The concertina accordion, with its unique hexagonal shape and rich, resonant sound, has been a beloved instrument in various musical traditions around the world. Originating in the early 19th century, it has found its way into folk music, classical compositions, and even some contemporary music scenes. Its compact size and portability make it an attractive choice for musicians on the go, while its complex system of buttons and reeds offer a wide range of musical possibilities.
The concertina accordion is not as widely known as some other instruments like the piano or guitar, but it has a charm all its own. Learning to play the concertina accordion can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to express your musical creativity in a distinct way. This article will serve as a comprehensive guide to help you get started on your journey to mastering this fascinating instrument. Whether you are a complete beginner with no prior musical experience or an experienced musician looking to add a new instrument to your repertoire, this guide will provide you with the essential knowledge and techniques to start playing the concertina accordion.
Understanding the Concertina Accordion
The Basics of the Instrument
The concertina accordion is a free-reed aerophone. It consists of a hexagonal-shaped bellows in the center, with two sets of buttons on either side. The buttons are arranged in rows, and each button corresponds to a specific note. When you press a button and move the bellows, air is forced through the reeds, producing sound.
The number of buttons on a concertina accordion can vary. Common models have anywhere from 20 to over 100 buttons. The more buttons an instrument has, the wider its range of notes. For beginners, a smaller-sized concertina with fewer buttons, such as a 20-button or 30-button model, is often recommended as it is more manageable.
Parts of the Concertina Accordion
Bellows: The bellows is the heart of the instrument. It is responsible for generating the air flow that makes the reeds sound. The bellows are made of a flexible material, usually leather or a synthetic substitute. When you expand or contract the bellows, air is either drawn in or pushed out, depending on the direction of movement.
Button Boards: The two sides of the concertina accordion are equipped with button boards. These boards contain the buttons that you press to produce notes. The buttons are typically arranged in a logical pattern, with adjacent buttons producing notes that are close in pitch.
Reeds: Inside the instrument, there are sets of reeds. Each reed is tuned to a specific pitch. When air passes over a reed, it vibrates, creating the sound. The quality of the reeds greatly affects the tone of the concertina accordion. High-quality reeds will produce a clear, rich sound, while lower-quality ones may result in a more muffled or inconsistent tone.
Getting Started
Choosing the Right Concertina Accordion
Size and Button Configuration: As mentioned earlier, for beginners, a smaller-sized concertina with fewer buttons is a good choice. A 20-button or 30-button Anglo-concertina (a common type) is relatively easy to handle and can cover a decent range of notes for learning basic melodies. If you plan to play more complex music in the future, you may consider investing in a larger-sized instrument with more buttons as you progress.
Quality and Budget: There is a wide range of prices for concertina accordions. You can find beginner-level instruments for a few hundred dollars, while professional-grade concertinas can cost several thousand. When choosing an instrument, balance your budget with quality. Look for instruments from reputable manufacturers. A well-made concertina will have better-tuned reeds, smoother-functioning bellows, and more durable construction, which will make your learning experience more enjoyable.
Try Before You Buy: If possible, visit a music store or a dealer and try out different concertina accordions. Feel the weight of the instrument, test the responsiveness of the buttons, and listen to the sound it produces. This hands-on experience can help you make a more informed decision.
Setting Up Your Playing Environment
Comfortable Seating: Find a comfortable chair where you can sit upright with good posture. Your feet should be flat on the floor, and your back should be supported. This will help you hold the concertina accordion properly and prevent fatigue during long practice sessions.
Good Lighting: Ensure that your playing area has good lighting. You need to be able to clearly see the buttons on the concertina accordion to press the correct ones. Natural light is ideal, but if you are practicing indoors at night, use a bright, adjustable lamp.
Quiet Space: Choose a quiet space for practicing. This will allow you to focus on the sound of the instrument and hear any mistakes you make. If you live in a noisy environment, you may consider using sound-proofing materials or practicing during quiet times of the day.
Holding the Concertina Accordion
Proper Posture
Sitting Posture: Sit at the edge of your chair, with your back straight but not rigid. Keep your shoulders relaxed and your head level. Your elbows should be at a comfortable angle, not too high or too low. This posture will help you maintain control over the instrument and prevent tension in your muscles.
Standing Posture: If you prefer to stand while playing, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your knees slightly bent and your weight evenly distributed. Your back should be straight, and your shoulders should be relaxed. Hold the concertina accordion at a comfortable height in front of your body.
Holding the Instrument
Positioning the Bellows: Place the bellows of the concertina accordion in the crook of your left arm if you are right – handed (or vice versa if you are left-handed). The center of the bellows should rest against your body, close to your ribcage. This will provide a stable base for the instrument.
Holding the Button Boards: Use your right hand to hold the right – hand button board and your left hand to hold the left-hand button board. Place your fingers gently on the buttons, ready to press them. Your hands should be relaxed, and your fingers should be curved in a natural position. Avoid gripping the instrument too tightly, as this can restrict the movement of the bellows and make it difficult to play smoothly.
Basic Techniques
Using the Bellows
Controlled Expansion and Contraction: The key to producing a good sound on the concertina accordion is to move the bellows in a smooth and controlled manner. When expanding the bellows, start slowly and gradually increase the speed. The same goes for contracting the bellows. Sudden, jerky movements of the bellows will result in an uneven sound. Practice moving the bellows back and forth at a steady pace, focusing on maintaining a constant air flow.
Direction of Bellows Movement for Different Notes: In some types of concertinas, such as the Anglo-concertina, different rows of buttons produce different notes depending on whether the bellows are being expanded or contracted. For example, one row of buttons may play a major scale when the bellows are expanding, while the same row may play a different set of notes (usually a related scale or mode) when the bellows are contracting. Learn these patterns for your specific instrument and practice playing simple melodies while paying attention to the correct bellows direction for each note.
Using Bellows Pressure for Dynamics: The pressure you apply to the bellows can affect the volume of the sound. Applying more pressure when moving the bellows will produce a louder sound, while less pressure will result in a softer sound. Experiment with different levels of bellows pressure to add dynamics to your playing. For example, you can play the louder parts of a melody with more bellows pressure and the softer parts with less.
Pressing the Buttons
Finger Placement: Place the tip of your finger on the center of the button. Use the pads of your fingers, not the very tips. Make sure your fingers are curved and ready to press the buttons quickly and accurately. Practice placing your fingers on different buttons without pressing them to get used to the feel of the button layout.
Finger Dexterity Exercises: To improve your finger dexterity, practice simple finger-stretching exercises. For example, play a chromatic scale (ascending or descending through all the notes on the instrument) slowly, focusing on making each finger movement clean and distinct. Another exercise is to play arpeggios (broken chords) by pressing the buttons in a specific order. Start with slow, deliberate movements and gradually increase the speed as your fingers become more agile.
Avoiding Accidental Button Presses: As you gain more speed in your playing, be careful not to accidentally press adjacent buttons. This can happen when your fingers are moving quickly. Pay close attention to your finger movements and practice playing passages that require quick changes between buttons to build up your accuracy.
Playing Simple Melodies
Starting with Basic Scales: Begin by learning to play basic scales on your concertina accordion. Scales are the building blocks of music and will help you get familiar with the layout of the buttons and the sound of the instrument. Start with the major scale, which has a specific pattern of whole steps and half steps. Practice playing the scale ascending and descending, making sure to use the correct bellows movement and finger placement for each note.
Learning Simple Songs: Once you are comfortable with playing scales, start learning simple songs. Look for songs with a slow tempo and a limited range of notes. Children’s songs or folk melodies are often good choices. Break the song down into small sections and practice each section slowly, focusing on getting the rhythm, melody, and bellows movement right. As you become more proficient, gradually increase the speed of your playing.
Listening to Recordings: Listen to recordings of experienced concertina accordion players. Pay attention to how they play melodies, use the bellows, and add expression to their music. This can help you develop your own style of playing and give you ideas for how to interpret the songs you are learning.
Advanced Techniques
Chord Playing
Understanding Chord Structures: A chord is a combination of three or more notes played simultaneously. On the concertina accordion, you can play chords by pressing multiple buttons at the same time. Learn the basic chord structures, such as major chords, minor chords, and dominant seventh chords. Each type of chord has a specific combination of notes that create a distinct sound.
Finding Chord Buttons on Your Instrument: Different models of concertina accordions have different button arrangements for chords. Some instruments may have dedicated chord buttons, while others require you to press a combination of individual notes to form a chord. Study the layout of your instrument and identify the buttons that can be used to play common chords. Practice playing simple chords, such as C major, G major, and A minor, and focus on getting a clean, harmonious sound when you press the buttons together.
Using Chords in Songs: Once you are comfortable playing individual chords, start using them in songs. Chords can add depth and richness to your music. You can play chords as accompaniment to a melody or use them to create a more complex musical texture. Practice playing songs that have chord progressions, and experiment with different ways of combining chords to enhance the overall sound of the music.
Decorative Techniques
Grace Notes: Grace notes are short, ornamental notes that add flair to your playing. They are usually played quickly before or after a main note. On the concertina accordion, you can play grace notes by quickly pressing a button just before or after the main note. There are different types of grace notes, such as single grace notes, double grace notes, and mordents. Practice playing grace notes in simple melodies to add a touch of elegance to your playing.
Slurs and Legato Playing: Slurs are curved lines written above or below a group of notes, indicating that they should be played smoothly, without any breaks between the notes. Legato playing is the technique of playing notes in a connected, flowing manner. To play legato on the concertina accordion, use a smooth, continuous movement of the bellows and make sure there are no gaps in the sound when you change from one note to the next. Practice playing melodies with slurs, focusing on maintaining a seamless flow of sound.
Vibrato: Vibrato is a slight, regular variation in the pitch of a note, which gives the sound a more expressive and emotional quality. On the concertina accordion, you can create vibrato by making small, rapid changes to the bellows pressure or by slightly wiggling your fingers on the buttons. Experiment with different ways of producing vibrato to find the technique that works best for you, and use it sparingly in your playing to add expression to long, sustained notes.
Playing in Different Styles
Folk Music Styles: The concertina accordion has a long history in folk music traditions around the world. Learn about different folk music styles, such as Irish folk music, English folk music, and Scandinavian folk music. Each style has its own characteristic rhythms, melodies, and playing techniques. Listen to recordings of folk music played on the concertina accordion and study the way the players use the instrument to convey the unique flavor of each style. Practice playing folk songs in different styles, paying attention to the specific nuances of each one.
Classical Music Adaptations: Some composers have written music for the concertina accordion, and it is also possible to adapt classical pieces originally written for other instruments. When playing classical music on the concertina accordion, pay attention to the dynamics, phrasing, and articulation markings in the sheet music. Classical music often requires a high level of technical proficiency, so practice the difficult passages slowly and methodically to build up your skills.
Contemporary Music Styles: In recent years, the concertina accordion has also found its way into contemporary music styles, such as jazz, pop, and rock. In contemporary music, you may need to experiment with different sounds and playing techniques to create a unique sound. You can use effects pedals (if available) to modify the sound of the instrument, or incorporate unconventional playing techniques, such as percussive effects using the bellows or buttons. Explore different contemporary music styles and see how you can incorporate the concertina accordion into your own musical creations.
Maintenance and Care
Cleaning the Instrument
Regular Wipe-Down: After each playing session, use a soft, dry cloth to wipe down the surface of the concertina accordion. This will remove any dirt, sweat, or fingerprints that may have accumulated on the instrument. Pay special attention to the areas around the buttons and the bellows edges.
Cleaning the Button Boards: Over time, dirt and debris can get stuck in the gaps between the buttons. Use a small, soft-bristled brush, such as a toothbrush, to gently clean the button boards. Be careful not to push any dirt further into the instrument. You can also use a slightly damp cloth (but make sure it is not too wet) to clean the buttons, but make sure to dry them thoroughly afterwards.
Bellows Maintenance: If your concertina accordion has leather bellows, you may need to periodically condition the leather to keep it supple and airtight. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for leather conditioning. If the bellows are made of a synthetic material, simply wipe them down with a clean cloth to keep them clean.
Tuning and Repairs
Checking the Tuning Regularly: The tuning of a concertina accordion can change over time, especially if the instrument is exposed to changes in temperature and humidity. Use a tuning app or a tuning fork to check the tuning of your instrument regularly. If you notice that some notes are out of tune, you may need to have the instrument professionally tuned.
Handling Minor Repairs: For minor issues, such as a stuck button or a small leak in the bellows, you may be able to make the repairs yourself. However, it is important to be careful and not cause further damage to the instrument. If a button is stuck, try gently cleaning the area around the button or lubricating it with a small amount of appropriate lubricant. If the bellows has a small leak, you can use a special bellows repair kit to patch the leak. For more serious repairs, such as reed replacement or major mechanical problems, it is best to take the instrument to a professional repair technician.
Conclusion
Learning to play the concertina accordion is a journey that requires patience, practice, and dedication. From understanding the basic parts of the instrument to mastering advanced techniques and playing in different styles, there is a lot to explore and learn. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can build a solid foundation for your concertina accordion playing and gradually develop your skills to become a proficient player. Remember to enjoy the process, listen to music, and let your creativity flow as you make beautiful sounds with this unique and charming instrument. Whether you play for your own enjoyment or perform for others, the concertina accordion has the potential to bring a world of musical possibilities to your life.
