The D/G Melodeon Absolute Beginners Book

D/G Melodeon Tutor Book for Absolute Beginners

The D/G Melodeon Absolute Beginners Book by Dave Mallinson is a clear, practical tutor for anyone starting out on the D/G melodeon. It begins from the very basics and gradually builds the skills needed to play traditional tunes with confidence.

Designed for players with little or no previous musical knowledge, this book helps beginners understand the instrument, develop good habits, and avoid years of trial and error. It is available as book only, CD only, or book and CD together.

Quick Overview

• Author: Dave Mallinson
• Instrument focus: D/G melodeon
• Level: Absolute beginner to improving player
• Format options: Book only, CD only, or book and CD together
• Musical focus: Traditional British, Irish and folk repertoire
• Includes: Step-by-step tuition and 48 graded tunes

What This Book Teaches

This tutor introduces the essential mechanics of the D/G melodeon in a logical, accessible way. It covers holding the instrument, using the air button, treble and bass buttons, bellows control, row crossing, rhythm, hand position and tune playing.

As the book progresses, it also introduces more advanced musical ideas including accidentals, slides, slip jigs, playing in different keys, percussive bass and transposing.

Musical Style and Focus

The book is rooted in traditional D/G melodeon playing and is especially useful for players interested in English folk, Morris music, Irish tunes, French traditional music and Cajun-influenced repertoire.

The tunes are carefully graded so that your repertoire grows alongside your technique.

Difficulty Level

This is an absolute beginner tutor, but it is not just a quick starter book. Dave Mallinson designed it as a long-term learning companion, taking the player from the first stages of playing through to a much stronger and more confident standard.

Who This Is For

• Complete beginners starting the D/G melodeon
• Players who want a structured tutor rather than learning by guesswork
• Folk musicians wanting to build traditional repertoire
• Players returning to the melodeon after a break
• Anyone buying their first D/G melodeon and wanting a reliable learning method

Why We Recommend It

At Squeezebox Marketplace, we often recommend this type of tutor because it gives beginners a clear route into the instrument. Learning the melodeon is much easier when good habits are built from the start, especially with bellows control, bass use and rhythm.

The option to buy the book with the soundtrack CD is particularly useful, as hearing the tunes played properly helps with timing, phrasing and musical feel.

Key Features

• Written by respected melodeon author Dave Mallinson
• Suitable for complete beginners
• Focused specifically on the D/G melodeon
• Gradual, step-by-step learning structure
• Includes 48 traditional and familiar tunes
• Covers treble, bass, bellows and musical technique
• Available as book only, CD only, or book and CD together

Specifications

• Title: The D/G Melodeon Absolute Beginners Book
• Author: Dave Mallinson
• Instrument: D/G melodeon
• Level: Beginner
• Available variants: Book only, CD only, book and CD together
• Repertoire: 48 graded tunes

Tunes Included

Related Learning Resources

If you are just starting out, this tutor works well alongside a suitable beginner D/G melodeon and additional tune books as your confidence grows.

For extra repertoire, we also recommend looking at other beginner-friendly melodeon books and tune collections in our learning range.

Explore More

Browse our full range of accordion and melodeon books, tunes and learning resources, or explore our melodeon collection if you are choosing your first instrument.

Included

This listing is available in three variants:

• Book only: Ideal if you want the printed tutor.
• CD only: Useful if you already own the book and need the soundtrack.
• Book and CD together: Our recommended option for beginners who want both written guidance and audio support.

Trust Closing

Learning the melodeon takes patience, but the right tutor makes the journey much clearer. This Dave Mallinson book is a strong starting point for D/G melodeon players who want a structured, traditional and reliable way into the instrument.

“Reaching the end of this book is only the start.” — Dave Mallinson