English Concertina for Beginners Part 1

[@fingersmaloy]

Very informative and you're a delight to listen to! Thanks!

[@ruthwild6353]

Just started to learn and these videos are by far the most helpful thing to date. I think you are far too modest e.g. saying you are not a musician!

[@nytram1309]

Thanks for the kind comments! I hope you find the other videos helpful … best of luck with your playing !

[@JosMorn1]

Martyn, your videos are the very best for these lessons, in my opinion. I've now been performing on my English concertina for 8 or 9 years and when new students inquire for lessons, I'll get them started and help them along, but it's YOUR videos I insist they consult and follow.

[@nytram1309]

JosMorn1 That’s very kind of you to say so ... thanks. The idea was simply to get people started ... if the videos are still being used that’s great ;)

[@sayurikitamura7109]

Thank you for showing the instrument and explaining the difference between the types. I didn't know this before. Thanks a lot!

[@nytram1309]

You’re very welcome ... good luck with your playing :)

[@pandscarr]

What a lovely introduction to English concertina! Thank you so much,

[@kaugusta1]

Thank you for this series! I'm anticipating the arrival of my first English Concertina next week!! Have been running through your series so I can hit the ground running.

[@nytram1309]

kath art Wishing you all the best with it ... you'll have fun !

[@yavenanonymous]

thank you very much, I've recently bought an english concertina, and your clips are very useful, exactly what I needed. I'm a piano-accordion player, but no idea of concertina. thanks !

[@spencewhitt]

You’re an absolute legend. I’m a complete beginner and love this video so much

[@nytram1309]

spence whitt Hope you find the videos helpful! Best of luck with your playing ;)

[@c_farther5208]

Sounds like the English is better than the Anglo as far as playing different genres. Thank you for explaining all this to us. Well done, you're a very interesting gentleman. Wonderful!

[@b5b9]

Wonderful presentation. Very informative. Thank you for taking the trouble to post it. I look forward to viewing your other postings.

[@Annie5303]

I have been playing concertina now for 2 years . Mine is an irish concertina. Personally I think the irish concertina is the best sounding of them all also if you are starting concertina I highly recommend using an irish one and learning irish tunes. They sound the best. =]

[@nytram1309]

You're very welcome!! Yes, you can learn to play the anglo yourself ... it works on a push/pull system, different notes on the push and pull. One row of buttons will give you a scale in one key, say D, and the other row will give you a scale in another key, say G. Find and practice the scales then carry on from there ... many of my lessons here will be helpful too, because it's all about music rather than buttons :)

[@jeayae4941]

Thank you for the videos! Much appreciated and needful!

[@nytram1309]

j yae Thanks for the kind comments! Hope you find the videos helpful. Good luck with your playing !!

[@nutmegger1957]

thank you for taking the time to create this video.... I was discouraged to learn that valves and reeds were involved, but I should have known it, based on the concept of the instrument. Having to do upkeep on valves and reeds is enough to keep me from buying one.... Which is a pity, since I thought I might like to learn to play it. Surely do appreciate the video though.

[@NightingaleHMP]

What an excellent inroduction to this instrument..!! Thank you so much. I am considering taking this up and your informal into is fantastic - just what I need to know. Thank you so much for sharing this.......off to ebay now!!

[@craigwg]

Highly helpful. Thanks for making this video!

[@RAHilliard]

This is an amazing amount of effort on your part for something you could easily (and should still consider) selling! Even if they're out here for free you might find some folks (me) who would pay to have all of this on DVD/CD ROM! AC

[@irishlad6]

You have been quite helpful. Thanks for such great education and help :)

[@jandesnoo]

An interview with Martyn will appear in the ICA (International Concertina Association) Newsletter in March 2008. Martyn was so kind to receive me in his house and answer my questions about his lessons on KZbin and other subjects. It will make interesting reading. The editor: Pauline de Snoo

[@RjBenjamin353]

You’re doing great brother

[@nytram1309]

Hi there ... a 48 key, treble, steel reed, metal ended with 6 sides is the most common and best for session playing because it's a little louder than wooden ended. There are some modern made cheaper boxes around £350-£400 but the feel and action are quite poor when compared with a traditionally built instrument.

[@nytram1309]

Hi there ... I didn't buy mine new but yes, that's the price of a new one. They're made entirely by hand and take from 6 to 8 weeks to make ... so Wheatstone can only make around 7 or 8 a year ... and there's a waiting list of some years! Other makers charge less ... but beware, they often use accordion reeds and layouts which can be mass produced and give a different sound.

[@gyanissimo]

Thanks mate, nice inspiration to buy one and start too. Gyani

[@dtone1]

The usual recommendation for a beginner English concertina is to get a Concertina Connection Jackie (treble) or Jack (baritone) for about $400. You can get them in the UK so Google for them. You should be able to trade up later.

[@triumphkirsten]

I really enjoyed that thanks !! I'm now sad though because you have made me realise that the instrument I have is a cheapie and not much use. Carry on with the lessons on youtube though - think that is a great idea - much appreciated.

[@nytram1309]

You're very welcome ... good luck with your playing! Martyn

[@elizabethdekalb]

Hello. Thank you for this video. I'm seriously thinking about purchasing a concertina and have learned a great deal from this video that will help me with my purchase and with learning to play. I especially appreciate your comments about what a tenor treble concertina offers for playing range. Thank you again.

[@nytram1309]

elizabethdekalb I'm glad people are still finding these old videos helpful ! Best of luck with your playing !!

[@nytram1309]

Wheatstone, Lachenal, Jones, Crabb, Jeffries :)

[@Jcolinsol]

I'm leaning towards an english (I've got a cheapy anglo right now) because I find it's easier to pick out tunes on a piano keyboard, and I'm getting tripped up by the in/out thing on the anglo.

[@nytram1309]

The Jack plays an octave lower than the Jackie. Are you sure you want this? Yes ... all the videos can be used with any concertina using the English system. Look forward to seeing how you get on!

[@lorrainepowelson3470]

Your videos convinced me the English Concertina is an instrument I want to learn to play. I bought one today so am just getting started. I have mastered the C major scale and picked out The First Noel - not bad for the first day. All I have to work with is a basic knowledge of music from childhood piano lessons, your videos, and a short instruction book by Alistair Anderson. Any other resources available? Any future videos planned? Thank you for what you have posted thus far - very helpful.

[@brcp4321]

thanks for all that part 1 and 2 i am a late starter player and really looking forward to part 3 and 4 it sounds a lovely instrument what is the makers name again , i have a cheap Gremlin 6 sided i have given you 5 stars keep on squeezing

[@cheese012345678]

Mr Alan!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@nytram1309]

Depends what you want to do to some extent. On a 30 key you'll have enough notes to play folk dance tunes etc. If you want to accompany your singing you might want a box with more lower pitch notes. The 30 key will be lighter in weight and cheaper. In reality, some of the high notes on the 48 key boxes can only be heard by dogs and so are never used lol Does that help?

[@nytram1309]

Lachenal and Wheatstone are the main names to look for ... expect to pay a minimum of £750 for a good playable instrument made in the early 1900s (more for Wheatstone) but remember ... it'll hold it's value unlike a cheaper modern box. Does that help?

[@JuneauFolkArts]

Morse is also great, out in western Mass.

[@nytram1309]

Hi there, well, there are 16 videos here that should keep you going for a few weeks I'd think ;) Best of luck with it :)

[@RAHilliard]

Yes, this helps. I've been pricing and would love to find one for under $1,000.00 US. Would you have any links to websites handy? AC

[@connielyoung12]

I have a 56 button Crabb Concertina number 18542. Is there anything you can tell me about it? I've watched your videos up to lesson 6 and stopped because I need to start at the very begining. Thank you so very much for putting these videos on line. What a blessing! 😊

[@nytram1309]

Connie Young Hi there! If you make contact with the 'International Concertina Association' I'm sure you'll find some information there or someone able to answer your questions :)

[@RAHilliard]

Hello! could you advise as to a good starter English concertina? Perhaps some namebrands and links? Also, what size concertina should a beginner start with? I play some piano accordion but would love a smaller box to take to sessions. AC

[@nytram1309]

No adjustments at all ... just use your ears to find the C Major scale and then you'll be able to follow all the videos easily :) Good luck :)

[@wrenrover]

i have just acquired a 20 key english concertina. What sort of adjustments will be necessary to benefit from your video lessons. Thanks

[@gabkoost]

Pfff.. there is nothing like Portuguese Concertina! Kust browse on KZbin and see what we can do with it! Concertina is the main musical instrument of portuguese culture! 6 years kids play it like masters!

[@ederkis]

Your sound is very quiet, can you speak louder or turn up the volume. Feel I am going to learn a lot from this channel. Thank you

[@nytram1309]

Gloria I'm sorry ... these videos were made 11 years ago and there's no easy way for me to increase the volume now. Hope you find them helpful regardless !

[@nytram1309]

Please can you tell us what you mean by an Irish concertina? Maybe you mean an "Anglo" concertina? The reeds and construction of both Anglo and English are pretty much the same ... it's the style in which they're played that will make them sound different. Irish tunes can be fast and complicated, and some might just want to accompany their singing, or to play in all the different keys. So I stand by my comments in the video :)

[@scottyboy002ify]

Hi what some brands of English concertina that r known for being of good quality?

[@GiullarediDio]

Dickinson's site lists new 48-key Englishes in the region of 5000+ GBP! That's about a third of many people's annual wage, or the same as a high-end upright piano. Did you pay that sort of price?

[@GandalfsPipe]

RIck Steves!!

[@ericinsurgent]

5:20 Waxie's Dargle?

[@Subutubiata]

Yeah, apart from the fact that the Portuguese 'concertina' is in fact just a diatonic accordion. That's Portugal for you: the only country in world to be named after a jellyfish. No wonder they're confused...

[@nytram1309]

And who might you be? How's your maths? :)

[@nytram1309]

Need more clues than that lol