Which leg to rest the concertina and why

[Sandy Cryder]

I read how many folks rest the Anglo on the left knee.  Is there a reason for choosing the left leg rather than the right leg?

[Ken_Coles]

A perennial question, discussed before here. One of our power users will probably find an old thread or two on this.

 

I've seen players do it both ways, a personal choice, or ergonomic preference, or matter of tradition in a particular genre...in my own experience, at least. What kind of music are you playing?

 

Welcome aboard,

Ken

[Tiposx]

I guess that the left knee helps make room for the push from a right-handed person.

I stand up.

[Ty Bowen]

For me it's rest on the left because lots of rolls and ornaments I do involve percussive motions with my right index and middle finger, and those would have less impact on the bellows if my right side was glued to my right knee.

[hjcjones]

I rest it on the right knee. I play English/harmonic style so my right hand is doing the more complicated and faster stuff so it helps to have that side stable so I'm relying less on the hand to hold the instrument and drive the bellows, and i can move the hand around within the strap to reach the buttons. Whilst the left hand accompaniment can be fairly complex it's usually less busy.

[Michael Eskin]

I anchor on the left leg with the point on the inside of my thigh, and to make sure it really doesn't move, I put a piece of leather on my left leg and set the point on that.

 

I'm also an Uilleann piper, so use leather on the leg for a "piping strap" to seal the end of the chanter.

This allows me to completely relax my left arm and not have to put any energy into stabilizing the left side of the instrument on the push. It just stays put and the strap stabilizes it on the draw.

It makes a huge difference, give it a try. 

It also makes things a lot more comfortable if you wear shorts while playing, which is often the case for me when the weather is warm.  I handed out a pile of them at one of the Noel Hill workshops in Newberg, OR to anyone who wanted one.

 

Edited January 8 by Michael Eskin

[Matt Heumann]

I also use a pad for stability. Here's a knee pad I made for Robby Strong, incorporating his icon, he says it does help with stability:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r9vqw67gdry1dbhsmbtpm/Robby-s-Custom-Knee-Pad.jpeg?rlkey=aupefej16p0535zg7gfzk79jk&st=59pf7jgl&dl=0

 

By the way, supposedly some of the early concertina tutors said one must never play on the knee.

[tubabutologist]

I been using a left over piece of this  - I find it helps when playing (on right leg - left hand dominant)

https://www.lakeland.co.uk/8297/slip-a-grip-non-slip-fabric-shelf-and-surface-liner-3m-roll

[Clive Thorne]

On 1/6/2026 at 6:32 PM, Tiposx said:

I guess that the left knee helps make room for the push from a right-handed person.

I stand up.

I don't always stand up, but I always hold the instrument in the air as if I was.

[Randy Stein]

Depends whether you play a left handed or right handed concertina 

Edited January 9 by Randy Stein

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

I am no aware of there being a left or right handed concertina..is there?

 

[Ken_Coles]

7 hours ago, SIMON GABRIELOW said:

I am no aware of there being a left or right handed concertina..is there?

 

 

Randy may be having a little fun with us, Simon!

[wunks]

And perhaps Simon is as well 🙂

Edited January 9 by wunks

[Tiposx]

I think that legs are being pulled a little...

 

But one-sided (if that is what they are called) concertinas do exist. Meaning lots of buttons on one end, none on the other end, just a blank end plate and a strap.

I have seen one (or more) vintage anglos for sale at Barleycorn. There is also a photo of a modern one somewhere on A.C. Norman's web pages.

 

Tiposx

 

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

Oh than goodness ..yes not to be taken too seriously..left handed (concertina thoughts).  .As someone who is actually left handed, in real life, I was genuinely intrigued though ( I have to say)😊😊

 

[malcolm clapp]

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules about where a concertina rests; whatever one is comfortable with, and experimenting can be useful. I must admit that I rest an anglo on my right knee if I'm reading music or playing something complicated or unfamiliar, but for tunes I know well I tend to hold the instrument at around chest height with arms extended, moving the concertina around as I play. (I recall a conversation with a respected player describing it as "theatrical style", as opposed to his "classical style", one end seemingly firmly attached to his knee or lower thigh.

 

On a lighter note, one of my "party pieces" is/was to play anglo with the concertina behind my back while standing. Actually, a bit lower than what one would describe as my back, leading to a few "bum notes"....

Edited January 10 by malcolm clapp
Sp

[alex_holden]

6 hours ago, Tiposx said:

But one-sided (if that is what they are called) concertinas do exist. Meaning lots of buttons on one end, none on the other end, just a blank end plate and a strap.

I have seen one (or more) vintage anglos for sale at Barleycorn. There is also a photo of a modern one somewhere on A.C. Norman's web pages.

 

https://www.holdenconcertinas.com/a-one-handed-27-button-bass-hayden/

 

I designed it so the hand rails can be reversed to make it right or left handed.

[Tiposx]

Alex that build is amazing, a work of art. I love how you are re-purposing so many vintage parts.