concertina keys

Subject: concertina keys
From: stevethesqueeze
Date: 09 May 03 - 10:35 AM

Dear friends

I am moving from the english concertina to trying out the anglo. It seems to me that it would be best if the instrument was tuned G/D as most of our tunes are in those keys. Now I know that the older instruments were tuned C/G but it seems that the newer ones sre still predominantly tuned in that configuration with only the odd instrument in G/D. Now musicians tend to have an eye to ease of playing so why don't all anglo players choose D/G for dance work? What is the relative advantages of each configuration?

stevethesqueeze

Subject: RE: concertina keys
From: Ralphie
Date: 09 May 03 - 10:52 AM

Steve Old Bean...
Thought about the McCann Duet???   All keys available....and F is fantastic!!
(Woops sorry, Just couldn't resist!!)
Good Luck with the Anglo.

Regards Ralphie

Subject: RE: concertina keys
From: stevethesqueeze
Date: 09 May 03 - 11:09 AM

I think your're right there ralphie, i have a small mcann duet but after hearing david cornel from new york playing one I vowed never to try again!! the man is a musical genius.

stevethesqueeze

Subject: RE: concertina keys
From: GUEST,jonm minus cookie
Date: 09 May 03 - 12:03 PM

Hi. Anglo key availability dependes on where you look.

Most of the old concertinas were C/G since this is a good configuration for singing to. Songs in C are common. Tunes in G are possible and both Bb and C# are on the third row of a 30-button instrument, so D and F, popular song and tune keys, are also possible.

A G/D Anglo can manage F, but you require two notes from the accidentals, one of which is the fundamental (F natural). No chords easily available as a result.

Most new concertinas are G/D and a lot of the players can also play melodeon.

I got as far as trying the Anglo for a while, and just about getting my head round the usual chords and runs on a C/G in G and D, but I'm left handed, which presents no problem with my English but screwed my brain on an Anglo.

Subject: RE: concertina keys
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 May 03 - 12:38 PM

I've got a couple of 3 row Anglo concertinas that I've been working with for about ten years. One is set up as G/D and the other F/C. I find myself generally happiest playing out of the middle row, with occasional forays to the top or bottom row for incidental notes or harmonies. If I were playing with a contadance band I'd be tempted to have one set up custom with the D as the middle row. When I had the F/C combination custom set up, it really didn't cost any more; it just needed to be spcial ordered, which I did through Button Box in Massachusetts.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: concertina keys
From: CraigS
Date: 10 May 03 - 10:39 AM

There are other keys available - I've got a D/A Lachenal that's very handy. Bb/F instruments were very common, and are usually sold off cheaply when they turn up - if you just want to accompany yourself or play solo they are a bargain. Otherwise a three-row C/G can do about all you need.