How an accordion makes sound
An accordion is a free-reed instrument. Inside are rows of thin metal reeds, each fixed over a slot in a plate. When you squeeze or pull the bellows and press a key or button, air flows past a reed and makes it vibrate, and each reed sounds one pitch. The bellows work the way lungs do for a singer: they supply the air, and how you move them shapes the volume and the phrasing.
Early instruments of this kind appeared in Europe in the 1820s and 1830s, and an early accordion was patented in Vienna in 1829. Factories in Germany, Italy and elsewhere were making them in large numbers by the later 1800s, which made them affordable for working musicians and immigrant families.
The main kinds
| Type | Treble side | Push and pull | Common in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diatonic button accordion | One to three rows of buttons, each row in a key | Same button gives different notes on push and pull | Slovenian-style polka, conjunto and norteño, Irish music |
| Chromatic button accordion | Several rows of buttons covering every note | Same note both ways | European folk and dance music |
| Piano accordion | A piano-style keyboard | Same note both ways | Many polka bands, especially in the United States |
| Concertina | Buttons on both ends of a small, often six-sided box | Depends on the system | German-American polka, English and Irish folk music |
A diatonic instrument plays easily in only a few keys but gives a punchy, rhythmic sound because the player changes bellows direction often. A chromatic or piano accordion plays in any key, which suits bands that move between many songs.
The bass side
The player's left hand works buttons on the other end of the bellows. On a typical piano accordion these buttons are arranged in rows: some play single bass notes, and others play whole chords at the press of one button. This is how the accordion makes its own oom-pah: the left hand plays a bass note on the beat, then a chord button on the offbeat. Full-size piano accordions often have 120 bass buttons, and smaller ones have fewer.
Diatonic button accordions have far fewer bass buttons, usually matched to the keys of the treble rows.
Switches and tone
Many accordions have more than one set of reeds for each note. Switches, sometimes called registers, choose which sets sound. One set tuned an octave lower gives a deep, organ-like tone. Two or three sets tuned very slightly apart give a shimmering, wavering sound that many people link with polka, waltzes and French dance music. Players pick switches to suit the tune.
The accordion in a band
In a small band, an accordion may cover everything: melody in the right hand and bass and chords in the left. In a bigger band with a tuba and a rhythm guitar or banjo, the accordion player can drop the bass notes and concentrate on the tune and on fills between vocal lines. Learn more about how the parts fit together in the rhythm guide and the page on brass and wind.
If you want to learn
- Decide which style you want to play first. A Slovenian-style or conjunto player usually needs a diatonic button box, while many polka and folk band players use a piano accordion.
- Try instruments in person before you buy. Accordions vary a great deal in weight, and the straps need to fit you.
- Ask about borrowing or renting. Some community music programs and heritage groups lend instruments to learners.
- Look for a teacher or a session through the public directories in the finding groups guide.
Accordions can be heavy, and playing while standing puts strain on the shoulders and back. Start with short sessions, sit when you can, and adjust the straps so the weight sits evenly. If you have a back or shoulder condition, ask your doctor or a physical therapist for advice.