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[Barry J]

Looking at the keyboard layout of a 21 key DG, can somebody tell me which notational range the keys cover ??

For example, I have see that there are three D's in the line-up - is the middle one the one on the stave ??

[Stiamh]

The lowest D on each row is a tone above middle C.

[Andy Simpson]

Now you've had the real answer you can have the silly one....too high at the top and not low enough at the bottom. 

[Barry J]

Thanks for that.

I'm struggling a bit as I often play music with a middle C natural and it seems that the D/G can't cope with that.

The B/C melodeon seems to have the notes that I need (middle nat C and C sharp), with the only one missing being a Bb ??

I want to make sure that I get the right tuning..

[Ollie]

The B row will have an A#, which is the enharmonic equivalent of a Bb. 

The choice of box very much depends on what style of music you want to play. If you want to play Irish or Celtic music, most people use a semi-tone box, such as a B/C. However, if you want to play in a more English/European style, most people use a quint (or quad) box, such as a D/G. Once you've decided which system you want, then you can think about what key to get your box in. If you want to play a quint box, and want to be able to play stuff with middle C, then a C/F will suit you perfectly.

[Andrew Wigglesworth]

If you leave the straps on and give 'em a good swing you can get quite a distance 

[Graham Spencer]

The thing is, there isn't really a "standard" layout for D/G keyboards; there is what has become widely accepted as "conventional", but many of use use modified layouts that allow us notes that wouldn't otherwise be available to us.  For instance, mine has a 4th-button tonic and gives me a full octave downwards from there, including the missing Middle C. Admittedly mine is a 2.5 row so the accidentals weren't an issue, but I've run across boxes where the accidentals are located up at the squeaky end rather than taking up valuable space at the low end, so you could have the layout altered to give you a 4th-button tonic and the accidentals up the dusty end and that should address the problem. It also confuses other players who pick up your box expecting it to be conventionally laid out!

[Anahata]

mine has a 4th-button tonic and gives me a full octave downwards from there, including the missing Middle C. Admittedly mine is a 2.5 row so the accidentals weren't an issue, but I've run across boxes where the accidentals are located up at the squeaky end rather than taking up valuable space at the low end, so you could have the layout altered to give you a 4th-button tonic and the accidentals up the dusty end

My Oakwood has 4th button start, accidentals at the usual end, goes down to G and has a middle C natural.

G row:       F/D#   B/C   D/F#   G/A etc
D row: G#/Bb   G/A   A/C#   D/E etc

Starting with a "standard" 4th button start box, only two reeds have to be retuned: D to C on the G row and F# to G on the D row.
The bottom octave G scale crosses between the rows but all the notes are in the right directions.

Now you've had the real answer you can have the silly one....too high at the top and not low enough at the bottom. 

Not here 
I also have  a Pokerwork with the low octave as above and no accidentals...

My Saltarelle Connemara 2.5 row has accidentals at the end as well as on the half row, and after the above mod was performed on it (thanks Dave Jolly) it is now fully chromatic over three octaves! 

Adrian Murfitt (Wide Glide band) has accidentals at both ends, so there are accidentals over about two octaves, which looks like a good idea.

[ganderbox]

I'm struggling a bit as I often play music with a middle C natural and it seems that the D/G can't cope with that.

The middle C natural is one of the notes that players seem to miss most on a standard D/G layout.
However there's no reason why you can't put one on even a third button start box, but you will have to decide which of the existing notes you can most bear to part with.
My choice was to put the C nat on the first button on the pull on the D row, and do without the low A.
Others prefer to put it on the first button of the G row, and do without the D on the pull.

[HallelujahAl]

Middle C natural on my D/G was conveniently placed instead of the low C# - I have found it to be so useful, I don't really think I could do without it now.

[Alison Scott]

I missed the middle C quite a lot, and on my 4th button doh box I have one as others have described. But in the meantime I've come to miss that note and the B below rather less on my small boxes, because I've got into the habit of playing the bass note instead, together with (sometimes) harmonising higher notes. I was told that nobody notices, and I think that's probably true.

[Steve C.]

I have a DG Pokerwork with low notes and find it very nice.  Even so, there are a lot of buttons with dust on them at the other end.