Beginning Exercises in G Major

Despite not posting for a short time, I have in fact been busy.  I've revamped the order of the "Learn To Play" page of this blog to reflect the reality of concertina music and the concertina buttons (which are obvious to anyone who has been playing the concertina for a long time, but less obvious for those of us lacking a mentor).

The short version is that the "C" Chemnitzer concertina is easiest to play in the key of G, with one sharp. It's next easiest in the key of D, and the next easiest in the key of A.  For beginners, then, it seems a very good idea to first work on getting good in the key of G.
So, I have put together some beginning exercises for the Right Hand (PDF) to give the user some familiarity with the buttons of the key of G in both press and draw.

I based the exercises from what I did myself in order to become familiar with the G Major Scale.  The absolute beginner of the concertina should start with these exercises.

In the "Beginning Exercises" you will notice that I have given not only the buttons to press for each note, but the finger to use for that note as well.  As with playing piano, the finger you use to play a particular note will depend on what is going on in the notes around it.

The music indicates that this is a "Piano" (or Pno.) part, but that is because my music writing program doesn't have a "Concertina" option.

As the exercises progress, I begin to omit both the button numbers and the finger numbers.  This is to promote the concertina student in learning to play music without needing the button numbers.  In successive music and exercises on this site the button numbers will not be used, so the student should make an effort to become proficient at reading music without needing the button numbers.

Please see the "Learn to Play" page for more links on how to play.