Absolute Beginners Concertina Book

Following on from the success of his first tutor – The Irish Concertina – and after repeated requests from novices of the instrument at workshops and festivals, Mick Bramich explores the mine field which awaits the prospective Anglo player and, by using the same format tablature as in his previous book, opens up the little box of tricks to the willing learner.

A range of easy to follow diagrams, tips on maintenance and buying concertinas plus a potted history of the makers all add up to a well designed and planned tutor with a set of exercises which both challenge and give instant results to the beginner. The method has been road tested on new students of the instrument and they attest to the value of the teaching system.

This book starts at rock bottom by answering the question, “What is an Anglo concertina?” Mick describes the differences found from one Anglo to another, teaches you to play the common scales, and starts with simple tunes before attempting slightly more advanced ones. Mick also has a small useful section on maintenance. This book is written for the C/G Anglo concertina, which is the most common.

1 Introduction
2 Basic Care and Maintenance
3 Anatomy and Examination
3.1 Anatomy of a Concertina
3.2 Routine Examination
3.3 Examination for Purchase
4 Running Repairs and Fault Finding
5 Basic Service and Repair Tasks
5.1 Replacing Valves
5.2 Replacing Pads and Setting Key Height/Travel
5.3 Bellows Repairs
5.4 Replacing Lever Arm Springs
5.5 Replacing Bushes: Action Plate Key Hole and Key Cross-Hole Bushes
5.5.1 Action Plate Key Hole Bushes
5.5.2 Key Cross-Hole Bushes
5.6 Structural Repairs
5.6.1 Pillars
5.6.2 Fretwork and Action Box Cover/Keyboard Cracks
5.6.3 Wood Finishing
5.6.4 Reed Pan Support Blocks
5.6.5 Action Box Joints
5.6.6 Pad Board Cracks
5.6.7 Wood Screw Anchorages
5.6.8 End Bolt Problems
5.6.9 Broken Keys
5.7 Reed Work
5.7.1 Basic Care Tasks
5.7.2 Reed Tuning
6 Covering a Finger Slide (English System)
7 Making a Thumb Strap (English System)
8 Wrist Straps
9 Fingering Charts
10 Mine’s Not Like That
11 Early Exploded Diagram
12 Help and Materials