A Brief Introduction to
Duet Concertinas

Duet Concertinas are double action chromatic instruments, like the English Concertina but with completely different fingering. Duet Concertinas, in whatever system, are quite rare. At the present time, only the Hayden system is being manufactured (in England), and very few of the antique models ever hit the market. Most of them are already in the hands of players. They are called Duet because there is an overlap in the middle octave permitting the two hands to play a duet together, with harmonies and counterpoint that would be very difficult on an English concertina, and impossible on an Anglo.

For an excellent page on duet concertinas, see the Concertina Spotter's Guide - there is a link from my page on How to Choose a Squeezebox.

There are four distinct fingering systems:

McCann Duet (usually Wheatstone, sometimes Lachenal) - 6 columns of buttons on each side of concertina. Can be 46, 57, 58, 62, 68, 72, or 80 buttons, with a range of from 3-1/2 to 5 octaves. The exact keyboards can vary slightly from instrument to instrument, and between different manufacturers. The middle octave is duplicated on both hands to facilitate true duet playing. This was the favored concertina in the British music halls. Found only as antiques. See sample fingering chart

Crane (Triumph) Duet (usually Lachenal) - the "Salvation Army concertina". 48 keys or 55 keys, similar to English but 5 columns of buttons on either hand instead of 4. Also like the English, the natural notes are confined to the inner rows of keys, and the accidentals to the outer rows. Left and right hands are almost identical except for range. It is a more logical system than either Jeffries or McCann. In the 55 key version, the left hand goes up to C instead of G. Like the McCann, the treble notes are on the right and the bass notes on the left. Sometimes tuned to "old pitch" or "Salvation Army pitch" for playing with brass bands. Found only as antiques. See sample fingering chart

Jeffries Duet - Based more on the Anglo than the other systems. Tends to favor playing in a particular key. The most difficult of the duet fingering systems - there may be only 10 or so players in the world today. Very rare. Found only as antiques.

Hayden Duet - a modern system, invented by Brian Hayden, based on the Chromatic Button Accordion. Scale fingering patterns are the same regardless of key; this system is reported to be easier to learn than most concertinas. Very rare. Once produced by Stagi in Italy; currently only available by special order from makers in England such as Steve Dickinson, although the Button Box claims to have future production plans.