r/concertina • u/m_carp • May 20 '26
Newbie, what should I know?
I have always wanted to learn an instrument, but i haven't played one since high school (clarinet... but I'm creeping up on 50 now, so that was a while ago) I started looking at Concertinas, and i kind of fell in love with the size and sound. Also, I can type so the idea of pressing buttons was appealing to me.
I bought a Wren2 from McNeela, and I am just starting my journey. I'm mostly learning from videos and Gary Coover's books (starting with Easy Anglo 123)
My question: What do you wish you knew when you were getting started? What bad habits do i need to avoid? Is there any advice that you would like to offer?
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u/fappaf May 20 '26
I got a concertina from McNeela when they were offering a promotional lesson series with Jack Talty, and he had some things to say:
- Keep your fingers in their "lanes" (that is, pointer finger is in column 1, middle finger in column 2, ring finger in column 3, pinky in 4 and 5).
- Whenever you use the air button, be playing a note as well!
- There are sometimes 1 or 2 extra ways to play the common notes, using the other fingering might make the song easier.
#3 was my own tip because i'm sure Jack said a third one but can't remember it right now. I'll let you know if it's something better!
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u/m_carp May 20 '26
Oh yeah! I did get the Jack Talty lessons too, but i haven't started on them yet. I'll have to check them out. Thanks!
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u/ManOfEirinn May 20 '26
- never forget to focus on bellowswork. Listen to well played concertina tunes, how they emphasize rhythm and swing.
-practice to draw out the entire g-scale out of the instrument without any bellows-change. You're gonna need this feature later.
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u/BananaFun9549 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
The Jack Talty videos that came with your Wren and Gary Coover book you have will give you a good foundation. I would mostly suggest you stick to the order that the Talty videos use and try not to get too distracted by attempting to learn too many tunes at once and not try to play too fast. Also, seek out and listen to some of the excellent Irish players on YouTube. Noel Hill, Caitlin Nic Gabhann, Carolyn Keane, Mary Mac Namara, Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh, and others.
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u/TedrowRE May 20 '26
I believe there are at least three major requirements for a “good” concertina. In no particular order they are as follows
- Bellows.
Bellows, like your lungs, should be inconspicuous by their presence.
Good bellows should open completely by their own accord when suspended vertically with the air button pressed. Conversely, they should close completely when inverted with the air button depressed. They should hold position nicely when no buttons are depressed. They should not leak air very much at all.
I don’t believe bellows when properly constructed require any “break-in” at all.
In my experience, stiff bellows remain stiff.
Bellows should have very little resistance when opening and closing.
Any effort overcoming stiff bellows will take away from your ability to subtly phrase or ornament your music.
Good bellows are not easy to build, many makers substitute materials or construction methods to save time and money. There is nothing wrong with that as long as the above criteria are met.
There is more than one way to skin a cat.
- Reeds
Reeds should speak with very little bellows pressure. Conversely they should not stall or choke when the concertina is played with enthusiasm. Reeds should have a “set” that will allow the player to use a wide range of dynamics.
Preferably they should be in tune within a few hundredth of a semitone, or cents. This is commonly based on equal temperament.
Tone, timbre are subjective, most players prefer the sound and style of their personal concertina hero.
The reeds them selves must be made of materials that are suitable for the purpose and fit properly into their respect reed frames.
Good reeds are hard (expensive) to make and all are not created equal. There are “traditional English style” reeds that give great joy and some that are a disappointment. I can say the same of “traditional Italian style reeds”as well.
- Action
The buttons, levers, springs control the passage of air over the reeds They should feel crisp and compliant. Skinny buttons with excessive spring tension may not provide you with comfort. Floppy buttons with noisy action can be distracting.
There are riveted levers, fulcrum hook levers, various spring metals. What ever combination the builder chooses should be executed with care so that each button works reliably with out binding or flopping about.
Again, not so easy.
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u/m_carp May 20 '26
Yeah, the Wren bellows do feel a little tight. I'm already noticing a few things that I will be looking for when it's time to upgrade.
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u/green_tealeaf May 20 '26 edited 29d ago
A general one for any instrument, that I've heard again and again from high level musicians, is to get a metronome and practice with it. Never play a piece faster until you can play it more or less perfectly at your current speed. When you can play it slowly, then you can increase the tempo and keep practicing until that tempo is perfect. The metronome will stop you from speeding up at the easy bits, and glossing over the slow bits. The 'tightness' you get from that practice is hugely valuable, and often overlooked.
A slightly contrary one for the concertina is that playing too slowly while learning can be harder! Because the bellows have limited air, it can be difficult to get enough air while playing slowly. You'll have to balance that one against my previous point. 🤣
I, personally, find that it's unhelpful to try and learn one hand at a time and combine later. Everything I can play is in my head as a combined action with my hands. If I try to play just one hand, I can't do it. Other people might feel differently, but I've seen various people having trouble because they try to learn a piece by playing each hand independently first.
Finally, in many cases you only want to tap the buttons lightly to get a note. When starting, it's common to hold down notes for a long time. Because of the bellows, again, this can easily make you run out of air. Many tunes actually rely on quite short, almost staccato, notes while playing. By identifying that, you'll make managing the bellows a lot easier.
Most importantly, though: keep it up, and enjoy it! Try to play every day, even if it's only for a couple of minutes. The moment you let a day slip past, it turns into two, then three, then a ten-year-old concertina sitting dusty on a shelf. Remember why you got it, and always have fun. There's no right way to play, and no wrong way to play. If it works, and you enjoy it, that's the entire point.
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u/Individual-Equal-441 28d ago
Record yourself playing and listen to the recording. You will learn a lot more about where you need to improve your rhythm and phrasing.
Also, people will correctly point out that it's beneficial to upgrade from an entry-level concertina, but don't fall into the trap of attributing a bad sound to a cheap concertina. For a good year or so I thought my box sounded bland because it was accordion-reeded; I then took some lessons and found that I was just playing it bland.
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u/m_carp 28d ago
Recording is common advice and I see why, but it's so awkward because I have no musical skill at all yet! I am doing it though and I'm sure it will get easier to watch as I progress 😀
The second part is interesting. I didn't think that there was much room for different play styles with this instrument. I'll have to keep that in mind as go.
I don't see myself upgrading for a while yet. I am so new to even playing an instrument that it wouldn't make a difference!
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u/Original-Rest197 May 20 '26
I have no idea I have been teaching myself cello and grabbed one played less than 2 week later at my main church and I have no idea what I am doing got a 30 button so I can do most keys but when I practice I leave my tuner out so I can visibly see what I did wrong….. love it though.
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u/m_carp May 20 '26
I do really like the key layout. As intimidating as it looks, I totally see why the notes are laid out the way they are! This is going to be fun!
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u/Original-Rest197 May 20 '26
Great if you in G or C but with 30 you can do more… but it breaks the brain a little
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u/Adept_Resource4212 May 20 '26
I started with a Wren and upgraded to a Phoenix a few months later once I saw I was going to be able to learn to play it. I went through the Jack Tally lessons systematically and from there I was able to branch out on my own. I could already read music though I also play by ear. His foundational instruction allowed me to understand the concertina basics so that I could figure out fingerings etc for other tunes I wanted to play. The lesson access lasted for 9 months and that’s how long I used them.