cheerfully pointless post about squeezeboxes.

[watervole]

 Because everyone gets them confused...

An accordion is a large instrument where all the keys play the same note whether the bellows are being pushed or pulled.  One hand plays the melody, the other had buttons to push for chords.



A melodeon is smaller than an accordion.  It has different notes on the push and pull.  ie.  Each key plays two notes, which is why it's a smaller, lighter instrument.  The left hand had buttons for chords.  The keys for melody are buttons rather than piano keys, as the arrangement of notes is different from a piano.  Melodeons play in only one or twokeys, one per row of buttons.


An 'English' concertina has hexagonal ends and straps for the little finger and a rest for the thumb.  It plays one note per key (same note on push and pull) and is fully chromatic. (plays in any key)





An Anglo (Anglo/Geman) concertina, has hexagonal ends, and a strap that goes over the wrist, and a totally different layout of buttons.  It has (like a melodeon) two notes per button.  It plays in one or two keys, but may have buttons for accidentals to allow extra keys.  Great instruments for morris - I have one.

Comments

[kerravonsen]

8-)

[kotturinn]

Thanks! I knew accordion/melodeon but not that there were 2 forms of concertina. I confess to assuming that the visible differences e.g. in decor and straps were a subset of personal choice. You're never too old to learn!

[watervole]

I just listed the two most common types of concertina. There are also duet concertinas (you can play a full melody on either hand), bass (bigger and with lower notes) and lots of different Anglos that play in different combinations of keys.

Mine, for example, is a D/G Anglo. Plays D on the bottom row and G on the middle row, and the top row is accidentals. Most morris musicians will play D/G Anglo, but there's also an English concertina in our band, along with two accordions, two melodeons, several drums, a violin, a guitar and some occasional recorders! And a flute.

[kotturinn]

There are also

'tis as bad as clarinets! 😊

[igenlode]

If an instrument plays only in one key, does that mean that it only has semitones on the third and seventh notes, whereas the other one has semitones for all the notes possible?

[watervole]

My G/D Anglo has a row of buttons that go E F# G A B C D E F# (the G row)

The row below has C# and F# (and is also higher pitched than the G row)

The top row has accidentals like F natural, so I can play in C, but it's not easy (and I rarely need to as morris tunes are usually in D or G)

My friend Pam has an accordion and the keys look and function like those of a piano.