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Author Topic: Thinking of taking up melodeon  (Read 6341 times)

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AnnC

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Thinking of taking up melodeon
« on: December 25, 2010, 08:44:27 PM »

  I'm thinking of learning melodeon  ;D      I already play a 30 button C/G Anglo and Looking at the tunes I play most often, the keys range through the usual C, D, G and A majors. There are also quite a few in Am, Dm and Em, Eb, F and one that I'm told is in G#
......... ( despite having a C/G Anglo I play very little Irish ) .......

so what melodeon tunings would be the best to cope please  
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Lester

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #1 on: December 25, 2010, 08:48:14 PM »

Welcome anjle!

Guess we had better answer you now  ;D

There is of course no simple answer but if you want to play all those keys you really need a half step box (B/C, C#/D etc) or a B/C/C#.

More normal  >:E English style played use a D/G which will cover D, G, Em easily and Am and A with less ease.

Keyboard layouts HERE

Others will be along after the hols with more/better info.

« Last Edit: December 25, 2010, 08:52:16 PM by Lester »
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AnnC

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #2 on: December 25, 2010, 08:52:02 PM »

Guess we had better answer now  ;D

  Yes please  ;D
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 3 lovely Liliputs, a Preciosa, a Pokerwork & a C/G Anglo concertina :D

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2010, 08:52:35 PM »

GbH

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #4 on: December 25, 2010, 09:40:17 PM »

There is of course no simple answer but if you want to play all those keys you really need a half step box (B/C, C#/D etc) or a B/C/C#.

Also, a 12/18 bass D/G with a separate half or full row of accidentals and reversals would be another option.
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rees

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2010, 12:29:04 AM »

Forget all that other key stuff - the best melodeon has 10 buttons in the right and 2 in the left!

Bring it on ...............
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Chris Ryall

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2010, 02:54:57 AM »

See my post on http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,5678.new.html#new

.. essentially the same issue. You'll need a 3 row or a well chosen 2½ to cover all those keys and my comment on bass has much relevance. Basically most melodeons function best in 'related' keys and Eb may be difficult assuming you go standard D/G. You might like to keep such tunes for the anglo. 

My Oakwood 3 row covers into Eb (lacks chords), C and F - layout on http://chrisryall.net/scalefinder.xls (it hates Ab though)
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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2010, 11:16:36 AM »

See my post on http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,5678.new.html#new

.. essentially the same issue. You'll need a 3 row or a well chosen 2½ to cover all those keys and my comment on bass has much relevance. Basically most melodeons function best in 'related' keys and Eb may be difficult assuming you go standard D/G. You might like to keep such tunes for the anglo. 

My Oakwood 3 row covers into Eb (lacks chords), C and F - layout on http://chrisryall.net/scalefinder.xls (it hates Ab though)

 Thanks for the links, interesting reading,  the G/C/acc layouts seem to cover most possibilities  ;D  now to start saving up (or getting lucky with the lottery)
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 You hum it pet.......I'll play it......but not necessarily in the same key 🎶😊
 3 lovely Liliputs, a Preciosa, a Pokerwork & a C/G Anglo concertina :D

george garside

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2010, 09:34:38 PM »

if you want it all in one box ( playable in praactical terms) the BCC# is difficult to emulate! otherwise perhaps more t;han one melodeon?

george
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Christopher K.

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2010, 01:57:24 AM »

if you want it all in one box ( playable in praactical terms) the BCC# is difficult to emulate! otherwise perhaps more t;han one melodeon?

george

Yes! Melodeons are like motorcycles, guitars, harmonicas.. etc. Each one is unique, and it's hard to find one that multitasks perfectly. You must have more than one. Must.  ;D

Steve C.

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2010, 02:17:44 AM »

Don't save up. 

Get what you can afford now, recognizing that it will be just to start on, like a 20 button anglo.

Suggest either a BC, GC or GCF.
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AnnC

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2010, 11:30:13 AM »

Don't save up. 

Get what you can afford now, recognizing that it will be just to start on, like a 20 button anglo.

Suggest either a BC, GC or GCF.

 Good idea  (:) I'm going to ask every melodeon player I see if they'll let me have a go (with the offer of a pint as thanks     :|glug   )        That way I'll get a fair idea of the different types, then I can get a reasonable priced 2 (or 3) row to learn on while putting a bit aside to get a better one in the future    ;D
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On the bracing North Yorkshire Coast :D

 You hum it pet.......I'll play it......but not necessarily in the same key 🎶😊
 3 lovely Liliputs, a Preciosa, a Pokerwork & a C/G Anglo concertina :D

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2010, 11:55:27 AM »

That melodeon player is likely to be MAD and as such might (if on therapy) be willing to lend you one of his many instruments over say a month (bottle of wine? :|glug) - just a thought
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Ebor_fiddler

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2010, 03:42:30 PM »

My New Year Resolution (the first for oinks years) will be "I am NOT going to buy a new melodeon this year". It can't be hard because I managed to keep it until I bought my first, but they're a bit like chinese meals, aren't they?  :||: :||: :||: :Ph
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Owen Woods

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2010, 07:44:40 PM »

Don't save up. 

Get what you can afford now, recognizing that it will be just to start on, like a 20 button anglo.

Suggest either a BC, GC or GCF.

Agreed! Very much so.

My New Year Resolution (the first for oinks years) will be "I am NOT going to buy a new melodeon this year". It can't be hard because I managed to keep it until I bought my first, but they're a bit like chinese meals, aren't they?  :||: :||: :||: :Ph

Hah, mine too as it happens :P My resolution is not to buy any instrument except for maybe a new Charango, unless I see something unmissable or very cheap or if I have a better excuse.
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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #15 on: December 27, 2010, 11:57:24 PM »

I don't know if this is the first rule of melodeon acquisition, but it is among the top rules:

The instrument you are absolutely convinced is your final, perfect and penultimate box, is not.
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Theo

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #16 on: December 28, 2010, 12:00:54 AM »

My resolution is not to buy any instrument except for maybe a new Charango, unless I see something unmissable or very cheap or if I have a better excuse.

So that probably means one more instrument every two to three months, unless you cancel your ebay membership.  ;D
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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #17 on: December 28, 2010, 12:22:53 AM »

My resolution is not to buy any instrument except for maybe a new Charango, unless I see something unmissable or very cheap or if I have a better excuse.

So that probably means one more instrument every two to three months, unless you cancel your ebay membership.  ;D

Quite probably, given that over approx 15 months I got my mits on 8 accordions and sold one.

EDIT: I should add that only two of those cost over £100, none cost over £200 and almost all of them were or are complete wrecks :P
« Last Edit: December 28, 2010, 12:49:05 AM by ukebert »
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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #18 on: December 28, 2010, 11:41:48 AM »

Forget all that other key stuff - the best melodeon has 10 buttons in the right and 2 in the left!
What a profound and fundamental statement! I completely agree.
Even when I play a two or three-row, I tend to play on a single row with 2 left buttons (very often 1) only.
This is the most natural and oldest style of melodeon playing.
« Last Edit: December 28, 2010, 11:43:28 AM by Miklos Nemeth »
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Owen Woods

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Re: Thinking of taking up melodeon
« Reply #19 on: December 28, 2010, 11:41:07 PM »

Forget all that other key stuff - the best melodeon has 10 buttons in the right and 2 in the left!
What a profound and fundamental statement! I completely agree.
Even when I play a two or three-row, I tend to play on a single row with 2 left buttons (very often 1) only.
This is the most natural and oldest style of melodeon playing.

And arguably, the least musical, harmonically ;) I HATE hearing tunes played on the one-row without the subdominant. It just sounds wrong :(
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