The Medusa Fora

I'm a whistler/mando player and want to pick up concertina. Two questions..1..are Hohners playable, they are pretty inexpensive, which is why I ask..2..is accordion easier or harder, I'm not going to be a full-time player on either, so I figured maybe concertina..thanx in advance

Jesus, don't be asking me about concertinas. The buttons on any concertina, Anglo, English, even the one Bing Crosby plays in High Society - all of them gobbledigook. I've never been able to get a tune recognizable to ears other than alien ones, out of one of those instruments. Terry's the one for the concertinas.

And the push-one-note, pull-another accordions are the same.

I hate concertinas, my mum used to play one and it put me off them for life.

Yes, Hohners are good. I have one. I have a D40. As far as ease, I'd say that a keyboard acciordion is easier than a concertina probably, but I'd reckon a concertina is easier than a 50000000 button accordion. Good luck with it mate.

When I first picked up the Accordion my friends kept saying "You should play the concertina, it's easier." WTF?! There's a fricken keyboard on this instrument and buttons... all of the same color on that thing. Hell no!

It's gotten to the point that when people bring up concertinas to me I say, "F**K the concertina!"

I like my accordion.

You know, Jon, I think people assume that because the concertina is generally smaller it will be easier, less complicated or something of that nature. Why? Hell if I know, because I've learnt to play the bagpipes which some consider one of the hardest instruments, and it's a hell of a lot easier than a concertina.

IrishRover, you're totally right. I tell them I play the accordion, "Oh! How about the concertina?" When I tell them no they look at me like "You can play the accordion but not the concertina? What kind of lame-o are you?"

They just have no clue.