What is english concertinas?

English concertinas are a type of handheld musical instrument that belong to the family of accordion-like free-reed instruments. They were first developed in England in the early 19th century as a more portable version of the larger and more complex German concertina.

English concertinas consist of a rectangular-shaped body with a number of buttons on either end. The buttons on one end are for playing melody notes, while the buttons on the other end are for playing chords or bass notes. The notes are produced by pressing the buttons which open valves to allow air to pass through the reeds inside the instrument, which then vibrates and creates the sound.

English concertinas typically have a range of two to three octaves and are played using the bellows to and from the musician's body, producing a sound similar to an accordion or harmonica. They are often used in folk music, but can also be found in classical, popular, and even experimental music.

One of the most famous players of the English concertina was John Kirkpatrick, who played on the Beatles' "Let It Be" album, among others. Today, there are still many musicians and enthusiasts who play and collect English concertinas.