Welcome to The Button Box
- Guides to anglo, English and duet concertinas
- Button, piano and chromatic accordions explained
- Photos, specifications and notes to compare models
- Current prices and customer reviews on Amazon
Choosing a concertina or accordion
Button Box Accordion is an information and review site for squeezebox players. Learn how each type of instrument works, compare makers and models, and see what to look for in keys, reeds, buttons and bellows. When you're ready, check current prices, availability and customer reviews on Amazon before you buy.
Shop instruments on Amazon
About the instruments
Anglo concertina
The anglo concertina is diatonic, playing a different note on the push and on the pull. It is often used for chanteys and American fiddle music. The C/G 30-button anglo concertina is a popular choice for Irish traditional music.
English concertina
The English concertina is fully chromatic and its note layout is based on the musical staff. It plays the same note on the push and on the pull. Originally designed for classical music, the English system is well-suited to folk music and chordal accompaniment.
Duet concertina
There are several duet systems of concertina. They all play the same note on the push and on the pull, and they are all designed to allow accompaniment to be played in one hand and melody lines in the other. They are suitable for all sorts of folk and popular music.
Button accordion
Diatonic button accordions play a different note on the push and on the pull. On the right-hand side, each row of buttons is in a different key. The left-hand side features bass and chord buttons. Different styles of button accordion are popular for many sorts of folk music, including Irish, English, French, and many Latin styles.
Piano accordion
Piano accordions feature a piano-like keyboard on the right hand, with chords and basses on the left hand. These accordions are fully chromatic and suitable for jazz, classical, folk, and popular music.
Chromatic button accordion
Chromatic button accordions are fully chromatic and play the same note on the push and on the pull. The right-hand fingerboard consists of 3 to 5 rows of buttons arranged chromatically, and the left-hand side features bass and chords. These accordions are a popular choice for jazz, classical, and many styles of European music.
Makers to know
For new accordions, the names you will see most often are Castagnari, Saltarelle, Serenellini, Brandoni, Weltmeister and Hohner. On the second-hand market you will also come across Paolo Soprani, Sonola, Titano, Petosa, Cairdín and Gaillard.
Modern concertinas come from makers such as R. Morse & Co., Stagi and Concertina Connection. Among vintage instruments, Wheatstone, Jeffries and Lachenal are the best-known names. Use the guides on this site to compare them, then check what is currently available on Amazon.
Makers covered on this site
All logos are property and/or trademarks of the individual manufacturers.