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We carry a broad selection of books and other materials to get you started. Please contact us if you need help finding the right product for you.
For a primer on concertinas and accordions, including links to teachers, camps, and online communities, please visit our sister site, learnfreereed.com. But come back to see us!
The Best Concertina Method Yet - Bob KailInstructions for the 20-button anglo in C/G, with over 250 melodies with fingerings: 17 with words, three for both hands, and two songs with piano. While there are some cursory exercises, this is primarily a book of tunes. 96 pages. |
La Concertina - Anthology of Music for ConcertinaA collection of popular tunes for the 20-button Anglo. Several arrangements include harmonies; all arrangements indicate which buttons to press. Assumes a C/G instrument. 27 pages. |
Mel Bay's Deluxe Concertina Book - Frank ConverseFor getting started on the 20-button C/G anglo. Begins with the basics of reading music and moves on to playing with one hand, then both hands. Contains over 50 familiar folk tunes with annotations indicating which button to press and how to move the bellows. 52 pages. |
Easy Anglo 1-2-3 - Gary CooverThis book uses the harmonic tablature system of "Anglo Concertina in the Harmonic Style." The three sections of the book contain tunes that can be played using one, two, or three rows of a C/G anglo concertina, as well as left-hand chord charts for 10-, 20-, and 30-button instruments. Can be adapted for key combinations besides C/G; assumes a Wheatstone layout for 30-button instruments but can easily be adapted for a Jeffries layout. 81 pages. |
Sea Songs for 20-Button Anglo Concertina - Gary Coover"96 Traditional Sea Songs and Shanties especially selected and arranged to be played on a standard 20-button Anglo Concertina with 2 rows of buttons in the key of C/G, compiled from Pirate Songs for Concertina (Rollston Press, 2018) and Sailor Songs for Concertina, (Rollston Press, 2019). All lyrics are included, along with standard musical notation, plus special tablature so you can learn to play all these wonderful old songs and relive the exciting days of the Age of Sail." -- Rollston Press 188 pages. |
75 Irish Session Tunes for Anglo Concertina - Gary CooverGary Coover's newest book for anglo concertina, using the tablature system of "Anglo Concertina in the Harmonic Style." 75 reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, slip jigs, and airs with fingering suggestions. This book assumes a Wheatstone layout for 30-button instruments but can easily be adapted for a Jeffries layout. 114 pages. |
The Irish Concertina: A Tutor for the Anglo Concertina in the Irish Style - Mick BramichBramich presents a systematic approach to playing the C/G Anglo concertina, Irish-style. You don't have to play exclusively Irish music to utilize this style; the system employed is one of the most efficient ways of exploiting the peculiar nuances of this instrument and can be applied to any genre. Keys are presented in order of difficulty and all types of tune - including slow airs - are tackled. The book contains 17 photographs and numerous illustrations and diagrams; 14 reels, 20 jigs, 10 hornpipes and 12 miscellaneous tunes, (56 in total, many with chords), rudiments of music, an extensive bibliography and discography, and a chord chart. It assumes a Jeffries fingering layout but can easily be made to work for others. The optional CD contains extracts from each chapter and a selection of the tunes from the book. It is not totally essential that you be able to read musical notation to use this book, but musical notation is used without explanation. 75 pages. |
The Irish Concertina: Companion CDThe soundtrack for the instructional book of the same name. This CD contains extracts from each chapter of the book and some of the tunes from Appendix One. The music is played on a circa 1890s C. Jeffries C/G Anglo concertina with guitar accompaniment. CD |
Anglo Concertina in the Harmonic Style - Gary CooverThis tutor will teach you how to play the 30-button Anglo concertina with chords and full harmonies in a wide variety of musical styles. In addition to tunes and exercises for beginning players, this tutor also presents more difficult tunes that have been carefully transcribed from recordings of the top Anglo concertina players of the last several decades. Assumes a 30-button C/G instrument with a Wheatstone fingering layout. 108 pages. |
The Anglo Concertina - Frank EdgleyThis tutor provides the beginning or aspiring anglo concertina player with resources which can be used to become a competent player of traditional Irish music by describing keyboard patterns, concertina techniques, and embellishments. Includes written music and lessons for 35 Irish tunes. Assumes a 30-button C/G instrument with a Wheatstone fingering layout. The accompanying CD further clarifies the lessons covered in the workbook. 112 pages with CD. |
The Anglo Concertina Demystified - Bertram LevyThe most comprehensive tutor for the 30-button Anglo. Assumes a 30-button C/G instrument with either a Wheatstone or Jeffries layout, though many of the chapters will work for a 20-button instrument Comes with 2 CDs! 62 pages with 2 CDs. |
The Anglo Concertina Absolute Beginners - Chris Sherburn and Dave MallinsonThis book is written for the 30-button C/G anglo concertina with either the Wheatstone/Lachenal or Jeffries layout, though alternate notes are provided in many tunes for players with 20-button instruments. It contains 72 tunes to help the beginning Anglo concertina player off on a flying start. This book covers the basics of reading music, fingering suggestions, and some advice on bellows phrasing through a variety of traditional tunes from Great Britain and Ireland. 32 pages. |
Chris Sherburn - The Anglo Concertina Absolute BeginnersThis recording has been produced as a companion soundtrack to the book of the same title. Every musical example is recorded. CD |
Handbook for Anglo-Chromatic Concertina - Roger WatsonA complete guide for the beginning Anglo player. Easy-to-follow text with clear diagrams, including a chord diagram. Assumes a 30-button C/G instrument with the Wheatstone fingering layout. 24 pages. |
Learn to Play Irish Concertina - John WilliamsIn this beginner's DVD, John Williams explains the fundamentals of the 20- or 30-key Anglo concertina: how to hold the instrument, use the keys, bellows and air button, and how to move beyond the basic C and G scales. He teaches five tunes in note-for-note detail: Oro (Se Do Bheatha Bhaile), Jimmy Ward's Jig, The Kesh Jig, Bobby Casey's Jig, Last Night's Fun. Includes music and tab. 65 minutes. DVD |
Contemplating the Concertina - Allan AtlasIntended specifically for intermediate and advanced players. It is written with an eye toward both the history of the instrument and how it has been played since Victorian times. Examples and exercises include music (both classical and folk) from the seventeenth century to the present day. Chapters discuss holding the instrument (with illustrations), manipulating the bellows, single-note technique, and playing chords and contrapuntal textures. 82 pages. |
The English Concertina Absolute Beginners - Alex Wade and Dave MallinsonWritten for the 48-key treble English concertina, this book contains 87 tunes to help the beginning English concertina player off on a flying start. This book covers the basics of reading music, fingering suggestions, and some advice on bellows phrasing through a variety of traditional tunes from Great Britain and Ireland. 32 pages. |
Alex Wade - The English Concertina Absolute BeginnersThis recording has been produced as a companion soundtrack to the book of the same title. Every musical example is recorded. CD |
Handbook for English Concertina - Roger WatsonA complete guide for the beginning English player. Easy-to-follow text with clear diagrams. Assumes a 48-key treble instrument, but diagrams are given to cover the tenor and tenor/treble ranges as well. 24 pages. |
Concertina Workshop - Alistair AndersonA photocopy of this long-out-of-print classic, often regarded as the definitive tutor for the English concertina. Written by one of the great players. Assumes a 48-key treble instrument. 40 pages. |
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A video message from Doug Creighton, store owner, regarding our sales and services during the current Covid-19 state of emergency.
Hello everyone,
I’m Doug Creighton, owner of The Button Box in Sunderland, Massachusetts. I wanted to provide you with an update on what you can expect from the Button Box in the coming weeks, during this unprecedented and strange time we’re all experiencing.
As in many other states, the governor of Massachusetts has currently closed all non-essential businesses to walk-in customers and staff, and encouraged continued online business. Because our staff is not able to be at the store, our capability has been limited.
However, I’ve been working on setting up at home, and I’m happy to announce that we now have increased capability for you to do business with us online.
We look forward to returning to full capability back in Sunderland at some future date. In the meantime, we appreciate your continued business, and send our good wishes to you and yours. Please stay safe and healthy, and play lots of music!
Offer applies only to new R. Morse concertinas shipped within contiguous U.S.
Use coupon code FREESHIP at checkout to apply discount. Free shipping is by USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground at our discretion. Please let us know if you have a preference for one of those services.
Free shipping within the contiguous USA on all in-stock instrument orders. Orders will be shipped via UPS Ground or the United States Postal Service at our discretion. If you qualify, free shipping will be applied automatically when you enter your zip code in the shopping cart.
Promotion lasts through January 4, 2021. Please call or email us if you have any questions.
Please note that we will charge a 2% re-stocking fee for any returns on orders using the free shipping option. See our full return policy for details.
