I vote for English when it comes to accompanying yourself with song. Best advice I got when I was selecting which concertina style to buy was TRY BOTH FIRST. I rented an anglo from the Button Box in Massachussets. I began to learn how to play, and found it wasn't hard to learn, but that it wasn't easy to do what I wanted, which is to play chords while I sing. Then I tried an English, and quickly found that I could do what I wanted to with that one.

It was easy for me to make up my mind because I had a particular style of music that I wanted to emulate (specifically Lou Killen's style in shanteys). I was able to accomplish that, and then found that I could do melodic playing as well, like jigs and reels.

I pass along the best advice I got; PLAY BOTH FIRST! Then you'll know better what you want to do, and won't agonize over spending the do re mi. Margo