The two centre rows on each side are in the key of C and the accidentals are distributed between the outside rows. Playing a scale involves alternating between the left and the right hands. The layout of buttons however, allows the player to play at very fast tempos. The English concertina has 48 keys, with a range of 3½ octaves.

The standard English concertina (also referred to as a treble English concertina) has 48 buttons or keys and a range similar to a violin, from G below the treble clef to two octaves or more above the clef. It is fully chromatic – it has all the sharp and flat notes that are within its range (like the black notes of a piano).

On concertinas you play the higher notes with the right hand and the lower notes with the left hand. The Anglo Concertina produces a DIFFERENT NOTE on the ‘push’ and on the ‘pull’. The English Concertina produces the SAME NOTE on the ‘push’ and on the ‘pull’.

The most common key for Anglo Concertinas, especially for playing traditional Irish music, is the key of C/G. This means that one row of buttons plays a full scale in the key of C, and another row plays a full scale in the key of G. You will also come across other key combinations such as C#/G#, A/D, Ab/Eb or G/D.

Is described or designated by its playing musical keys typically C/G; Bb/F etc and by the number of buttons it has, so typically a 30 button D/G concertina. Plays different notes on any button depending on which way the bellows are worked.