Beginning to play the concertina is an excellent way to dive into folk music. Although learning this instrument is straightforward, practicing regularly is important in honing your craft and improving your skills.
Starting out is easy with an economical concertina; however, these instruments often feature buttons that get stuck to their housings, which can prove troublesome to novice musicians.
Beginner’s Guide
Concertinas, like accordions and melodeons, are free reed instruments that produce sound by allowing air to pass over metal reeds inside. But unlike these other instruments, concertinas come in hexagonal form to allow multiple playing techniques to come into play when performing music with it.
Concertinas are highly versatile instruments, capable of handling both classical and polka music genres. Concertinas were once immensely popular across England and Ireland in the 19th century but have fallen out of fashion more recently due to piano accordions’ rise.
Before beginning with a concertina, it’s essential that you learn how to hold it properly. This involves inserting your fingers through the hand straps on both sides of the concertina while leaving your thumbs outside.
After placing your right hand on the four top buttons of each row, adjust to a home position that uses all five fingers equally to produce optimal tone production.
John Williams provides an introduction to the fundamentals of 20 or 30 key Anglo concertinas, such as holding, using keys, bellows and air button and moving beyond basic C and G scales to more advanced techniques. He teaches five tunes step-by-step beginning with Oro (Se Do Bheatha Bhaile) from Ireland followed by Jimmy Ward’s Jig, The Kesh Jig and Bobby Casey’s Jig.
Getting Started
The concertina is an easily learnt instrument with a small and lightweight size, making it great for beginners to pick up quickly. Additionally, its button layout makes learning easy; after consistent practice sessions you could start creating your first tunes within months!
Beginning photography can be daunting, so a beginner’s set can help get you on your way quickly and affordably. A good set should cost about $100 and provide enough accessories to get you up and running quickly.
Some music stores provide lessons on how to play the concertina. You may also find online lessons designed for beginners that can teach them the fundamentals.
Concertinas come with various fingering systems to suit various playing styles and skill levels; diatonic and chromatic arrangements are among those available for selection. When selecting one that best matches your goals and playing style.
Buying a Concertina
Concertinas are musical instruments that produce sound through air passing over reeds. Concertinas are commonly found in folk music genres; however, other genres may use them too.
When purchasing a concertina, it’s essential that you select one that will stand the test of time. Though there may be many inexpensive models online, investing in higher quality instruments will ultimately prove more cost-effective in the long run.
A high-quality concertina should feature reeds crafted from real wood rather than paper or other flimsy materials to ensure you enjoy rich, full sound from your instrument.
Practicing
If you want to become proficient at playing the concertina, regular practice is key for creating muscle memory and honing your skills.
Selecting an instrument tailored to your skill level is also crucial, with concertinas ranging from budget-friendly models with no buttons at all to those equipped with many.
No matter the type of concertina you wish to learn, it is always advisable to select an instrument with a reliable manufacturer and high-grade materials – this will help guarantee an instrument with lasting durability and excellent sound quality.
As a way to begin practicing, begin with simple tunes and scales in order to master the push-pull technique. Once this becomes second nature, more challenging pieces should be attempted.