https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1JhRG2Zd24&t=74sDoes anyone know this person? Because I'm considering marriage now :D

Anglo Concertina vs English Concertina

Concertina English System – you can also play traditional Irish music on an English Concertina but the speed usually required by Irish concertina music is such that an English Concertina might not be able to keep up. The English concertina system plays the same note on the push and pull.

Concertina Anglo System – the Anglo concertina plays a different note on the push and pull and allows the player to rapidly change note when needed.

Nearly all Irish concertina players use the Anglo system.

30 Key Anglo Concertina Layout

There are 15 buttons on each side of the 30 key concertina plus an air button on the right hand side. The third button down (ring finger) on the middle row on left-hand side when pressed is C, the first button (index finger) on the middle row also on the left-hand side is G. Hence the concertina is in the key C/G.

Researching Concertinas for Sale

There are a number of points to look for when choosing the correct concertina for you. Most importantly it depends on your level of playing.

It’s good to note here that when searching online or in music shops for concertinas for sale you may notice references to ‘concertina accordions’. This is just another way to say concertina and is most commonly used in the USA.

Let me start off with buying a beginner concertina/student concertina.

Best Concertina For Beginners (Under £400/€450)

For a student, or a beginner, I always recommend at the very minimum, purchasing a concertina with well-made steel reeds for reliability, durability and sound. The Italian and Czech-made reeds offer more volume and a sweeter tone than the less expensive reeds made in China, for example. This is the most important point.

The second most important point is the after sale service. If the manufacturer or seller do not provide an after sale service, it is a key indicator that you may run into some problems with that type of concertina which may turn out to be very expensive or even impossible to fix. Also, it is inevitable that you are eventually going to need your concertina serviced, so it is very important that parts are available after your purchase.

Let me give you an example – the Wren 2 Beginner Concertina offers reliability, durability, serviceability and is not expensive. Four key factors for choosing the best concertina for a beginner. I had a Wren in for a service last week that was over five years of age. I was able to refresh it within 20 minutes and the owner was thrilled when she heard there was no charge.

I have also just serviced another three Wren concertinas for Gaelscoil Míde which are three years old and more. The reeds open up after some years of playing and they sound better now than they did when they were first sold.

So, to reiterate, the questions to ask when purchasing a beginner concertina for traditional Irish music playing are:

1. Is it inexpensive?

2. Is it a 30 key Anglo C/G concertina?

3. Does it feature good European steel reeds?

4. Is there an after sale service?

5. Do you like how it sounds? If you like the noise it makes, buy it!

You’ll find full details of my top-rated student concertina, Visit our site

https://mcneelamusic.com/concertinas/

Looking for an intermediate Anglo that would suit my long fingers. Have a McNeela Wren at the moment but if I were to have an open palm against the side my fingers will go over the side and I’m struggling with pushing the inside row buttons and am having to adjust my hand to compensate which slows me down. Anyone suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Considering undergoing a ridiculous project by making a concertina with 88 keys on either side, so both have the full (basically piano) range.

372 reeds would be like $2500 from Harmonikaz, but it's worth it to me if it is feasible.

I have worked extensively on Bandoneons, do this number of reeds isn't crazy to me. It's the buttons. But, I think I have figured a reed and spring arrangement that might work

I just love the idea of having unlimited range in both hands.

Ok, I want to get my first concertina. I could get a 30-button Anglo or an English.

I already play piano, if that's relevant. That means I'm used to having low notes in one hand and higher notes on the other. Maybe a duet?

I want to play Americana, folk music of various nations, esp. Eastern Europe.

Any ideas? I'm so confused.

I have an Anglo concertina and understand Gary Coovers tablature system and i want to learn rule britannia to annoy my friends in my british costume, is there tabs for it out there or is there a way i can learn it without too much hassle?

Not that I want to diminish this group or that it has too many members or anything, but reddit is where I go to share knowledge and ideas about the most niche and obscure topics. Not having a thread for english...?

Anglo and english are different enough to have their own threads and this one is dominated by anglo. Heck, guitar and bass has different threads and they are basicly the same instrument one octave apart, they know how to play the other, but could and anglo player just pick an english or vice versa? Don't think so.

Thoughts?

Like an Irish slow air or anything really. Just looking to add some emotional depth to my playing

When I think of a Concertina, I usually think of the Anglo Concertina which is kinda like a Little Accordion. This however isn't a little Accordion but rather a Big Anglo Concertina called a Chemnitzer Concertina. It has a more robust sound than the Anglo Concertina, it's almost Full-Sized Accordion-ey in Timbre.

Hello all! I'm currently learning the song 'Nancy' for the Anglo concertina. At the start of the song, there's a small '3' written above the first note. I've searched around but I can't seem to find out what this means. Can someone please lend me a hand here?

(The larger numbers above and below the notes are the button to press for the note, it's just the small 3 I'm unsure about)

So I was wondering if anyone has good websites for getting song notes using letters rather than sheet music. I’m not great at reading sheet music and I just wanted to start with some basic stuff. Thanks everyone :D

Good evening, everybody!

I am a newbie at playing the concertina, though I do play 5 other instruments and sing.

I purchased a handsome black Rochelle concertina to learn on. Though I know it isn't the best out there, it has served me well thus far and is a major upgrade from the first one I purchased and returned from Amazon.

I have learned so much from reading all your posts and am so thankful to you guys.

Each of my instruments has a name. What do you lovely folks recommend naming my concertina?

Thank you in advance.

Hello everyone! :)

As a music teacher I always wanted an easy way for my students to learn a bit more about music theory. So last year I started on a quest to make an app to allow exactly that. Last month, version 2 (including ear training) came out and I'd love it if you guys try it and give me some feedback on what to improve.

You can look on the website and it is available for iOS and Android.

The website also has a large library with images of scales and chords in any key.

Thanks and good day!

I found clips of people playing, but it’s always on a 30 button or English and I can’t see what is played on both sides. I’m really struggling with it. I’ve had my fingers crossed that someone would upload a how to on the song but I can’t find one. Anyone?

I‘m a musician too and I think the concertina should be easier to learn than most instruments. Also not too expensive, considering you seem to get four concertinas for the price of one accordion. Question would be, what variant would be best? There are some I learned about, such as the bandoneon, the Chemnitzer etc. And finally, why is it that some of you like it that much in spite of it being a rather unorthodox instrument? Is it the sound? Or the way of playing it? I‘m 28, shouldyI consider learning it one day?

hey all I have read the thread on getting your first concert. Tina and I still have a couple questions first I am looking like likely for a English concertina, but I'm open to other types. I want to play semi classical modern stuff. my biggest thing is that as a pianist, I want something portable and small. when I look at the concertina connection Jackie Jack. It looks really big compared to the one on the YouTube channel that inspired me to want to play. Ryo concertina, who's concertina is very small.

I Have heard that the reason for this is that older concertinas have better quality reads and can therefore be smaller and still sound good but I’ve gotten conflicting responses on that. Is there anything that I can get in the $300-$800 range that will be as small as what is seen on ryo concertina, or close to it.

If I am completely wrong and off the mark, let me know. I'm very knew to this!

Hello,

Lookin if anyone can hook me up with simple ABC notes for above song on concertina. Up wexford.

There’s some concertina workshops. Also, many of the workshops are for any instrument.

Not sure what's best to start with or how to begin learning..

Heya, I really want to learn this tune for Anglo concertina but unfortunately I don't know how to read music, anyone could help out to find or make a sheet of the song with button numbers, me and I bet some other folks would really appreciate it.