Pumping

[mdarnton]

Me: ex bass and guitar player in a couple of small jazzy dance and polka bands, and before that, long ago oboe and cello, now a violin maker. I used to play a bit of English concertina and now I'm getting back into it. The first time, 30 years ago, I was playing folk music like everyone does with it, but this time I'm trying to more mimic what accordions are doing, following the model of what the accordion sub with our first dance band did, so here I am, trying to learn what you guys do. . . . . .

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hello,

Learning what we guys do will take some time, as we are a very diverse group of people. The variety of musical genres encompassed here is fairly staggering, as are the makes and types of instruments you will read about.

For myself, I play mostly Folk and 40's 50's & 60's popular music. I own three Piano Accordions, my favourite being a very old Hohner Arietta IV M 120/41. The Arietta shows signs of its 60 odd years of use but, then again, so do I. (and I am even older than the Arietta)

Welcome to the forum.

Stephen.

 

[george garside]

the concertina is a wonderful instrument to be played as itself! You can play any tunes on it that accordions play as far as the treble side is concerned but of course it will not sound anything like the same without the bass. Also most large accordions have anything up to five sets of treble reeds that can be switched in and out in any combination.
The comcertina is by definition singe voice and so you can either play the tune or play chords or a bit of both but it won't sound anything like an accordion as all the reeds are tuned to concert pitch.

Play along with accordions but don't try to smother the concertina sound which is fairly unique. Perhaps see it more as a substitute fiddle i.e. to compliment accordions rather than imitate them


george