Renelli

[Priscilla]

A snowy good morning!

I've put aside my classical guitar with a sigh (lessons are too expensive right now), and a dear friend has lent me a Renelli genuine mother-of-toilet-seat cherry red Italian beauty C/G concertina which I'm having fun experimenting with. I think the most puzzling thing for a beginner is the judicious application of the air button...how often to fill the bellows with air, and how to do it smoothly so that you don't hear this big pause in whatever you're attempting to play, when the c'tina stops to draw air for the next few notes.

At NESI 2008 I never heard a pause when experienced players were delighting us with beautiful tunes...it all went so smoothly.

I grew up with a brother who played harmonica, so the sounds of a concertina are familiar and welcome to my ear. I just feel as though I can never get enough air in the bellows for all the notes I want to play in one musical phrase, and don't know how to do it smoothly so that one doesn't notice a big pause. I guess maybe the idea is to let the c'tina take little breaths of air frequently, rather than one big gulp and then another. And perhaps if one gets into a rhythym of pressing the air button every other note, or every 3rd note, you manage to always have air when you need it...I'm not sure.

Any ideas on this very rudimentary issue?

Just as an aside...as I was enjoying the snowy scenery outside the window and discovering so many pretty combinations of notes...a barbarian shouted from down the hall, Stop the Dudelsack! Isn't a dudelsack a kind of bagpipes? Should I be flattered or insulted? I guess... flattered that it sounded like some recognizable instrument, but insulted that I was being requested to stop. So... my red-headed Renelli shall play on, in spite of unappreciative and undiscerning audience. Do people mistake the sound of your concertina for bagpipes?

Priscilla

[LDT]

I think the most puzzling thing for a beginner is the judicious application of the air button...how often to fill the bellows with air, and how to do it smoothly so that you don't hear this big pause in whatever you're attempting to play, when the c'tina stops to draw air for the next few notes.

I have the same problem....I try and try but always find it hard to find when and where to use the air button. It doesn't come naturally.

[Takayuki YAGI]

I think the most puzzling thing for a beginner is the judicious application of the air button...how often to fill the bellows with air, and how to do it smoothly so that you don't hear this big pause in whatever you're attempting to play, when the c'tina stops to draw air for the next few notes.

In my case, air button usage is quite frequent but air supply is a little in each time. Because I try to avoid bellows extending too long or shrinking too short.

So I often need to half-push the air button while sounding. It works well for me to adjust bellows length and not to make a pause in phrase.

 

A snowy good morning!

I'm jealous! We seldom have snow here.

 

Cheers,

--

Taka

[Michael Marino]

I find that on a long draw note that is easy sounding that if I use the air button with it I can get that volume that I need. It is an item of timing and I find it easier on my 30 button than on my twenty button Lachenal. Play on and let those who can not or won't appreciate the joys of experimentation and learning curves go bother someone else (so says the father of three children two who are learning harmonica from Dad, both bend notes better than I do at this time).

 

Michael

[Priscilla]

I think the most puzzling thing for a beginner is the judicious application of the air button...how often to fill the bellows with air, and how to do it smoothly so that you don't hear this big pause in whatever you're attempting to play, when the c'tina stops to draw air for the next few notes.

I have the same problem....I try and try but always find it hard to find when and where to use the air button. It doesn't come naturally.

 

Thank you! Never give up, never surrender! We'll get the hang of that air button yet! Have you ever tried to play Piping Tim of Galway on your concertina? That's the first tune I learned on a harmonica.

- Priscilla

[Priscilla]

I think the most puzzling thing for a beginner is the judicious application of the air button...how often to fill the bellows with air, and how to do it smoothly so that you don't hear this big pause in whatever you're attempting to play, when the c'tina stops to draw air for the next few notes.

In my case, air button usage is quite frequent but air supply is a little in each time. Because I try to avoid bellows extending too long or shrinking too short.

So I often need to half-push the air button while sounding. It works well for me to adjust bellows length and not to make a pause in phrase.

 

A snowy good morning!

I'm jealous! We seldom have snow here.

 

Cheers,

--

Taka

 

Thank you! I will try that...just half-pushing the air button while sounding....good idea! I didn't realize it's bad to fully extend or fully shrink the bellows, but it's good you let me know! O, be glad you don't have snow...a little goes a long way, it gets old fast, especially when it lays on a layer of ice overnight. Better to just look at a snowy picture when you're inside and warm. The problem is... places without snow, are often places without fireplaces, what a loss!

Thanks a lot for your input! Much appreciated!

- Priscilla

[Priscilla]

I find that on a long draw note that is easy sounding that if I use the air button with it I can get that volume that I need. It is an item of timing and I find it easier on my 30 button than on my twenty button Lachenal. Play on and let those who can not or won't appreciate the joys of experimentation and learning curves go bother someone else (so says the father of three children two who are learning harmonica from Dad, both bend notes better than I do at this time).

 

Michael

 

Thanks for the encouragement to a mere beginner! I believe too...people who don't know the joy of striving need to get a life. May your reach ever exceed your grasp...just keep reaching for the stars. It's the desire that keeps us all going, not the achievement.

Priscilla

[Boney]

It's the desire that keeps us all going, not the achievement.

Hallelujah!

 

I remember trying to learn to use the air button. Of course, it's best to have a decent player demonstrate. But the basic idea is to use the button while you're playing (sounding notes). When the bellows are getting too long, hold the thumb button in while playing any "push" notes in the tune. When they're getting too short, hold the thumb button in while playing any "out" notes in the tune. At first you'll have to do this very deliberately, and even plan in advance when in the tune you'll need to use the air button. But if you stick with it, and try to throw it in occasionally on the fly, it'll start getting easier, until it's mostly automatic.

 

I think using the button halfway, and using it almost constantly to keep the bellows mostly centered, are more advanced techniques. I wouldn't worry about doing that until you're really trying to refine your technique.

[Priscilla]

It's the desire that keeps us all going, not the achievement.

Hallelujah!

 

I remember trying to learn to use the air button. Of course, it's best to have a decent player demonstrate. But the basic idea is to use the button while you're playing (sounding notes). When the bellows are getting too long, hold the thumb button in while playing any "push" notes in the tune. When they're getting too short, hold the thumb button in while playing any "out" notes in the tune. At first you'll have to do this very deliberately, and even plan in advance when in the tune you'll need to use the air button. But if you stick with it, and try to throw it in occasionally on the fly, it'll start getting easier, until it's mostly automatic.

 

I think using the button halfway, and using it almost constantly to keep the bellows mostly centered, are more advanced techniques. I wouldn't worry about doing that until you're really trying to refine your technique.

 

Thank you! Great help...I will try it.

Have a great day

Priscilla