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Discussions => General Discussion => Topic started by: syale on December 27, 2018, 04:26:56 PM

Title: Other instruments
Post by: syale on December 27, 2018, 04:26:56 PM
All of us here either play or have an interest in melodeons (we wouldn't be here else :D)

What instrument, apart from your melodeon, gives you the most pleasure to play and why?

I like to play my native american flute in G (pentatonic, there is a sixth hole, covered, that makes it diatonic) because of the ease of playing and the haunting soothing sound. I have been considering another instrument to add to my collection. A hurdy gurdy would be nice but they are costly!

Stephen

Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Winston Smith on December 27, 2018, 04:37:49 PM
My "me" time is consumed by and with melodeons in one way or another, hence my other instruments lie idle.

Your question and my answer reminds me of when Number-One-Son was going to paint his little daughter's bedroom and asked her which colour she would like, "Pink" came the reply. "And which colour to go with it?" the doting dad asked, "Another pink!" the angel replied!
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Marje on December 27, 2018, 04:50:05 PM
I sing, and I regard my voice as my number one instrument. Apart from that I play various instruments badly - guitar, piano, recorder - but the thing that's giving me most fun at the moment is a newish ukulele. I'm enjoying playing a chordal accompaniment in sessions, especially if we have too many free-reed instruments, and relishng the possibilities of a using wider range of chords and keys, compared with the limited selection on my melodeon.

The uke is also a more adaptable instument than the melodeon for accompanying songs. However, it's not a melody instrument (except in expert hands) and I certainly couldn't lead a tune on it, so I still play the melodeon too. I'm really enjoying the flexibility of having a choice of instruments to hand.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: John MacKenzie (Cugiok) on December 27, 2018, 04:57:03 PM
Guitars 12 & 6 string, harmonicas, and occasionally the easiest instrument of all, the autoharp. I also sing accompanied, and unaccompanied.
Somewhere on Soundcloud, there are a few tracks of my modest oeuvre.


Sir John
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Anne Croucher on December 27, 2018, 05:20:43 PM
I sing, mostly unaccompanied these days, but I used to play guitar - a 6 string Framus Texan - I would probably  have had more if my hands were big enough to play them, but I can only cope with the narrow neck of the Framus.
I also have a whole herd of recorders in different sizes - though not the very big ones.
There are various keyboards around the house, and a couple of drums, a violin and I used to have a mandolin, now on loan.
I have Ericas, D/G and C/F, and a Hohner A/D/G as my main melodeons, the Barcarole D/G which was my first purchase, and they are my main instruments at the moment. I am probably learning more about reading music from involvement in the melodeon 'scene' than I have in the last 50 years of trying to make sense of dots.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Anahata on December 27, 2018, 05:21:20 PM
I also play Anglo concertina, and sometimes take it to sessions to cope with tunes in keys that don't fit well on a D/G melodeon, or for accompanying songs.
My first instrument (chronologically) is the cello. I'm part of group that meets monthly in people's houses to play mostly Welsh music, and it turns out the cello is ideal for that, as (a) some of the music is in keys out of reach of a D/G melodeon (especially D minor) and  (b) it's otherwise all high pitched melody instruments and needs a bass instrument. So it makes a huge and much appreciated contribution and obviously I like to be able to do that.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Graham Spencer on December 27, 2018, 05:39:20 PM
An interesting question, Stephen; I've always thought of myself primarily as a bass-player, so I guess the place I find most satisfaction outside melodeon-playing is working with a really good drummer as the engine-room of a folk-rock or blues band. However, the opportunities for those roles here in Cyprus are, respectively, nil and slim, so I find myself kind of revisiting my teenage roots, when I started out as a rhythm guitarist.  I'm currently working, as and when the gigs are forthcoming, as lead guitarist in a band playing mainly 50s-70s covers. It's not ideal, but it's enjoyable because a) I get on really well with the other 3 guys in the band; b) I get to revisit the music of my youth; c) it goes down a storm with our audiences and d) I get paid (though not a lot!)  for doing it.   Oh - and playing electric guitar does wonders for the arthritis that's making itself known in my left thumb; the day after a band gig I suddenly find operating the air button on a box much less painful.

Graham
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Howard Jones on December 27, 2018, 05:56:01 PM
These days I mainly find myself playing melodeon and anglo concertina.  I also play a bit of hammered dulcimer and recorder.  My first instrument was guitar but I don't seem to get much change to play that now, although I'm hoping to change that.

I find that if I'm getting a bit bored and stale on one instrument I can turn to another one and fine new things to do with that.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Dick Rees on December 27, 2018, 06:31:01 PM
I recently picked up a Hohner melodica.  Great little (inexpensive) "any key, any mode" addition for sessions, obviating the need to carry multiple 2-row boxes or my little 60- bass Weltmeister PA.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Roger Howard on December 27, 2018, 08:40:44 PM
I also try to play bagpipes. I started with northumbrian small pipes, after hearing Alistair Anderson, and am fortunate that my local session (mostly fiddles, flutes, percussion - my wife plays hammered dulcimer) not only includes another northumbrian piper, but that everyone else is happy to play a few tunes in F alongside us. They even seem appreciative of the sound of the pipes. ;)  Now I’m trying some bellows driven English border pipes in G  that Jon Swayne made for me >:E, but not yet in a session  :Ph.

Roger
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Tone Dumb Greg on December 27, 2018, 09:19:05 PM

I also try to play bagpipes. ...


I'm impressed. I bought a practice set of uillean pipes (no drones or regulators) years ago and I am still trying to get a tune out of them. I suspect I never will.

I started out playing piano, aged thirteenish and I have a few guitars, including an acoustic Fender, a texmex Strat and a Tachamine semi acoustic bass, which are fun to mess around on (slow airs sound great on the Strat), however, my favourite second choice instruments are the mandolin family: Mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, etc.

Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: howard mitchell on December 27, 2018, 09:21:18 PM
I learnt piano to grade 2 when I was 10, then double bass to grade 6 when I was 17. This included orchestral playing and blues/jazz. It wasn’t until 1970 that I started playing folk music and added the Anglo concertina and melodeon.

I still play double bass for occasional orchestral work, some musical theatre and song accompaniment and with the English String Band.

Mitch
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Jesse Smith on December 27, 2018, 09:46:18 PM
In general order of when I learned to play them:

Recorder (probably couldn't play anything these days without some experimentation)
Guitar, acoustic and electric, folk, blues, pop/rock
Electric bass, blues and pop/rock
Harmonica
Piano (took this fairly seriously in college, glad to know it for the music theory as much as for playing)
Tin whistle
Melodeon

I really like the "one man band" aspect of the melodeon, which lets me play alone and still produce something that sounds full and satisfying in a way that electric guitar rarely does.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Clive Williams on December 27, 2018, 09:50:39 PM
I'm really enjoying learning to play fiddle at the moment. The thing is that my melodeon playing has... er... plateau'ed for a while now, and it would take a *lot* of practice and time - more than I have - to significantly move on. While my fiddle playing is pretty basic, I can hear improvement, and that's a new thing for me. I play piano too, but that has plateau'ed too, and while there's plenty of room for improvement, it would take a lot to move it on significantly.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Squeaky Pete on December 27, 2018, 10:51:53 PM
First instrument is Northumbrian pipes but I've always played electric bass with all sorts of bands. Then I bought a pokerwork when I came south and a couple of weeks later I was playing for Morris.
Once I got playing with the band electric bass wasn't convenient for pub playing so I got a g bass trombone. Around the time we were playing mostly french stuff I resurrected the bassoon from my school playing as it was far more suitable than trombone and easier to arrange with cello.
Then Mel wanted a bass trombone for another project and kindly swapped for a Musette Bechonnet so I had something else to learn. I rather took to the French pipes and really enjoyed playing them.
Then I bought a listed building to restore and put everything in the loft.
Now I've had about 3 months of getting back into bassoon and melodeon and think I am many months off getting to a listenable standard.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Steve_freereeder on December 28, 2018, 07:11:27 AM
I'm basically a wind player. I started learning the recorder in 1961 and the clarinet in 1963, expanding into bass clarinet and alto saxophone a few yeas later. I still play clarinet and bass clarinet orchestrally and in chamber ensembles, and consider them to be my main instruments. Recently even my alto recorder has been dusted off for a performance of Bach's Brandenburg 4 next March.

In contrast, I didn't really get properly started on melodeon and anglo until the 1980s.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Henry Piper on December 28, 2018, 10:17:08 AM
 in Addition to playing the melodeon for Country dances, Morris and song accompaniment, I also play Drums in a Dixieland/Trad jazz band and am currently struggling to learn a few chords on a plectrum banjo for use in both Genres !!, …  although to be honest its not going too well at present, even using guitar tuning for the banjo, old age and incipient arthritis make chord shape making uncomfortable if not painful at times, … other banjo players tell me I Will get used to it !!!.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: syale on December 28, 2018, 03:03:23 PM
Some really interesting answers and some common things with me. I learnt the recorder at school and still have a descant in C. I too have a fiddle and had planned to take lessons toward the back end of this year but life and work carried me a long a little. I turn 60 in 5 days and only wish I had gotten into playing music a lot earlier because of the joy it brings to me. The key is focus and I, like Clive, have slightly plateaued so I am looking for inspiration for something a little different and now I have some ideas to encourage me!

Stephen
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Stiamh on December 28, 2018, 04:04:30 PM
I think we've had a thread very like this one some time ago. But at risk of repeating myself, I'm really a fiddle player, and I'm quite sure I wouldn't be playing squeezebox at all had focal dystonia in my shoulder and bowing arm not put the kaibosh on my career as a fiddler after more than 20 years. 

During the 10 frustrating years between the onset of the problem and my finding out what it was, I concentrated on playing the whistle, which I already had basic skills on, being unwilling to take up a more physically demanding instrument while my ailment was not understood. After I got the diagnosis I realised that I might be able to play box without problems and started in 2004 and so far so good (touch wood). It was a relief to have an instrument that could lead a dance-band - whistle being not terribly useful for that!

I just about consider myself a box player now (:) Funny though, the old brain is hard-wired to the fiddle, and I can pick up a new tunes much more reliably on fiddle (which I can still play for short periods although, without the fine control I used to have, it doesn't sound too hot) than on the other instruments. Just hearing a traditional tune played on fiddle, although I don't have perfect pitch at all at all, I know what key it's in and what notes are being played just by the timbre and effects of the bow.

But the box is fun, a new lease of musical life for me, and I'm grateful to be still able to make music - "to amuse myself and annoy others" as Packie Manus Byrne would say.  :|glug
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: kenakordeon on December 28, 2018, 04:58:33 PM
In order of skill level and experience: piano accordion; tenor guitar and tenor banjo; Breton bombarde-- "to amuse myself and annoy others!!" I think harmonically on the piano accordion using the combination of the stradella bass and the piano keyboard. My harmony on the tenors is found by first thinking of how and where on the piano keyboard the notes of the chords are found then translating those notes to the fretboard. One step too many and I'm hoping someday to be able to skip that first step. I do not play single note melodic lines on the tenors. I'm very happy to try to keep a solid chordal rhythm behind all of the more stellar instrumentalists.

I read music and find that skill to be helpful to my learning tunes on the single-row/10 + 4 Bouchard but I find I play mostly "intuitively" on the melodeon.

And a Happy New Year to Y'all!

ken
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Robin Tims on December 28, 2018, 05:58:02 PM
At the moment I guess English Concertina is most successful after some 20 years of playing, more or less alongside Melodeons.

On that I tend to be frustratingly dots dependent to a large degree, so it typically gets most use in a Playford band where the keys are often not box friendly, plus sundry ensemble stuff. I enjoy playing it at sessions too, as a break from Melodeon, and for the dots use the brilliant ForScore software on an iPad. This is highly uncool of course (though seen more often these days) but is forgiven on account of my advanced years and dodgy memory.

Right now I am working hard on getting to grips with my C/G Anglo, mainly with Irish tunes but a few chordy English ones as well. Sadly progress is seriously held up by my habit of breathing with the bellows, and I cannot seem to get over this although it is not a problem on boxes. Strangely however I do seem to be able to remember tunes reasonably on Anglo without the dots.

I enjoy a little time on Piano Accordion occasionally. Very atmospheric for some music but can get a bit 'treacly legato' without good playing technique.

In about 2008 I started lessons on folk Fiddle, an instrument I now admire so much for it's sound and versatility that I wish I had started way back 'in the beginning'. I still have it and fool around occasionally but my ambitions well exceed any latent ability.

That gave way to Hurdy Gurdy around 2009 and we still have one Luteback in the house which gets an airing from time to time. When well set up the sound of a Gurdy is, to me, truly wonderful, I just love it. We found though that more time was spent on tuning and adjusting (in just temperament !) than actually playing tunes which was a pain when playing away from home.

Echoes remaining from my youth when I was taught all about the dots, include a Clavinova Piano and a Chromatic Harmonica although I have more ability on the latter where I suspect my Anglo bellows breathing problem comes from.

Phew, Rob
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Graham Spencer on December 28, 2018, 06:58:33 PM
This has been a very interesting thread so far- what an assorted and multi-talented bunch we have here. Keep 'em coming - I'm looking forward to discovering the melodeonist who is a nose-flute virtuoso and a whizz on the glass harmonica.......  ;) :|glug

Graham
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Barry Tolson on December 29, 2018, 12:35:49 AM
Piano for 50+ years, then French horn, alto horn, mellophone, mandolin, ukulele, recorder, voice, piano accordion...and now melodeon. As a school boy I dropped out of band after a few weeks with the French horn and carried the guilt for decades. In my mid fifties I took up the French horn again...to alleviate the guilt. I had a teacher from the local symphony until she took a job with the Pittsburgh symphony, so have been on my own with the Horn for several years now. This experience got me thinking that I would like to try some other instruments before my time is up....and have enjoyed most everything I've picked up and tried, the exception being the bagpipes!  Really enjoying singing bass in a local men's choir for the past few years...German songs in 4 part harmony. Most recent instrument is the hunting horn...which will be followed by a parforce horn if/when I find one to my liking.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: hickory-wind on December 29, 2018, 01:21:07 PM
Currently on sabbatical from the guitar to tackle button accordion. Someday I'll pick it up again.

Clearly I contracted GAD before getting MAD. Probably weakened my immune system.

Second photo is back in in '72 with long hair and 3 Les Pauls. A lot skinnier back then too...

Scott

Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Stockaryd on December 29, 2018, 02:35:01 PM
. . .As most of you , guitars and woodwind.

But after a week in Canarie Islands, I went home and buildt a "Timple".  And then I played it! 

What is a "Timple"?           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNipYm8yJQ8         (Not me playing   (:)   )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzmJ13f7r3g   
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: syale on December 29, 2018, 03:31:45 PM
Clearly I contracted GAD before getting MAD. Probably weakened my immune system.
Scott

 :D so funny! I bet they brought you a lot of enjoyment!
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Chris Rayner on December 29, 2018, 07:41:27 PM
Unsuccessful, and, to be honest, largely reluctant periods of instruction as a schoolboy on violin and piano.  Wished to emulate Hank B Marvin on the guitar, swiftly progressed to steel strung guitar and banjo when I discovered folk music in the early sixties.  Moved on to acoustic blues guitar, then 12-string.  Brief flirtation with the flute.

Then life, work, marriage and family sapped most of the energy and discipline necessary for music until I retired ten years ago.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Randal Scott on December 29, 2018, 08:25:52 PM

Then life, work, marriage and family sapped most of the energy and discipline necessary for music until I retired ten years ago.

Ah, the age-old choice between - family life, and aesthetic life.. :|glug

While I'm in the same quandary - with family obligations - I've used music to help compensate.  I gave myself permission to "go crazy" and assuage my musical inclinations without much restraint.  Consequently, I learned a lot of instruments in the process of getting to some that really inspire me (currently Gaelic wire harp, Chinese guzheng, Arabic oud, strings of every sort..)

I started out with woodwinds at age 9, but my daughter is the one playing my old horns now - with all the other interests and pursuits I rarely practice horns anymore..

*But my main thing is fiddle and box, with some PA for Satie, gyosy..
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Steve C. on February 01, 2019, 01:04:18 PM
Roger and Pete: just a warning
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: JimmyM on February 01, 2019, 03:26:43 PM
SO MANY INSTRUMENTS, SO LITTLE TIME...
most of my teens and then parenting life it was guitars and mandolins but after the (lovely) children grew up and flew the coup and my money became more or less my own I've gone a bit mental. Took up the anglo concertina. Then melodeon, tenor banjo, flute and for some mad reason, age 60, I decided I wanted to learn to play the fiddle. I have a lesson once a fortnight.I find it the most difficult but very rewarding but after a year i still wouldnt take it to a session whereas I can pretty much get a tune or three out of the rest.
I drive for a living and always take an instrument to work to play in the cab during breaks and fiddle playing just takes up to much space. So i mostly play box or banjo during the day. I'll come in from work and do my fiddle practice. And the flute, concertina and banjo are left on the settee to be picked up as and when the mood takes me
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Gromit on February 01, 2019, 04:10:26 PM
Wooden keyed flute, Irish flute or simple system flute like Matt Molloy (I wish) and whistle, fingerstyle guitar in the past before a hand injury. For sessions it's the flute when playing for the occasional ceildh with some mates I play the box.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Joan Kureczka on February 01, 2019, 06:21:16 PM
Many years of piano and voice as a child and teen, then wire-strung celtic harp for a few years until life got turned upside-down in the late '80s and I started working for myself. About 10 years ago I started thinking about wanting an instrument again and got seduced by a melodeon a bit less than 7 years ago at Towersey. A year later, serious MADness set in. Up to 6 boxes now, but that will take a bit of effort to catch up with my husband's 12 or so guitars (and multiple antique synths)....
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: oggiesnr on February 02, 2019, 02:44:37 PM
I play too many instruments with strings on them but neck issues have seen off the double bass and the heavier guitars and basses as well as five string banjo.

On the blowing front, whistle, recorder, tabor pipe and Native American Flute.

On the oddity side I play bowed psaltery but my main instrument now is anglo concertina.

Steve
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Steve C. on February 02, 2019, 03:19:25 PM
annoying:
concertina, tin whistle, pipe and tabor,  5 string banjo
tolerable:
melodeon, tenor/17 fret banjo, Streb, harmonium
usually welcome:
piano
(note: skill level on all = poor)
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: pbsalt on February 02, 2019, 03:36:57 PM
Piano Lessons as a child. Then when I started going to folk clubs at University I bought a piano accordion because I got so annoyed at guitarists spending hours tuning up during their "floor spots". Then when I moved to Scotland discovered I discovered a) lots of Scottish piano accordion virtuosos who I'd never be able to emulate  and b) I liked  the sound of melodeons and the sound made by the English dance bands of the 80's so I gradually switched from accordion to  D/G melodeon.. Since then apart from  acquiring several melodeons I have a couple of anglo concertinas which is what I  enjoy playing as an  alternative to melodeon.       
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Sebastian on February 02, 2019, 03:56:47 PM
What instrument, apart from your melodeon, gives you the most pleasure to play and why?
Melodica. Having a normal, but portable piano keyboard, where every note is at your fingertip and where you can freely switch between keys, between major and minor is sooooo refreshing & enjoyable.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: tirpous on February 02, 2019, 06:38:14 PM
Over the years, I've learned and played piano, recorder, clarinet, guitar, electric guitar, electric bass, upright bass, mandolin, fiddle, accordion(s!!!), and banjo.

I still play most, on occasion at least.  I like to noodle (music as self-therapy), mostly on piano, guitar, mandolin and the box(es!!!)

Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: busbox on February 02, 2019, 10:23:52 PM
First encounter with playing music was at teachers college (the snobbishly named THE Teachers College in Sydney) in mid sixties. Music theory and recorder for the classroom. Also took up guitar. Married a teacher and we had a 'renaissance' trio with a viol player.
Then got interested in 'bush' music and world music and took up whistle and harmonic and was given a melodeon. Also exchanged guitar for fiddle lessons. Was given a banjo and a rauschfife and cow's horn, jaw harp, bodhran, thumb piano. Bought mandolin, two more button accordions and most lately lap Dobro resonator.
Guitar usually gets attention as I like to write songs. Whistle, harmonica, melodeon and jig doll get taken busking. 2018 was a hard year healthwise and my left hand is weak or suffered some nerve pain. I am working on the whistle to restore efficiency, harmonica still okay. melodeon is good but I have been hampered by arms on the wheelchair. I can just about manage the slide on the Dobro although my left hand ring finger is lazy.
This recent experience makes me very glad that instruments draw on different motor skills. It also makes me realise how important 'muscle memory' is to folk players. Indeed, playing the different instruments makes it quite clear that the different instruments cause/ create different interactions with our bodies and minds. We should try to play more than one, I reckon.
Tony
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: IanD on February 02, 2019, 11:14:14 PM
Started on recorder -- as you do -- then clarinet, guitar, banjo, mandolin, anglo concertina, melodeon, baritone sax, electric bass. Not all stuck...
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Pete Dunk on February 03, 2019, 12:22:53 AM
annoying:
concertina,
(note: skill level on all = poor)

Sorry but 'concertina' is annoyingly non-specific. Are you a poor anglo player (Wheatstone or Jeffries layout), a poor English player or a poor duet player? If the latter which duet system?
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: brianread on February 03, 2019, 08:02:54 AM
Recorder at school aged 6, then fiddle which I gave up as my father moaned about the noise  >:(

Guitar at University in the 60s (I can still recognise the chord shapes - very useful in sessions to identify the key and/or just play basses).

Melodeon from 1970, brief encounter with English and Duet concertina then Anglo from the 1980's, but went back to Melodeon in 2005 (and sold the 38 key Jeffries for a big profit)

Whistle in 2010 (mainly to pick up tunes from dots).

Now working on Anglo Concertina again (D/G) in anticipation of being unable to play melodeon at some point in the next 20 years.

PS I forgot a flirtation with a Hammered Dulcimer in the early 1990s
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Winston Smith on February 03, 2019, 09:25:14 AM
Seeing as Stephen's original question has morphed into replies relating our musical history, here's my sorry tale!

From the humble triangle and recorder of infant school to finding a love for singing in junior school, grammar school threw me out of the school choir auditions when I had a cold!
Teenage years brought about an interest in the six string guitar, and was followed by a 4 string banjo (nicely LOUD!) then a Tiny Tim ukulele, performing complete with the falsetto voice, which was very tiring, then a lovely Eko 12 stringer. I'm not sure whether the Lachenal 48 key English concertina came next or the Windsor 5 string zither banjo.

Anyway, along with singing in the Local Methodist Chapel choir, the Windsor, the Lachenal and the Eko turned out to be keepers, but only the concertina was played, occasionally, for the next 40 years, as work, family and the rest of and real life got in the way. I stumbled upon the melodeon after selling the concertina and missing something to squeeze (other than my darling wife!) in the summer of 2015. Following on, there has been a resurgence in trying to sing folk songs, coupled with either a downward spiral of MADness, or a newly found flourish of poorly played music; depending on which angle you look at it from.
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: george garside on February 03, 2019, 10:20:20 AM
not that its of much interest to anybody my ?musical history started by making     ?horrible noises on a mouthie  while at primary school  .  This must for some reason or another made me like 'free reed' instruments  as did listening to Jimmy Shand and  other great bands on the 'wireless'.  So at around 14 I was given a 120 bass accordion and didn't get very far with it.  One of my mates  then got a hohner double ray BC  and I found that I could play that (after a fashion) intuitively so bought one. The two of us got to the stage where if only one knew a particular tune the other could also play it if we sat facing each other!


Much later after the financial tribulations of marriage and 3 kids  I managed to but a hohner trichord  and that was an absolute revolation after the BC, being playable in keys I didn't know existed.  I then progressed through a gaelic to a 4 voice BCC# Paulo soprani - a lovely box but didn't have the sound of the gaelic  but later bought another Paulo as you do!.  much later I joined a morris side and discovered the DG box   - light , loud  and ideal with enough bass to thump out a good rhythm and still use a 3 voice DG for ceilidh band work because , at 76, the lightness is very helpful.  I do however still play the BC 2 row and a superb ex Brandon McPhee hohner gaelic


george
Title: Re: Other instruments
Post by: Steve C. on February 03, 2019, 01:07:50 PM
Pete, annoying concertina details:
I did have an old treble Wheatstone English, which was annoying because I played it so poorly.  Also it was not quite A440.
Which I traded in and eventually got a a G/D Anglo, Wheatstone layout (with G/G drone: thanks Steve FR!) which is also (presently) annoying because I play it so poorly (excuse = beginner)
Particularly annoying to family and pets when played in D (pitch).

As an aside, but certainly related to the OP, one of the charms of melodeon is that, with the basses and chords "built in" even a beginner sounds good (me = beginner)  Not a lot of other instruments are like that.
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