What key is this concertina?

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 31 May 14 - 04:07 AM

It could be D/A - I had one given too me that is. Whichever it is though, the row nearest to you, the highest pitched, will be G or A and the one furthest away will be C or D. The other common configuration, which I doubt this is, is a G/D, used extensively for Morris Dance.

Easiest way to find out - Use a tuner! Middle button, left hand side, on the push in note will be the 'home' note of the key for both rows. Not got a tuner? Download one on you phone if you have a smart phone. No smart phone? Borrow a tuner! :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 May 14 - 10:42 PM

Thanks for the information.

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 30 May 14 - 03:37 PM

German concertina ;)

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: treewind
Date: 29 May 14 - 06:36 PM

The one pictured is an old instrument, and most likely not in modern concert pitch. So your tuner may be finding the nearest note a semitone out.

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: Jeri
Date: 29 May 14 - 04:55 PM

Oh, never mind. I figure the C#s are because my tuner's being weird. And you gotta have F# for G. I don't know anglos, and posted before treewind did.

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: Jeri
Date: 29 May 14 - 04:49 PM

Anglo concertinas are made to be played in certain keys, and aren't fully chromatic. A C/G concertina is meant to be played in C and G.

I'm wondering why there are so many F#s and a couple C#s if it's in C/G.

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: treewind
Date: 29 May 14 - 04:32 PM

C/G means one row is in C and the other is in G.

On an Anglo concertina, each row of buttons is a bit like a harmonica, with push and pull on the bellows corresponding to blow and suck respectively, playing a scale in one key per row.

That's for two rows - if it had a third row, that would contain an assortment of accidentals and reverse-direction notes to make up for what's missing from the other two.

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 29 May 14 - 04:22 PM

What does that mean, C/G?

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 29 May 14 - 03:52 PM

You appeared to be playing out, then in.

Try the opposite:-

open the bellows with the air-button;

i. beginning at the middle button of either left hand row: play in/out on middle key;

ii. then in/out on next one inwards, same row;

iii. and again on inner one;

iv. and finally [for a change!] out/in on inner right hand key with right index finger.

The row nearer you is C, the outer one is G.

You will find you have played a middle-major scale in the key of whichever row you chose.

Let us know if this works.

~M~

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 29 May 14 - 03:24 PM

ah, what fantastic service. thank you very much

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: Musket
Date: 29 May 14 - 03:09 PM

One concurs.

Subject: RE: What key is this concertina?
From: G-Force
Date: 29 May 14 - 02:38 PM

20 button anglo, probably in C/G.

Subject: What key is this concertina?
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 29 May 14 - 12:56 PM

I'm having a big clearout prior to moving house. As a former instrument-collecting addict (now hopefully cured), I'm getting rid of anything I know I'll never get round to using.

So this concertina that I bought at a car-boot sale has got to go. I don't even know what key it's in, or what it is. I assume it's an Anglo (I know nothing about concertinas) but if anyone could tell me, I'd be hugely grateful.

Here's a youtube video of me, sounding each key. (With a bit of noise from my young son crashing around in the background.)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw1cJXgobuU