Yes, Hohner Ha-114 in D is perfect, not too expensive, and the four stops let you "control wetness" haha. And they hold up pretty well. I also had one of the Arriette models but didn't like it near as well and it wasn't as well built. Make sure to get one in the key of D. Many are pitched in C which is good for Cajun music but not Irish. A melodeon in D will be able to play tunes in D, E dorian, B minor, G (as long as there's no Cnat, or you can work around it), and a lot of A minor and A major, so a lot of tunes. And they're great fun to play, in my opinion!
As a side note, if you play with yourself primarily or with a fiddler who can tune down to C without getting all flustered, or a whistler or piper or fluter with C instruments, the C boxes lovely sounding and are usually a bit cheaper as they're more common. D boxes are tough to find. At least that's my experience
I would go for a two-row D/G melodeon. The two-row is actually a lot easier to learn on than the one-row strange as it may seem. I have both and the D/G is the easier to play.
I would certainly recommend a 2 row to learn on. My biggest problem with learning on a one row was that I had to play everything in that key, which turned out to be the "wong one" (I started on a one row C Hohner melodeon), so I couldn't play with anyone at any sessions. Nowadays, I'm known at the local sessions that "The C player" because instead of relearning the few tunes that I still play in C in the "correct" keys, I'd rather learn new tunes. Eventually I'll switch over, but I would recommend starting on a 2 row to avoid a lot of headache. I'm actually selling my Hohner 2 row B/C accorion if you'd be interested.
Well the original post asked what a good one-row accordion is, so recommendations on two rows aren't really what they're looking for are they. One-row is a very different instrument, and is underutilized IMO.
And why would you recommend D/G as a two-row anyways? Very limiting, C#/D is much preferred, as playing on the rows D/G is just as limiting as a one-row and not as lovely sounding.
I have some access to a B/C box (and I don't mean to start any discussions of the relative merits of B/C vs C#/D, etc., I've had that experience, thanks) that is quite fun, but for some reason I want the experience of the old, simple, one-row. Maybe I've fallen under the influence of Breanndán ÓBeaglaoich...
Splendid, thanks for the O'Halloran & Gardiner and the video, all new to me! Wonderful. Also, what does "LMMH" mean?
LMMH means that you have 4 "voices" (shown by the 4 stops), in fact 4 set of reeds for each note. in simple words, if you open all 4 stops and play one note, you get 4 reeds sounding. In most one-row melodeons, these 4 reeds are tuned : 1 an octave lower that the pitch (L), 2 at the right pitch (M), and one an octave higher (H). In Accordion talk, we'd call that "bassoon", "flute" and "piccolo". Just test on your instrument. the 2 M are tuned not exactly the same pitch, which gives the wetness (the more apart, the wetter...)
Definitely not a Hohner, it could be be a Messervier (Quebec-made) or a Cajun made one. In europe, Eric Martin makes really good ones. Castagnari has also a model, but it's not a Casta played on the vid...
Steve.... though they learned on one rows, both Alan Morrisroe and Paddy Joe Tighe play two row. Paddy Joe plays a Paolo Soprani...and I can't recall which box/key is the one that allows session playing with others, but that's what he's got (at least what he brought over, he surely have others at home). Alan carried one of those same machines, but for solo playing prefers the lighter sound of...again not sure what you'd call the keys/box but he plays in the Keys of F or C (which allows other keys of course like G minor and a few others I imagine). It's higher ptiched and he prefers it for performing or non-session playing.
When we did our last CD release concert in March, he threw me by bringing yet another box... it was all a rush and we had zero practice time, so we're on the spot there, and he's playing in B flat!! Didn't tell me! Thank heaven for capos in that instance!
I believe he finds the smaller boxes easier to handle, and they have a lighter more arcahic sound too, which is where he's coming from, how he grew up hearing it. A double row lets him have more of a range in keys too, though he and Paddy Joe play just one row at a time.
I will send his email address on a PM from here, he'll be more than happy to advise.
I would recommens a two row B/C Accordion versus the one row 'D' melodeon . You will wish you spent the money on a Box that you can play most keys on....just me tree cents!
Happy Playin Culchie !!!
Interesting thread because, I had a chance to play a C one row melodean a few weeks back and have gotten hooked by the sound. I was thinking about looking for one.
What struck me though, was the question this thread posed begs a question that is upside-down to it. Why would a person who has limited experience in diatonic start with a one-row box, given a one-row's limitations which are part of its charm if one understands this type of instrument. It would be seem a sure road to frustration for someone learning, as well as a it of a nuisance since someone interested in a broader musical expression would soon need to buy a two row box in short order.
It would almost seem better to start on a two row (key of choice of course-don't want to get into that discussion again) and move to the one row once the technical aspect of the diatonic is dealt with.
stv, I mentioned in my comment a few days ago that there are several keys available on a D melodeon, the most common keys in traditional music. The 10 buttons provide 20 notes, with duplicates of course, it has a range of more than two octaves. It does not have an Fnat or Cnat, nor Bflat, but any key with two sharps (Dmajor, Edorian, Bminor), one sharp, provided that Cnat is either absent or insignificant (many G major tunes and Aminor tunes) and most of the A major tunes (three sharps, but that G sharp is rarely found in those tunes). Of course you won't be able to play Paddy Fahy tunes or others with accidentals or odd key signatures, but there are thousands of tunes that a D melodeon can accomodate.
Starter melodeon?
Starter melodeon?
What is a good 'starter' instrument for learning one-row accordion, melodeon?
What are the usual or various tunings and voicings for melodeon? Do they differ as with two-row accordions?
Many thanks,
stv
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by stv culchie
Re: Starter melodeon?
Hohner Ha-114 in D. They're generally tuned much wetter than a two row, and are LMMH. There are two and three voice ones out there.
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Splendid Isolation
Re: Starter melodeon?
Yes, Hohner Ha-114 in D is perfect, not too expensive, and the four stops let you "control wetness" haha. And they hold up pretty well. I also had one of the Arriette models but didn't like it near as well and it wasn't as well built. Make sure to get one in the key of D. Many are pitched in C which is good for Cajun music but not Irish. A melodeon in D will be able to play tunes in D, E dorian, B minor, G (as long as there's no Cnat, or you can work around it), and a lot of A minor and A major, so a lot of tunes. And they're great fun to play, in my opinion!
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by PatrickJWK
Re: Starter melodeon?
As a side note, if you play with yourself primarily or with a fiddler who can tune down to C without getting all flustered, or a whistler or piper or fluter with C instruments, the C boxes lovely sounding and are usually a bit cheaper as they're more common. D boxes are tough to find. At least that's my experience
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Splendid Isolation
Re: Starter melodeon?
I would go for a two-row D/G melodeon. The two-row is actually a lot easier to learn on than the one-row strange as it may seem. I have both and the D/G is the easier to play.
# Posted on April 17th 2009 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: Starter melodeon?
I would certainly recommend a 2 row to learn on. My biggest problem with learning on a one row was that I had to play everything in that key, which turned out to be the "wong one" (I started on a one row C Hohner melodeon), so I couldn't play with anyone at any sessions. Nowadays, I'm known at the local sessions that "The C player" because instead of relearning the few tunes that I still play in C in the "correct" keys, I'd rather learn new tunes. Eventually I'll switch over, but I would recommend starting on a 2 row to avoid a lot of headache. I'm actually selling my Hohner 2 row B/C accorion if you'd be interested.
# Posted on April 18th 2009 by vacoreye
Re: Starter melodeon?
Well the original post asked what a good one-row accordion is, so recommendations on two rows aren't really what they're looking for are they. One-row is a very different instrument, and is underutilized IMO.
Listen to some John O'Halloran and Bobby Gardiner
# Posted on April 18th 2009 by Splendid Isolation
Re: Starter melodeon?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZg3YIoy13E
# Posted on April 18th 2009 by Splendid Isolation
Re: Starter melodeon?
And why would you recommend D/G as a two-row anyways? Very limiting, C#/D is much preferred, as playing on the rows D/G is just as limiting as a one-row and not as lovely sounding.
# Posted on April 18th 2009 by Splendid Isolation
Re: Starter melodeon?
Many thanks!
I have some access to a B/C box (and I don't mean to start any discussions of the relative merits of B/C vs C#/D, etc., I've had that experience, thanks) that is quite fun, but for some reason I want the experience of the old, simple, one-row. Maybe I've fallen under the influence of Breanndán ÓBeaglaoich...
Splendid, thanks for the O'Halloran & Gardiner and the video, all new to me! Wonderful. Also, what does "LMMH" mean?
Thanks very much to all!
stv
# Posted on April 18th 2009 by stv culchie
Re: Starter melodeon?
LMMH means that you have 4 "voices" (shown by the 4 stops), in fact 4 set of reeds for each note. in simple words, if you open all 4 stops and play one note, you get 4 reeds sounding. In most one-row melodeons, these 4 reeds are tuned : 1 an octave lower that the pitch (L), 2 at the right pitch (M), and one an octave higher (H). In Accordion talk, we'd call that "bassoon", "flute" and "piccolo". Just test on your instrument. the 2 M are tuned not exactly the same pitch, which gives the wetness (the more apart, the wetter...)
# Posted on April 18th 2009 by Nikita Pfister
Re: Starter melodeon?
Anyone have a name for the jig John O'Halloran plays in the above clip?
# Posted on April 18th 2009 by Jerry O'Donnell
Re: Starter melodeon?
An do anyone know kind of melodeon John O'Halloran plays, it's not the hohner I think?
# Posted on April 18th 2009 by TradLad
Re: Starter melodeon?
Definitely not a Hohner, it could be be a Messervier (Quebec-made) or a Cajun made one. In europe, Eric Martin makes really good ones. Castagnari has also a model, but it's not a Casta played on the vid...
# Posted on April 18th 2009 by Nikita Pfister
Re: Starter melodeon?
Steve.... though they learned on one rows, both Alan Morrisroe and Paddy Joe Tighe play two row. Paddy Joe plays a Paolo Soprani...and I can't recall which box/key is the one that allows session playing with others, but that's what he's got (at least what he brought over, he surely have others at home). Alan carried one of those same machines, but for solo playing prefers the lighter sound of...again not sure what you'd call the keys/box but he plays in the Keys of F or C (which allows other keys of course like G minor and a few others I imagine). It's higher ptiched and he prefers it for performing or non-session playing.
When we did our last CD release concert in March, he threw me by bringing yet another box... it was all a rush and we had zero practice time, so we're on the spot there, and he's playing in B flat!! Didn't tell me! Thank heaven for capos in that instance!
I believe he finds the smaller boxes easier to handle, and they have a lighter more arcahic sound too, which is where he's coming from, how he grew up hearing it. A double row lets him have more of a range in keys too, though he and Paddy Joe play just one row at a time.
I will send his email address on a PM from here, he'll be more than happy to advise.
# Posted on April 18th 2009 by irisnevins
Re: Starter melodeon?
Nikita, thanks very much for the explanation. I had a notion of the four voices, but I didn't know the term.
Iris, many thanks, great stuff, and thanks for the PM.
All fascinating.
Many thanks,
stv
# Posted on April 19th 2009 by stv culchie
Re: Starter melodeon?
"John is playing a Point Noir melodeon in D."
# Posted on April 19th 2009 by willv
Re: Starter melodeon?
I would recommens a two row B/C Accordion versus the one row 'D' melodeon . You will wish you spent the money on a Box that you can play most keys on....just me tree cents!
Happy Playin Culchie !!!
# Posted on April 20th 2009 by Fir na tine
Re: Starter melodeon?
Interesting thread because, I had a chance to play a C one row melodean a few weeks back and have gotten hooked by the sound. I was thinking about looking for one.
What struck me though, was the question this thread posed begs a question that is upside-down to it. Why would a person who has limited experience in diatonic start with a one-row box, given a one-row's limitations which are part of its charm if one understands this type of instrument. It would be seem a sure road to frustration for someone learning, as well as a it of a nuisance since someone interested in a broader musical expression would soon need to buy a two row box in short order.
It would almost seem better to start on a two row (key of choice of course-don't want to get into that discussion again) and move to the one row once the technical aspect of the diatonic is dealt with.
The one-row boxes have a wonderful character.
# Posted on April 20th 2009 by zippydw
Re: Starter melodeon?
Forgot to mention. I play b/c two row already.
# Posted on April 20th 2009 by zippydw
Re: Starter melodeon?
Hmmm... keys....
So a one row melodeon, say in D, has ten buttons, and it's diatonic, so it has twenty notes ?
I see from the comments above that the notes used in some keys will be missing. Twenty should be enough to play in several keys, no?
Thanks,
stv
# Posted on April 20th 2009 by stv culchie
Re: Starter melodeon?
stv, I mentioned in my comment a few days ago that there are several keys available on a D melodeon, the most common keys in traditional music. The 10 buttons provide 20 notes, with duplicates of course, it has a range of more than two octaves. It does not have an Fnat or Cnat, nor Bflat, but any key with two sharps (Dmajor, Edorian, Bminor), one sharp, provided that Cnat is either absent or insignificant (many G major tunes and Aminor tunes) and most of the A major tunes (three sharps, but that G sharp is rarely found in those tunes). Of course you won't be able to play Paddy Fahy tunes or others with accidentals or odd key signatures, but there are thousands of tunes that a D melodeon can accomodate.
# Posted on April 20th 2009 by PatrickJWK
Re: Starter melodeon?
Thank you, Patrick!
That's wonderfully clear.
I know it makes little logical sense, esp. since I can play the B/C
whenever I like, but I'm more and more intrigued by the one-row notion.
Great infos, thanks very much to all,
stv
# Posted on April 21st 2009 by stv culchie