The English Concertina has 18, 30, 48 (usually) or 56 keys or buttons, is fully chromatic ("plays in any key"), and is what squeezebox people call a DOUBLE action instrument; that is, each key sounds the same note in both bellows directions (like a piano accordion but unlike a harmonica), in other words, a double action (both push and pull on the same button) produces a given note. Some folks call this capability "unisonoric", that is, "one-sounded".

The English concertina is most commonly seen in the 48 key treble model, which has the first 3-1/2 octave range of the violin. Other ranges are 18-key miniature, 30-key students, 48 key tenor and baritone, and 56-key tenor-treble and extended treble. Vintage instruments are also found, infrequently, in piccolo, bass, and other configurations. Some old instruments also have sound effects such bird calls or baby cries. If you play the very highest notes of a treble or extended treble, you can drive your sound man crazy trying to locate the source of the "feedback".

On each side of the instrument is a pinkie rest and a thumb strap. The thumb strap is a must, but some players, like myself, rarely use the pinky rest. Occasionally a heavier vintage or custom model may have wrist straps added on, but in general, the English doesn't have them. The buttons on an English are rather close together, so if you have very large hands and spatulate fingers you may be more comfortable with an Anglo.

All of the modern Italian models have an air button, which is not always present on a vintage instrument. Apparently one was expected to arrange the bellows work so that, by the time the tune was finished, the bellows were in the closed position.

The English tends to have a polite, elegant sound. It is more of a parlor instrument than the Anglo. While it is possible to play them with lots of energy and bounce for dancing, it's more work to play rhythmically than it is on an Anglo, so most English players tend to play in a smoother style. It is a wonderful instrument for classical music, slow tunes, and "pretty" or elegant styles of dance music such as English country dance and Swedish dance music, or for Eastern European tunes with unusual scales and lots of accidentals (flats & sharps).

The fingering might be more difficult at first than the Anglo, but once you figure out the trick, it's no big deal. However, unless you practice good fingering habits, it's very easy to get lost among all those buttons on the keyboard. It is the perfect instrument for sight reading, as you can tell just by looking at the music which hand plays a given note. All of the notes on the lines are played on the left hand, and the notes on the spaces are played on the right.

For a great deal more info on English concertinas, including a fascinating look inside the instrument, see DoN Nichols' excellent web page.

Anglo Concertina

The modern Anglo concertinas commonly available have 20 (diatonic) or 30 (semi-chromatic) buttons. Vintage instruments are sometimes seen with other configurations, such as 32, 36, or 39 keys. Anglos are push-pull SINGLE action boxes; that is, each key sounds a different note in each bellows direction (like a harmonica). Some folks call this "bisonoric", that is, "two-sounded". On each side of the Anglo is a wrist strap. The buttons, especially on the 20 key models, are generously spaced and easy to reach. The Anglo always has an air button, sometimes called "breather" button.

One problem with the Anglo is the limitation in keys. The 20 button instruments only have the notes from 2 major scales, usually C on the top row and G on the bottom row. (Other common tunings are G/D and D/A). The 30 button instruments have an extra row (above the 2 main key rows) which includes sharps and flats (accidentals), making it possible to play in more keys than the 20 button models. Even with the extra notes, it is still not fully chromatic in the same way that an English concertina or a piano is, which can easily play in any key - you may have an accidental in the low octave but you need it in the next octave up, or vice versa.

Because of its push-pull nature, the Anglo is very good for playing strongly accented dance music, and is popular for Morris, Irish, and other traditional dance styles. Irish concertina players favor the 30 button models. A well-played Anglo has a gutsy, rhythmic sound. It is the instrument most people associate with sailors and sea chanteys. If you ever saw a concertina in a film, chances are it was an Anglo (except for Moby Dick - that was an English). Ironically, the salt air is just about the WORST environment you can put a concertina or accordion into.

The fingering is very easy, and unlike the English, it's difficult to get lost on the keyboard. As a matter of fact, on a 20-button Anglo, it's very hard to play a "wrong" note, as long as you stay on one row at a time. Even if you miss the button you were aiming for, it will still harmonize nicely with the melody. Anglo music is written out not only in standard notation, but also in concertina tab, which shows which button to press and in what direction to produce the desired note. However, many notes can be played on more than one button, and the Anglo is much more of a "play-by-ear" instrument, anyway. Keep in mind that all of the books for Anglo assume you have a C/G instrument; if you get a G/D you can still play from the tab but you won't be producing the same notes, which will make it necessary for either you or your accompanist to transpose to another key.

20 buttons or 30 buttons?

Q: I want to play Irish music but I'm not ready to get a 30 button yet. Am I wasting my time on the 20 button?

It's not a total waste of time, since any tunes you have learned on a 20b will still translate to 30 button when you upgrade, as you will eventually want to do. If you are playing a C/G concertina, this means all of your C tunes and G tunes, Am and Em and some Dm tunes can still make the transition to a 30 button C/G, although once you get there, you'll want to learn some of the more versatile fingerings and settings that will now become available to you. If you're playing a G/D 20b, and upgrade to a C/G 30b, you'll have to relearn your fingering in order to play in the same keys as before -- or else, you can just play them the same way as before and have them come out in different keys. This won't be a problem if you've been playing by yourself, or if your fiddler is flexible enough to make the switch.

Or should I bag the 20 button and get started with a 30 button (which I may not be able to afford for a while)?

If you want to play any serious amount of Irish music, you're going to want a 30 button eventually, since you can't handle most D major and A major and B minor tunes (and some Eminor ones) on a 20 button C/G without faking a lot of notes (no C#, no G#). Playing Irish music without a C#...well, you can't go too far. Start saving your pennies now, and look to buy used if you can.

For lots more info on Anglo concertinas, see Concertina.Net.

Making a Choice between Concertinas

The first thing you need to do is figure out whether you want an English or an Anglo. With modern instruments this might be a simple matter of comparing the prices. Or you might need an English if the music you primarily want to play requires a chromatic instrument. Unless you already know you want the English, or you object firmly to the press-draw diatonic nature of the Anglo, you might look at the Anglos first.

20 button Anglo

The various 20 button Anglo models are the most popular ones sold, chiefly because of their affordability. All of them have plastic buttons and wood bodies. Some models are covered in celluloid veneer. The main difference between the 20-button models is how many reeds they have, usually one, two, or three reeds per note. The more reeds, the richer the sound -- the English concertinas and 30 button Anglos, on the other hand, have only one reed sounding per note.

Anglos also come in different keys: although C/G is the most common, G/D is also popular. Despite the diatonic limitations, there are many kinds of music you can play on it: simple folk melodies, sea chanteys, children's songs, British Isles and American folk dance tunes, popular American folk songs, and so on.

30 button Anglo

If you are seriously interested in Irish, Scottish, contradance, and related music, the logical choice is a 30 button Anglo. A metal ended model may have a little brighter sound than an all-wood model. Whether to have plastic buttons or metal buttons is a matter of personal preference. The metal buttons on the modern Italian-made concertinas have little raised bits on the top and are not smooth like vintage concertina buttons. Some people might find them uncomfortable.

Most people start with a C/G, especially for Irish, although the G/D is also popular, especially for Morris and other English dance music. All of the 30 button instruments are available only with single reeds -- that is, only one voice is available per note, unlike some of the richly-voiced 20b Anglos.

Concertina Books

Be sure you are getting the right book for your style of concertina. Here are my recommendations:

• "The Best Concertina Method Yet". Good book for 20-button Anglo
• "Anglo Concertina Demystified", by Bert Levy.
  Best one for 30-button Anglo
• "Handbook for English Concertina" by Roger Watson.
  Great chord charts
• See a listing of concertina books carried by HMT.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Concertinas & accordions: what's the difference?
• Which key should I get?
• How do I pick the right accordion?
• Should I get a cheap one to learn on?
• How hard is it to learn?
• Can I return an instrument I buy from you?

"What's the difference between concertinas and accordions, and which one should I get?"

Concertinas (all types) play melody on both left and right hands. They have no chord buttons; each button plays only one note at a time. You get to make your own chords by combining buttons, just like on a keyboard. The button travel is in the same direction as the bellows travel.

Accordions have a left side which doesn't normally play melody at all, but is arranged in bass and chord buttons (the exception is the non-converter free bass or Bassetti accordion, which has no chords). The left hand provides rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment. The right hand consists of either piano keys or rows of buttons. If they are black & white piano keys, it is by definition a chromatic instrument, but a button accordion can be either chromatic or diatonic.

The button or key travel is perpendicular to the bellows travel, with only one exception I am aware of: the Organetto Abruzzese, an Italian concertina-shaped button accordion, which has buttons that travel in parallel to the bellows, like a concertina.

There are many styles of music that favor one type of squeezebox or another.

For example, if you want to play Cajun or French Canadian music, the traditional instrument is a Cajun one row button box in the key of C or D, although any accordion will do in a pinch. If you want to play Klezmer, a piano accordion or chromatic button accordion is your best bet. Or an English concertina.

Find out what is the traditional squeezebox for the type of music you want to play, factor that into your decision, and then get whatever you like that's available and in your price range. Weight is another factor - even the lightest 12 bass piano accordion can weigh 10 lbs, heavier with a case. A modern 2-row Hohner pokerwork button box only weighs about 6 lbs.

"Which key should I get?"

Piano accordions, chromatic button accordions, and English concertinas are chromatic, so key is not an issue -- they can play in any key. For diatonic boxes and Anglo concertinas, the musical genre usually favors one tuning over another . Here are my suggestions for some traditional music that is played on squeezebox:

Cajun

single row Cajun accordion in C (less common: D, Bb, or G).

French Canadian
D single row button box, with 4 reeds just like a Cajun accordion but in D tuning. Extra rows don't hurt, but are not at all necessary for playing in authentic style. Some Quebecois players are moving to 2 row or 3 row diatonic box for ease in playing Irish and related music.

Zydeco / Mexican / Tex-Mex / Conjunto

Piano accordion or 2 or 3 row button box with rather wet tuning, the keys might depend on the other instruments in the band. You want the third (bassoon) reed with Zydeco. G/C/F is quite common, or F/Bb/Eb to accommodate a horn section. Some Hispanic singers favor E/A/D.

Brazilian Forro

Same as above, either 2 or 3 reeds, but with drier tuning.

Irish

B/C button box, (or C#/D, etc. especially for Kerry music), or 30 button Anglo, usually tuned CG but also GD, etc. It is certainly possible to play good Irish music on piano accordion or English concertina or even ADG button box, and several well-known players do it successfully, but the preferred accordion is the 2 row button box with the rows tuned a half step apart.

Morris, French, English country dance, English polkas, barn dances