Concertina facts for kids
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| Classification | Keyboard |
|---|---|
| Playing range | |
| depends on model | |
| Related instruments | |
| Accordion | |
A concertina is a cool musical instrument. It makes sounds when air moves through special parts called reeds. This air is pushed and pulled by a part called a bellows, which looks like a fan that expands and contracts. You play the concertina by pressing buttons on both sides of the instrument with your fingers.
Contents
How the Concertina Makes Music
The concertina is a type of free-reed aerophone. This means it makes sound using air that vibrates small, thin pieces of metal called reeds. When you push or pull the bellows, air flows over these reeds. Pressing a button opens a valve, letting air reach a specific reed to make a note. It's a bit like an accordion, but usually smaller and shaped differently.
Types of Concertinas
There are three main types of concertinas. They look similar but play music in different ways.
The Anglo Concertina
The Anglo concertina is popular in traditional Irish music. It has bass notes on the left side. A special thing about the Anglo concertina is that it makes a different sound when you push the bellows in compared to when you pull it out, even if you press the same button. This is called a "bisonoric" system.
The English Concertina
The English concertina is different from the Anglo. When you press a button on an English concertina, it makes the exact same sound whether you push the bellows in or pull it out. This is called a "unisonoric" system. It's often used for classical music and folk songs.
Duet Concertinas
Duet concertinas are designed to play both melody and chords at the same time, like a small orchestra! They have bass notes on the left side, similar to the Anglo. Just like the English concertina, duet concertinas make the same sound whether you push or pull the bellows.
The Hayden Duet Concertina
One special type is the Hayden duet concertina. It has a unique button layout that makes it easier to play different musical scales. This means you can use the same finger patterns for many different tunes. Its keyboard is arranged in a special "6-plus-6" pattern, which helps musicians learn it quickly.
Images for kids
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An English Concertina taken apart, showing its bellows, reedpan, and buttons.
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A Hayden Duet Concertina.
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A Chemnitzer concertina made in the USA in 2000.
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A Bastari 40-button Anglo concertina.
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Comparing a Duet concertina, an English concertina, and an Anglo concertina.
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A German concertina from the mid-19th century.
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Irish historian Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin playing a concertina.
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The Blind Girl (1856), a painting showing a concertina.
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An American Woman Playing a Concertina (1860).
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A sailor playing a concertina.
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An Anglo concertina next to a bandoneon, a similar instrument.
See also
In Spanish: Concertina para niños
