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[Barry Swanson]

Hi, I bought a Double Ray Deluxe a couple of weeks ago, to learn Irish music on...Triskel asked me on the Repair part of the forum what  method of playing do I want to employ...I had to say, I don't know.
He explained to me that my key board layout  is different to the modern ones, so my plan to learn online could have hit a pothole.
I don't know of a teacher nearby so I'm keen to hear your thoughts please.
Regards, dazed-confused   

[Theo]

He explained to me that my key board layout  is different to the modern ones, so my plan to learn online could have hit a pothole.

It is only the bass keys that are different, so as long as your tutor is for a BC box you will be ok for the treble side.

[triskel]

It is only the bass keys that are different ...

Exactly! 

But Barry hadn't mentioned wanting to play Irish music until he replied to me, whilst there's a very good chance that the original owner of his Double Ray probably played it the old way on the straight row, as a "C melodeon with accidentals" like I was explaining.

So if you want to play Irish music on a B/C box with other instruments Barry, you'll have to learn to play it "across the rows" in  D, G and A, and if you want to use the basses on your old Double Ray you will probably need to get them changed to suit that, either to the "Paolo Soprani" layout or one of various others that are in use today by Irish players.

(That's assuming it has 8 bass buttons on the left-hand side, a 1950's Double Ray could alternatively have 12 bass buttons in a piano-accordion type layout.  )

[Barry Swanson]

...thanks guys, and apologies Stephen   

The tutorial I was watching was by Derek Hickey of the oaim...do you imagine he would teach it "across the rows" ?
As  this box needs a full going over I guess its not making any more work to change the bass layout...a bit more expense for the different reeds ?
...and yes , it has 8 bass buttons...cheers

[triskel]

The tutorial I was watching was by Derek Hickey of the oaim...do you imagine he would teach it "across the rows" ?

Absolutely! You can't play a B/C in the right keys otherwise.

Indeed it says on their website:

"B/C Accordion Basics

This course is suitable for the absolute beginner accordionist. Derek begins by teaching the scales of D and G then moves onto playing tunes and ornaments that get progressively more advanced..."

[Barry Swanson]

[quote author=triskel

Absolutely! You can't play a B/C in the right keys otherwise.

...cheers for that.
I think I'm getting somewhere...I'll get a modern bass layout, recondition everything and I'll be good to go.   

The past couple of weeks has been an eye opener for me, and I have to say, the melodian, with all its styles , methods, tunings, layouts, voices, tones, makers, personal variations etc etc is a far more complex animal than I ever imagined... the one my Dad had in the wardrobe when I was a kid, that he dragged out once a year and played
" The yellow rose of Texas " or similar to us was a far simpler creature!

[LDbosca]

Just don't get the McComiskey layout on the basses, it doesn't really make a lot of sense!

[Barry Swanson]

...thanks everyone.
Think I'll just get the  the melody/treble side done at this stage and come back to the bass side a bit further down the line when I' know what I want....unless someone can convince me otherwise!