Or the Stack of Barley was another one that came fairly easily, I think. I looked at your profile and it looks like you play the fiddle. Take a simple tune that you have been playing for a long time, one that you have in your head really well. What I found was that I could easily lose the thread of the tune as I mis-played it.
Quite right Jode, simplest tunes with the fewest notes, played simply should be the order of the day. For example The Drops of Brandy must be about the easiest tune of them all Bertie - you can play it using only 5 buttons!
I just started 3 weeks ago C/G Jeffries layout. Took Edel Fox's class (great teacher!) at the Catskills. I'm finding tunes in G to be much easier than tunes in D because you don't need to go to the third row for the C#s.
A key point: the vast majority of the melody notes are played on the 8 buttons that lie under the first two fingers on the C and G rows, plus the c#s using the first two fingers of the right hand on the third row. Use these unless they lead to a fingering or bellows problem that you need to look elsewhere to solve. Use the B and d on the left hand (G row) when adjacent to a c# (all pushes).
Though I am absolutely confident that I will end up regretting this later...try putting the Britches on the concertina. Despite the taboo it recieves in our area, it is a good simple tune not without its charm. Just play it in G, not A major. With C and G sharps it would be murder. I think I remember hearing that the Road to Lisdoonvarna was a starter tune for concertina players, though I could be wrong.
While I think about it, another easy 5 Button tune in G is this wee, well kent, Polka:
X: 1
T: I Have A Bonnet Trimmed With Blue
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Gmaj
G A/B/ c|d/e/ dG B2|d e/d/ cA|GBBA|
G A/B/ c|d/e/ dG B2|d e/d/ cA|AGG2:|
d e/f/ g f/e/|dGB2|d e/d/ cA|GBBc|
d e/f/ g f/e/|dGB2|d e/d/ cA|AGG2:|
Bertie, here's another easy enough wee Polka that can be played using only 4 of those Buttons already mentioned - the three on the LHS & just the top button on the RHS.
Sorry I don't remember the name!
X: 1
T: canny mind the name!
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Gmaj
||G2A/Bd ef g2 f/|edBd e/f/e/d/BA|
G2A/Bd ef g2 f/|edBA G2 G2:||
||gfed efg2f/|edBd e/f/e/d/Bd|
gfed efg2f/|edBA G2 G2:||
The two things I learned the most from are Mick Bramitchs book (with slowish speed cd)
and Mary Macnamaras 2 cds (she plays with very few ornaments, but you may want to slow them down a little for starters)
Longer term advice -
learn to play in g on the c row
learn c & g tunes with both hands at once
get a mentor to start explaining cross-fingering (a lifetimes work as everyone has different ideas)
go to as many workshops as you can (I know you have already started)
I´ve never found The (Old) Concertina Reel a particularly easy tune to play on the concertina, which is a bit embarassing because people kind of expect you to play such an old favourite well.
I probably need to try different fingering.
But, The Silver Spear........ that´s a reel that sits really well on the concertina.
I play a set of 3 reels:
The road to Ballymac + The silver spear + Come west along the road.
Concertina tunes
Concertina tunes
I recently (read- a few days ago) started playing the concertina, and am looking for a few easy tunes that I can get started with. Any suggestions?
# Posted on July 18th 2006 by bertie242
Re: Concertina tunes
Bertie, I found single jigs or slides to be a nice starting point. Try this one:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1614
Or the Stack of Barley was another one that came fairly easily, I think. I looked at your profile and it looks like you play the fiddle. Take a simple tune that you have been playing for a long time, one that you have in your head really well. What I found was that I could easily lose the thread of the tune as I mis-played it.
Good Luck!
# Posted on July 18th 2006 by Jode
Re: Concertina tunes
Quite right Jode, simplest tunes with the fewest notes, played simply should be the order of the day. For example The Drops of Brandy must be about the easiest tune of them all Bertie - you can play it using only 5 buttons!
# Posted on July 18th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Concertina tunes
I just started 3 weeks ago C/G Jeffries layout. Took Edel Fox's class (great teacher!) at the Catskills. I'm finding tunes in G to be much easier than tunes in D because you don't need to go to the third row for the C#s.
A key point: the vast majority of the melody notes are played on the 8 buttons that lie under the first two fingers on the C and G rows, plus the c#s using the first two fingers of the right hand on the third row. Use these unless they lead to a fingering or bellows problem that you need to look elsewhere to solve. Use the B and d on the left hand (G row) when adjacent to a c# (all pushes).
# Posted on July 18th 2006 by GaryAMartin
Re: Concertina tunes
Though I am absolutely confident that I will end up regretting this later...try putting the Britches on the concertina. Despite the taboo it recieves in our area, it is a good simple tune not without its charm. Just play it in G, not A major. With C and G sharps it would be murder. I think I remember hearing that the Road to Lisdoonvarna was a starter tune for concertina players, though I could be wrong.
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by Tipperaryharper
Re: Concertina tunes
Bertie, perhaps I should have explained. That easy, 5 Button version of The Drops of Brandy is not in D but G, maybe this'll help:
X: 1
T: Drops Of Brandy, The
M: 9/8
L: 1/8
R: slip jig
K: Gmaj
ded BGB BGB ded BGB cBA
ded BGB BGB cBc A2B cBA:||
GBd gdB gdB GBd gdB cBA
GBd gdB gdB cBc A2B cBA
GBd gdB gdB GBd gdB cBA
GBd gba gdB cBc A2B cBA||
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Concertina tunes
While I think about it, another easy 5 Button tune in G is this wee, well kent, Polka:
X: 1
T: I Have A Bonnet Trimmed With Blue
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Gmaj
G A/B/ c|d/e/ dG B2|d e/d/ cA|GBBA|
G A/B/ c|d/e/ dG B2|d e/d/ cA|AGG2:|
d e/f/ g f/e/|dGB2|d e/d/ cA|GBBc|
d e/f/ g f/e/|dGB2|d e/d/ cA|AGG2:|
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Concertina tunes
What species? what key(s) ?
Chris
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by spindizzy
Re: Concertina tunes
On my Lachenal & Jeffries these last two tunes are played on the inside row - top three buttons LHS & top two buttons RHS.
Hope that helps?
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Concertina tunes
Bertie, here's another easy enough wee Polka that can be played using only 4 of those Buttons already mentioned - the three on the LHS & just the top button on the RHS.
Sorry I don't remember the name!
X: 1
T: canny mind the name!
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Gmaj
||G2A/Bd ef g2 f/|edBd e/f/e/d/BA|
G2A/Bd ef g2 f/|edBA G2 G2:||
||gfed efg2f/|edBd e/f/e/d/Bd|
gfed efg2f/|edBA G2 G2:||
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Concertina tunes
Be sure to learn Jimmy Ward's Favorite, and maybe the Templehouse, so you can play along with your beloved father on his accordion!
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by curamach
Re: Concertina tunes
The two things I learned the most from are Mick Bramitchs book (with slowish speed cd)
and Mary Macnamaras 2 cds (she plays with very few ornaments, but you may want to slow them down a little for starters)
Longer term advice -
learn to play in g on the c row
learn c & g tunes with both hands at once
get a mentor to start explaining cross-fingering (a lifetimes work as everyone has different ideas)
go to as many workshops as you can (I know you have already started)
Owt else you want to know, drop me an email
# Posted on July 19th 2006 by geoffwright
Re: Concertina tunes
I've been playing since last February. I've learned, in this order:
Kesh
Connaughtman's Rambles
Out on the Ocean
Lady Ann Mongomery
Foxhunters
Reconciliation
Handsome young Maidens
Paddy Clancy's
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by grymater
Re: Concertina tunes
I can't believe the Concertina Reel hasn't come up yet!
# Posted on July 21st 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Concertina tunes
"canny mind the name!" is often called Padraig O'Keefe's, though I like the X: Ptarmigan' gave. Perhaps for another tune?
# Posted on July 21st 2006 by curamach
Re: Concertina tunes
I´ve never found The (Old) Concertina Reel a particularly easy tune to play on the concertina, which is a bit embarassing because people kind of expect you to play such an old favourite well.
I probably need to try different fingering.
But, The Silver Spear........ that´s a reel that sits really well on the concertina.
I play a set of 3 reels:
The road to Ballymac + The silver spear + Come west along the road.
# Posted on July 21st 2006 by murfbox
Re: Concertina tunes
The Concertina reel was originally in the key of C. If you play it in that key on a C/G Anglo you'll soon find out why it has that title.
# Posted on July 22nd 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Concertina tunes
Thanks Jack. It´s a lot easier than D which, unfortunately, seems to be the key it´s always played in at sessions.
# Posted on July 22nd 2006 by murfbox
Re: Concertina tunes
If you start it -- start it in C and everyone else will see why it's called the "Concertina Reel" too.
# Posted on July 22nd 2006 by Phantom Button