I'm a leftie and in my short concertina experience I've found
it feels natural to fix the right end and use my left arm for
bellows control. On fiddle I bow right-handed so I"m prepared
to switch if necessary.
Is there any reason why it might be better to work the bellows
right handed? If not, I'll stick to my natural side.
BTW, my compliments to Wim Wakker and Buttonbox on
the Rochelle. It's in tune, all the notes speak and the buttons
are quick and robust. Overall, though it feels sluggish. I've
never played a "proper" concertina, so I assume the response
should be about $5000 better than that.
I heard in a class with Edel Fox that you should be using your strong arm for bellow control if possible, so in your case, the left arm. Now, I learned using my left arm, even though I'm right handed. I don't feel like switching, so I guess I'll have to strenghten that left arm!
There's quite a number of concertina players that also play the accordion. For those (me included), using the left arm for the bellows feels like second nature. It must feel even more "right" when you're a leftie!
I've been playing only a short while also, at first I tried playing standing up without supporting the concertina at all. That didn't work so well. Now I rest the concertina on my leg and do most bellows work with the left arm. I'm right handed but this just seemed the natural way to do it.
I also have a Rochelle. The sluggishness is just the new bellows, they will loosen up as you play more.
The only problems I've had with mine were a weak F#/G button (which I fixed) and a wheezy air button (which I forgot to fix when I had it open)
i've been playing concertina for around 14 years, and i'm left-handed. i've always rested the (left plate of the) instrument on my left knee and breathed with my right hand (mostly, though the left seems to do some of the work too). i took a course with the great noel hill and he didn't correct that -- and he didn't ever hesitate to correct if he saw the need. fwiw.
oh, and i fiddle too -- right-hand bowing. i'm not sure my left arm is very dominant, so my patterns may not indicate much besides coincidence or whim.
Concertina - left or right bellows?
Concertina - left or right bellows?
I'm a leftie and in my short concertina experience I've found
it feels natural to fix the right end and use my left arm for
bellows control. On fiddle I bow right-handed so I"m prepared
to switch if necessary.
Is there any reason why it might be better to work the bellows
right handed? If not, I'll stick to my natural side.
BTW, my compliments to Wim Wakker and Buttonbox on
the Rochelle. It's in tune, all the notes speak and the buttons
are quick and robust. Overall, though it feels sluggish. I've
never played a "proper" concertina, so I assume the response
should be about $5000 better than that.
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by Hup
Re: Concertina - left or right bellows?
I heard in a class with Edel Fox that you should be using your strong arm for bellow control if possible, so in your case, the left arm. Now, I learned using my left arm, even though I'm right handed. I don't feel like switching, so I guess I'll have to strenghten that left arm!
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by Azalin
Re: Concertina - left or right bellows?
There's quite a number of concertina players that also play the accordion. For those (me included), using the left arm for the bellows feels like second nature. It must feel even more "right" when you're a leftie!
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by heike
Re: Concertina - left or right bellows?
I've been playing only a short while also, at first I tried playing standing up without supporting the concertina at all. That didn't work so well. Now I rest the concertina on my leg and do most bellows work with the left arm. I'm right handed but this just seemed the natural way to do it.
I also have a Rochelle. The sluggishness is just the new bellows, they will loosen up as you play more.
The only problems I've had with mine were a weak F#/G button (which I fixed) and a wheezy air button (which I forgot to fix when I had it open)
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by CleverName
Re: Concertina - left or right bellows?
Strongest arm is what I learned.
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by snorre
Re: Concertina - left or right bellows?
i've been playing concertina for around 14 years, and i'm left-handed. i've always rested the (left plate of the) instrument on my left knee and breathed with my right hand (mostly, though the left seems to do some of the work too). i took a course with the great noel hill and he didn't correct that -- and he didn't ever hesitate to correct if he saw the need. fwiw.
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by 'tinamatt
Re: Concertina - left or right bellows?
oh, and i fiddle too -- right-hand bowing. i'm not sure my left arm is very dominant, so my patterns may not indicate much besides coincidence or whim.
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by 'tinamatt
Re: Concertina - left or right bellows?
Hup,
Micheal O'Raghallaigh is a leftie and he anchors the right.
You are right about the Rochelle...
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by cag
Re: Concertina - left or right bellows?
Thanks everyone - that gives me more confidence.
# Posted on August 19th 2009 by Hup