Now look what you did.

Because of the ingenious layout of the English concertina, you are probably looking at the first chord of the key you accidentally chose with your bullet. Only two fingers on both of these notes (one finger on each side), chosen in this creative albeit noisy manner, is the first chord of most songs in this key. It is not a full triad; it is a stripped-down, ready-to-wrestle, third-free chord which could be major or minor, but is too shy to commit. Sing Dixie to this friendly chord.

One note will be higher in pitch than the other, a natural fourth above the lower note (on the other side of the instrument), again, because the English concertina is so cunning and brave.

If you add one finger to the button underneath the row of the higher note on the higher note's side of the instrument, you will have that chord (a technical “fourth” chord) you'll need when you're singing “old times there are not forgotten”. Play these two notes alone, leaving off the note on the now lonely, only-one-button side of your concertina, but keeping your finger lightly on that bullet hole button.

By the time you're singing “look away” for the third time, you will want one more chord (a technical “fifth” chord) which you can play by going back to your bullet hole buttons (one on each side) and this time playing one button above your lower-pitched “bullet hole” button while leaving off playing the higher “bullet hole” button note.

If you can't tell which note is higher than the other one, lay the concertina down and walk gingerly away.

Carol Denney is a community activist, musician, and bike commuter.