INSTRUMENT GUIDE
Concertina
A concertina is a free-reed instrument with a bellows between two button ends. Its systems are not interchangeable: English, Anglo and Duet concertinas place notes differently, and some change a button's pitch when the bellows reverse. The diagrams below are named examples, not one universal keyboard.
How does a concertina make sound?
Pressing a button opens an air path to a metal reed. The moving bellows send air through it and the reed vibrates. Both hands choose notes on their respective ends; the layout determines how those notes relate to bellows direction.
See the illustrated free-reed mechanism →English, Anglo and Duet: what changes?
These three complete diagrams show specific keyboards. Concertinas in the same family can have different button counts, ranges and variants, so identify the system and model before using a chart.
English concertina
The 48-button treble English chart is fully chromatic. A scale alternates between the hands. Each button keeps the same pitch on push and pull.
Reference keyboard chart: International Concertina Association · English chartAnglo concertina
The C/G Wheatstone or Lachenal example has 40 buttons, including a 30-button core and ten additions. Its buttons give different notes on push and pull; other Anglo layouts include the Jeffries variant.
Reference keyboard chart: Concertina FAQ · C/G Anglo chartsHayden duet concertina
The illustrated Hayden Duet has 46 sounding buttons. Lower notes sit mainly on the left and higher notes on the right, supporting melody with accompaniment. A button keeps its pitch in both directions.
Reference keyboard chart: Concertina FAQ · Duet chartsWhich concertinas change notes with bellows direction?
The English and Hayden Duet examples are unisonoric: each button keeps the same note on push and pull. The Anglo example is bisonoric: the two directions give different notes. The larger Chemnitzer system is another bisonoric branch; it should not be read from an Anglo chart.
How is a concertina different from an accordion?
Both instruments use bellows and free reeds. The concertina systems shown here put note buttons at both ends. Many accordions put melody keys or buttons on one side and standard-bass buttons for single bass notes and preset chords on the other. A bandoneon also has buttons at both ends, but the common tango layout has its own note map.
Which chart should a player use?
Start with the instrument's system and button count. An English chart will not decode an Anglo or Duet keyboard, and even two Anglo instruments may differ in their extra buttons. The comparison guide includes more systems and model-specific diagrams.
All instrument types →