The concertina is a free-reed bellows instrument, a close relative of the accordion and a more distant relative of the harmonica. There are a few different types of concertina but they all work in very similar ways. The concertina is used for polka, tango, and classical music, as well as the traditional and folk music of England, and Ireland. They are made of expanding and retracting bellows with buttons on both ends.
Let’s look at some of the best beginner concertinas on the market currently.
 | 1. Best Overall Beginner Concertina – Trinity College Concertina (AP-2230A) An attractive 3 octave, 30 button instrument with a simulated walnut finish, with 8 fabric-covered folds. | Buy on Amazon |
 | 2. Best Looking Beginner Concertina – Johnson FI-120 Concertina – 20 Button Anglo Style A visually and sonically appealing concertina with reinforced brass bellows for a crisp tone. | Buy on Amazon |
 | 3. Best Affordable Beginner Concertina – Trinity College AP-1230A Anglo-Style Concertina An affordable budget beginners model made in line with traditional methods from the 19th century. | Buy on Amazon |
 | 4. Best 11-Fold Beginner Concertina – Trinity College Concertina (AP-1120A) An 11 fold bellow model with 20 buttons and 40 reeds. The bellows are reinforced with sleek metal. There is also a no-noise shut system for performances. | Buy on Amazon |
 | 5. Best Portable Beginner Concertina – Hohner D40 Concertina A 20 button, 40 reed, travel-friendly concertina. Excellent value. | Buy on Amazon |
Best Overall Beginner Concertina – Trinity College Concertina (AP-2230A)
The AP-2230A by Trinity College is a unisonoric English Style concertina. It is completely chromatic, with 30 buttons and a complete range of 3 octaves. It’s suited for playing melodies that are fast and quick-paced, as the notes alternate between both hands, which facilitates playing with speed and accuracy on the concertina.
The finish is an attractive simulated walnut laminate, which lends a pleasant light brown hue to the instrument. The concertina is easy to play because of the padded straps that hold the instrument to your hands. They are adjustable and come with a metal stopper. The generous 8-folds come covered in fabric.
There’s also a lined and zippered nylon bag included as well as an attachable and adjustable strap for your convenience, when the need arises.
Pros
- Chromatic with 30 buttons and a 3-octave range.
- Simulated walnut finish.
- Has generous 8, fabric-covered folds.
- Easy to play fast-paced melodies on as the chromatic scale alternates between both hands.
Cons
- Some complain that the thumb strap and metal pinky holder are ineffective, especially if you have problems such as arthritis.
Best Looking Beginner Concertina – Johnson FI-120 Concertina – 20 Button Anglo Style
The Johnson FI-120 Concertina is a 20-button 40 reed anglo accordion. It plays in the keys of C and G and has a range of 2 and a half octaves. The end plates are made out of a red Pearloid that not only enhances the visual appeal of the instrument, it also makes it more durable.
The buttons supposedly are touch-sensitive and are made to reduce sticking, although this seems ambitious in a beginner instrument. The bellows are reinforced to enhance longevity and to allow air to remain inside for longer, helping the musician get more from the instrument.
The clarity and loudness of the sound come from the brass bellows. There is no gigbag included with this instrument, but consider the Superior C-4906 Trailpak I Concertina Gig Bag if you plan on traveling around with your instrument or just want to be able to store it with peace of mind.
Pros
- Attractive construction with red Pearloid endplates.
- Brass bellows are reinforced for durability and a clean and crisp sound articulation.
- The bellows are designed to keep the air in for longer periods, facilitating playing.
Cons
- No gig-bag is included.
Best Affordable Beginner Concertina – Trinity College AP-1230A Anglo-Style Concertina
The Trinity College line of concertinas are authentic reproductions of the original handmade models made in England and Germany in the early 19th century. The AP-1230 is a 30 button, 1 and a half octave range model that’s chromatic. There’s also an air release button to enable you to close the instrument noiselessly.
The laminated end plates have an attractive simulated walnut finish. The neat black fabric-covered bellows have a generous 8 folds. The hand straps are adjustable. Also included are a lined and zippered carrying bag and an attachable and adjustable carrying strap.
Pros
- Affordable price.
- A good beginners model.
- Attractive walnut simulated laminate.
- An authentic reproduction of the original Trinity College models from the early 19th century.
Cons
- The hand straps aren’t very sturdy and may not last long.
Best 11-Fold Beginner Concertina – Trinity College Concertina (AP-1120A)
The Trinity College AP-1120A is ever so slightly smaller than their other offerings by the manufacturer. The AP-1120A is an Anglo concertina, with 20 buttons and 40 reeds. It offers a range of 2 and a half octaves, with a no-noise shut system, where you can close your instrument with minimal noise. This is a handy feature when you decide to perform to a crowd.
The bellows are fitted with a smart cloth which is the norm for all the offerings by Trinity College. The endplates are also made with an attractive black wooden laminate. Unlike the other concertinas listed with either 6,7 or 8-fold bellows, the AP-1120A has 11-folds. This gives the musician more air to play with and a greater opportunity to explore their musicality.
The bellows are also reinforced with metal, giving them a sleek appearance whilst improving their durability. Like the other offerings from Trinity College, the AP-1120A comes with a zippered, lined nylon carrier bag as well as an attachable, adjustable carrier strap.
Pros
- 11 bellow-folds give the musician plenty of air to work with.
- No noise shut system.
- 20 buttons and 40 reeds give a range of two and a half octaves.
- The bellows are reinforced with sleek-looking metal.
- Attractive black wooden laminate construction.
Cons
- Only available in 20 buttons, which may be a little limiting for some players.
Best Portable Beginner Concertina – Hohner D40 Concertina –
This attractive concertina is made by Hohner accordions in China. The combination of browns, whites, and black gives this concertina an ornate and classical look. Like the majority of Anglo concertinas, it has 20 buttons and 40 reeds. The tone is bright, cheery, and smooth. It plays in the keys of C and G.
There are also leather straps to help the player, as well as a padded gig bag, that will help you take this light and easily transportable instrument around with you without any worries. Being a 20 button Anglo concertina, it’s suited for beginners as it offers a good introduction to the instrument without being overwhelming with too many features.
Pros
- 20 reed and 40 buttons are a good starting point for beginners.
- Excellent value.
- Includes a padded, fitted gig bag.
- Great for traveling musicians.
Cons
- Some reviewers complain of the buttons sticking.
Concertina Buying Guide
History of the Concertina
When was concertina invented?
The concertina was developed in 19th century Europe. The first known version was produced in 1829 in England and the second independently produced version came from Germany in 1834. Naturally, these two different versions are now referred to as the English and German concertinas, respectively. Since this period, two other types of concertinas have emerged; the anglo-german concertina and the duet concertina.
What Is A Concertina?
A concertina is a free-reed aerophone instrument that is related to both the accordion and the harmonica. Sound is produced through pressing the buttons on either side of the instrument and either expanding or retracting the bellows. Vibrations then pass through the reeds and sound is produced.
Concertinas can either be unisonoric or bisonoric. A unisonoric concertina produces the same note if the bellows are expanded or contracted, and a bisonoric concertina produces a different note depending on the direction of the air passing through the reeds.
What Are The Differences Between The Types Of Concertinas?
The English and Anglo concertina are the two most popular types. An English concertina usually has 30-48 keys and produces the same note when pulled or pushed. An Anglo concertina has 20-30 keys and produces a different note when you either push or pull the instrument.
Anglo Concertina
Anglo (sometimes called Anglo-German) concertinas usually feature 20 or 30 keys. They are hybrids between the English and German instruments. You’ll often find them with the same 20 key layouts as German concertinas but with a bisonoric system. They have polygonal ends, unlike the German style.
A 20 key model can be a good starter instrument, although there is quite a small range of notes available meaning you may outgrow it quickly. Anglo concertinas are the preferred type of instrument for traditional English and Irish folk dance music.
English And Duet Concertina
The English concertina plays a chromatic scale (12 musical notes each separated by a semitone) They are unisonoric, meaning they play the same note whether the bellows are expanded or contracted.
They are available in 30-48 keys and are favored by English folk music enthusiasts, although some Irish folk players also use them. This style sees the notes of a chromatic scale alternated between each hand, which facilitates playing fast runs. It also makes this style popular with those who want to read and compose music with their concertina.
English concertinas are suitable for playing in ensembles or a group setting. They are also the most suited for playing fast melodies
Duet Concertina
Duet concertinas are similar to English ones with the main difference being that the keys are laid out somewhat differently. Duet concertinas work well for accompaniment as well as solo playing.
German Concertina
The German style is the largest of the concertinas and can be spotted from its squared sides. You can also find them with a more rectangular shape. They are bisonoric, meaning they produce a different note whether the bellows are pushed or pulled. They often contain numerous long-plate reeds per note to create a vibrato effect.
Which Kind Of Concertina Is Best For A Beginner?
Anglo concertinas tend to be best for beginners as they are often easier to play by ear with. On the other hand, musicians who come from a piano background may find the anglo key/note layout counterintuitive and confusing and prefer the chromatic layout of an English or Duet concertina.
The majority of the concertinas mentioned in this article are anglo, as they tend to be favored by beginners, but we’ve included an English model in case this option may seem more intuitive to you.
It’s advisable to choose the type of concertina suited to the type of music that you want to play. As with buying any instrument, it’s always best to buy the best quality instrument you can afford. Whilst cheap instruments may seem tempting, the quality can sometimes be so bad that the player won’t get a feel for what a real instrument is like. The concertina you end up with could be an instrument where the keys stick together which is not what you want when you’re learning, or at any stage for that matter. You could end up frustrated and disillusioned and give up before you’ve got going.
What Is The Difference Between A Concertina And An Accordion?
With an accordion, the buttons travel perpendicular to the bellows. On a concertina, when pressed the buttons travel in the same direction as the bellows. Concertinas tend to be smaller and lighter than the accordion and hence are often preferred by traveling musicians.
If you’re not sure whether an accordion or concertina is right for you, check out our accordion buying guide to help you decide. You can also check out our guides for other free-reed instruments such as the chromatic harmonica and the melodica.
What Are The Folds In A Concertina?
The folds in a concertina refer to the bellows. Typically there are either 6 or 7 folds in your average concertina. The more folds the better because it gives you more air to circulate, and thus helps your playing.
Some concertinas only have 5 folds, but it’s better to go for one with 6 or more if possible, especially for a beginner as it will help ease the learning process immensely and give you that extra bit of motivation to carry on learning.
The Takeaway
The concertina is a popular instrument for playing both traditional folk music of England and Ireland as well as tango, polka, and classical music. It’s a free-reed instrument like the accordion, harmonica, and melodica. The concertina produces sound through bellows which creates an airflow. There are buttons on both sides which are pressed by the fingers to produce different notes.
Anglo concertinas are often preferred for beginners. English style is also another popular style of concertina for beginners as they are chromatic, with the notes of the chromatic scale altering between the hands. This facilitates fast-playing, The fact that they’re unisonoric also helps in learning the instrument as there’s less to remember.
Our top pick, the Best Overall Beginner Concertina – Trinity College Concertina (AP-2230A) has a full three-octave range, 30 buttons, 8 folds, and an attractive walnut simulated appearance. The hand-to-hand chromaticism of the instrument makes it intuitive to learn on and makes it easier to play with speed, which is likely to give you the boost in confidence you may need to further ignite your musical ambitions and propel you into the world of the concertina.
Last update on 2023-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
