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A Brief Introduction to Duet Concertinas
Duet Concertinas are double action (unisonoric) chromatic instruments,
like the English Concertina but with completely different fingering - unlike the English, where the scale alternates between the left and right hands, on a duet the lower notes are on the left hand and the higher notes on the right hand.
Duet Concertinas, in whatever system, are quite rare. At the
present time, only the Hayden system is being manufactured, and very few of the antique models ever hit the market.
Most of them are already in the hands of players. They are called
Duet because there is an overlap in the middle octave permitting
the two hands to play a duet together, with harmonies and counterpoint
that would be very difficult on an English concertina, and impossible
on an Anglo.
Shown here: a rare 50 button Jeffries duet. For an excellent page on duet concertinas, see the Concertina
Spotter's Guide - there is a link from my page on How
to Choose a Squeezebox.
There are four distinct fingering systems:
McCann
Duet (usually Wheatstone, sometimes Lachenal) - 6 columns of buttons on each side of concertina. The lowest notes on each hand are closest to the wrist strap.
Can be 39 (shown), 46, 56, 57, 58, 62, 68,
72, or 80 buttons, with a
range of from 3-1/2 to 5 octaves. The exact keyboards can vary
slightly from instrument to instrument, and between different
manufacturers. The middle octave is duplicated on both hands
to facilitate true duet playing. This was the favored concertina
in the British music halls. Found only as antiques. See sample
fingering chart
Crane (Triumph) Duet (usually
Lachenal) - the
"Salvation Army concertina". 48 keys or 55 keys, similar
to English but 5 columns of buttons on either hand instead of
4. Also like the English, the natural notes are confined to the
inner rows of keys, and the accidentals to the outer rows, and the lower notes are nearest the wrist strap. Left
and right hands are almost identical except for range. It is
a more logical system than either Jeffries or McCann. In the
55 key version, the left hand goes up to C instead of G. Like
the McCann, the treble notes are on the right and the bass notes
on the left. Sometimes tuned to "old pitch" or "Salvation
Army pitch" for playing with brass bands. Found only as
antiques. See sample fingering
chart
Jeffries Duet - Has four curved horizontal rows of buttons. Based more on the
Anglo than the other systems. Tends to favor playing in a particular
key. The most difficult of the duet fingering systems - there
may be only 10 or so players in the world today. Very rare. Found
only as antiques. Shown at right.
Hayden Duet - a modern system, invented in 1963
by Brian Hayden, based on the Chromatic Button Accordion. Has sloping rows of buttons. Scale fingering patterns are the same regardless of key. This system
is easier to learn and play than other concertinas. Hard to find - there is always a waiting list for new instruments. Currently produced by Stagi in Italy (formerly Bastari) or available
by special order from makers such as Steve Dickenson and Colin Dipper in England.
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