Fingering Charts for Concertinas

Wes Williams

These keyboard charts show how the notes are arranged on the buttons of nine different types of concertinas, and can be used to compare various systems. All types of concertinas come in multiple sizes–in general, these diagrams show examples toward the smaller end of the scale. The Anglo type (uniquely) produces two different notes with each button, one note when the bellows are drawn open and a different note when the bellows are pushed closed. In the diagram this is shown with two note labels: the top note is heard on the draw (belllows moving out), the bottom note on the push (bellows moving in)—there are alternate notations in use. All the other concertina systems produce the note shown on the button on both draw and push.


reuben-shaws-fingers
Reuben Shaw’s fingers
on his Maccann Duet concertina