Concertina 101
This is a "broad stroke" explanation of concertinas, the different keyboard layouts, reed types, and quality classifications. Its purpose is primarily to provide an elementary understanding of the differences between the available models.
Concertinas are available in 3 keyboard layouts
Anglo
Each button plays a different note on 'pull' and 'push'.
keyboard:
Consists of 3 rows of 5 buttons per side. There are 2 layouts: Wheatstone and Jeffries.
pros:
Great for Irish Traditional and folkmusic. Easy to play simple tunes.
cons:
Partially chromatic, less suitable for more complex harmonies/ music.
use:
Primarily traditional music. (e.g. Irish, English, etc.)
keyboard:
Consists of 3 rows of 5 buttons per side. There are 2 layouts: Wheatstone and Jeffries.
pros:
Great for Irish Traditional and folkmusic. Easy to play simple tunes.
cons:
Partially chromatic, less suitable for more complex harmonies/ music.
use:
Primarily traditional music. (e.g. Irish, English, etc.)
English
Each button plays the same note on 'pull' and 'push'.
keyboard:
Consists of 4 rows per side, the middle 2 are the 'white', and the outer are the 'black keys'.
pros:
Fully chromatic, allows playing in all keys. The English can be used in all kinds of music.
cons:
Easy to learn simple melodies, but more difficult to learn at higher levels.
use:
Original classical repertoire, folk, ethnic, pop songs, jazz.....
keyboard:
Consists of 4 rows per side, the middle 2 are the 'white', and the outer are the 'black keys'.
pros:
Fully chromatic, allows playing in all keys. The English can be used in all kinds of music.
cons:
Easy to learn simple melodies, but more difficult to learn at higher levels.
use:
Original classical repertoire, folk, ethnic, pop songs, jazz.....
Duet
each button plays the same note on 'pull' and 'push'.
keyboard:
The low notes are on the left side, and the treble notes on the right side, much like a piano.
pros:
Small duets are partly, large duets are fully chromatic, allows playing in most/all keys.
cons:
Easy to learn simple melodies, but harder to learn at higher music levels.
use:
Folk, pop songs, jazz, some classical.
keyboard:
The low notes are on the left side, and the treble notes on the right side, much like a piano.
pros:
Small duets are partly, large duets are fully chromatic, allows playing in most/all keys.
cons:
Easy to learn simple melodies, but harder to learn at higher music levels.
use:
Folk, pop songs, jazz, some classical.
Concertinas can be divided into 2 categories
Hybrid Concertinas
Hybrid concertinas feature accordion type reeds, rather than concertina reeds. Accordion reeds are more economical to produce, and are less sensitive to acoustic design requirements and materials. Because accordion reeds require more space, hybrid concertinas are sometimes larger than their traditional counterparts. Accordion reeds are produced in several qualities.
Our Starter and Intermediate concertina models are hybrid concertinas, featuring accordion reeds.
Our Starter and Intermediate concertina models are hybrid concertinas, featuring accordion reeds.
Traditional Concertinas
Traditional concertina reeds look and perform differently from accordion reeds. They are more complicated and expensive to produce.
Concertina reeds are very acoustic-design sensitive, and their harmonic performance is affected by differences in chamber and cavity materials and design. Concertina reeds are used in vintage concertinas and all Wakker models.
All Wakker Concertina models are traditional concertinas.
Concertina reeds are very acoustic-design sensitive, and their harmonic performance is affected by differences in chamber and cavity materials and design. Concertina reeds are used in vintage concertinas and all Wakker models.
All Wakker Concertina models are traditional concertinas.
Concertinas can be divided into 3 different quality classes
Starter
reed type: hybrid
keyboard: Anglo, English, Duet
models: Jackie, Jack, Rochelle, Rochelle-2, and Elise.
keyboard: Anglo, English, Duet
models: Jackie, Jack, Rochelle, Rochelle-2, and Elise.
Intermediate
reed type: hybrid
keyboard: Anglo, English, Duet
models: Minstrel, Troubadour, Busker, Clover, Peacock, and Rose.
keyboard: Anglo, English, Duet
models: Minstrel, Troubadour, Busker, Clover, Peacock, and Rose.
Traditional
reed type: traditional
keyboard: Anglo, English, Duet
models: all Wakker models.
keyboard: Anglo, English, Duet
models: all Wakker models.
