruments- under fiddle, flute, and two others..... and wondered if there was a ranking between conc. and box.
I think the volume issue isn't limited to free reed instruments; an instrument loses tone and finesse when pushed too hard. I used to play my concertina much harder in the early years, and now I have backed off a considerable amount and find it easier to play as a result and the sound is more pleasing to my ears anyway. Box players can also back off and lend a lovely texture to the overall sound when they do. I think the trick is to always listen for the fiddle; if you can't hear it--you're too loud.
Regarding the tenor banjo: this is a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde sort of instrument. When played softly it has a lovely bounce to the sound, but when played aggressively the tone transforms into something evil. I've heard people playing softly along with tunes at sessions and sounding great, and then when asked to lead a tune suddenly sounding like they're playing a different instrument all together because they're playing with so much force that the pitch becomes distorted on account of the string being plucked really hard and there's this awful metallic clatter.
Even the meek and humble whistle can go from sounding sweet to sounding shrill and screechy when played too hard. I think the bottom line is any instrument is capable of being either desirable or despised at a session depending on how it's played.
Don't worry, anvil. Accordions - and all trad. instruments - will generally be welcome if they are played decently and blend in with and don't overpower the other instruments.
But tread carefully. If you have a low voice on your box, cut it out until you're _very_ sure of the session you are playing in.
I can be as ambivalent as anyone about accordions, even if I play one. But concertinas can pierce your eardrums like nothing else.
Box vs. Concertina
Box vs. Concertina
Which is more popular in sessions, the concertina or the box? Furthermore, which instrument is more welcome?
Are there reasons for peoples preferences ie. volume or tone?
# Posted on November 11th 2009 by anvilcoyote
Re: Box vs. Concertina
A concertina will, at least, not drown out everyone else.
Boxes are good in open-air unamplified situations.
I grow increasingly aware that a session is one where you communicate and co-operate. Any instrument that dominates is unwelcome, in my opinion, by undermining the whole ethos of the situation.
( Don't get me started on tenor banjos ! )
I think I prefer the tone of the concertina too.
# Posted on November 11th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Box vs. Concertina
Pete, I've never thought the button box dominated to that extent.
I've sometimes found this a problem with PA if the bass is over emphasised, which tends to be much more of a problem with scottish style playing but rarely with button box.
The loudest instruments I've heard in sessions other than GHB or some border pipes have been certain concertinas. But I have heard more examples of concertinas that could have done with being louder.
Both are fine. Personally I prefer box, but I prefer button box to just about anything.
Tenor banjo doesn't have to be loud. I've never been told I was too loud in a session when playing the banjo. I've been told on many occasions I wasn't loud enough. I'd actually like to be able to play a bit louder for when the ocassion necessitated it (very loud pub etc), but generally I'm quite happy blending in.
- chris
# Posted on November 11th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Box vs. Concertina
A Jeffries anglo has every chance of drowning everyone out. The reeds are specially designed to be shrill.
Rest assured, any shakey-egg will not be inaudible.
# Posted on November 11th 2009 by geoffwright
Re: Box vs. Concertina
I find the presence of concertina players at sessions disconcerting
you can't see the intrument as they sit close to tables with the concertina on their knees
all you see is a persron with a vacant expresson apparently fiddling his lower torso
only joking chaps......some of my best friends play concertinas
# Posted on November 11th 2009 by millionyears_bc
Re: Box vs. Concertina
As a concertina player, I have played in pub sessions in circumstances similar to those described above.
More than once I have been accused of playing with myself, especially when the concertina couldn´t be heard above the other instruments.
I can assure you, I wasn´t !
# Posted on November 11th 2009 by murfbox
Re: Box vs. Concertina
there's an alternative position
one player I know holds the concertina high - close to the face with the bellows at mouth level
looks like a big squirrel with a nut
fewer accusations of perversion perhaps, but more chance of being shot as a pest?
# Posted on November 11th 2009 by millionyears_bc
Re: Box vs. Concertina
Don't understand the reason for the thread.
Boxes and contertinas are pretty standard. How they are played is like with any other instrument. Badly played is unacceptable.
# Posted on November 12th 2009 by zippydw
Re: Box vs. Concertina
I love when there's concertinas in a session. To be honest i HATE it when a big paulo soprano accordion comes into a session and ruins the sound. I know i'm not alone on this one.
Concertinas over box anyday
# Posted on November 12th 2009 by fineflautist
Re: Box vs. Concertina
Both are somewhat rare around here, and both are welcome!
# Posted on November 13th 2009 by AlBrown
Re: Box vs. Concertina
With box ~ I sit to the right of the good players; to the left of the improvers.
# Posted on November 13th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: Box vs. Concertina
I guess the reason I posted this thread is that there does'nt seem to be as many Irish box players locally. But it seems that there are a few more Irish concertina players.
I wondered if there might be a simple reason for this - group preference.
I'm just learning the b/c , and I'd hate to find out later that other sessioners secretly (or not so secretly) dislike the inclusion of a box.
There seems to be a good bit of division in the opinions, and in some cases, indifference - which pleases me . I realize that accordion is not everyone's cup of tea, but think that's part of what makes it special.
I noticed on a previous thread that leachim had rated box on the second tier of instruments- under fiddle, flute, and two others..... and wondered if there was a ranking between conc. and box.
# Posted on November 13th 2009 by anvilcoyote
Re: Box vs. Concertina
I think the volume issue isn't limited to free reed instruments; an instrument loses tone and finesse when pushed too hard. I used to play my concertina much harder in the early years, and now I have backed off a considerable amount and find it easier to play as a result and the sound is more pleasing to my ears anyway. Box players can also back off and lend a lovely texture to the overall sound when they do. I think the trick is to always listen for the fiddle; if you can't hear it--you're too loud.
Regarding the tenor banjo: this is a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde sort of instrument. When played softly it has a lovely bounce to the sound, but when played aggressively the tone transforms into something evil. I've heard people playing softly along with tunes at sessions and sounding great, and then when asked to lead a tune suddenly sounding like they're playing a different instrument all together because they're playing with so much force that the pitch becomes distorted on account of the string being plucked really hard and there's this awful metallic clatter.
Even the meek and humble whistle can go from sounding sweet to sounding shrill and screechy when played too hard. I think the bottom line is any instrument is capable of being either desirable or despised at a session depending on how it's played.
# Posted on November 13th 2009 by Phantom Button
Re: Box vs. Concertina
Don't worry, anvil. Accordions - and all trad. instruments - will generally be welcome if they are played decently and blend in with and don't overpower the other instruments.
But tread carefully. If you have a low voice on your box, cut it out until you're _very_ sure of the session you are playing in.
I can be as ambivalent as anyone about accordions, even if I play one. But concertinas can pierce your eardrums like nothing else.
# Posted on November 13th 2009 by Jeeves Tones