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[Ollie]

Hi

I haven't got my box yet, but I have already been thinking about making changes to it (I know I shouldn't, but hey) Would it be possible to change the Bmaj chord to a Bmin chord? How much would it cost? Also, is it a good idea? I've always wondered why if it's a D/G box, it has a Bmaj chord. I know that a lot of music I am thinking of playing has Bmin chords in, so it would be useful for me. Any thoughts would really useful

Ollie

[Dazbo]

Ollie, good question

There are two ways round the B major/Bminor conundrum on a DG box.  The first and, despite what others say my preferred option, is to leave the box as it is and cross row on the basses.  To play a Bminor play the B bass note with the D major chord.  This gives you Bminor7 which, is close enough.  You can do this with other chords too to get Aminor7 for example

Alternatively, what a lot of players do is to take the bass end off the box and using some suitable sticky tape (masking? insulation?) cut off the air supply to the thirds of the chords (i.e. stop the D# reeds of the Bmajor chord sounding.  One of the other chaps on the forum can give you tips on how to do this suffice it to say it's best not to stick the tape where it'll damage reeds or other working parts.  And to make matters more interesting it may take a bit of trial and error to work out which reeds are the thirds .  I know some players that have taken out only some of the thirds and some that have taken out all of them.

The best option is to get a box that has a bass stop/register to take the thirds out

[Alison Scott]

Hi

I haven't got my box yet, but I have already been thinking about making changes to it (I know I shouldn't, but hey) Would it be possible to change the Bmaj chord to a Bmin chord? How much would it cost? Also, is it a good idea? I've always wondered why if it's a D/G box, it has a Bmaj chord. I know that a lot of music I am thinking of playing has Bmin chords in, so it would be useful for me. Any thoughts would really useful

Ollie

I'd agree with everything Dazbo said, but I do play things occasionally with both Bmin and B in the bass part (I noticed this yesterday with one of the Christmas carols I was practising; sorry, can't remember which one) so having a stop is not a complete solution. My G/C box does have the minor chord (I have a vague feeling this is more common in France?); because I don't play G/C terribly much I'm not at the stage where I miss having the major chord available. But on D/G there are some times when that B major chord is delicious, and unlike Bmin there isn't a cheat to get the effect by another route.

[oldclubII]

Sometimes I only play the bass notes while playing a melody in minor mode.

[Simon]

I've always wondered why if it's a D/G box, it has a Bmaj chord.

It's for Eminor tunes. That's why they're on the same button.  :)