Button accordions feature multiple tone switches on their treble (keyboard) and bass button sides, and you can view a diagram of this by clicking here.
There are various varieties of button accordions, from diatonic models used by Morris dancers and English folk styles (melodeons) to the more complex Garmonica and Russian bayans – with most melodic keys playing two distinct notes when expanded or contracted on bellows expansion/contraction.
Basics
Most button accordions feature two sides – a keyboard side which produces melodies when pressed, and a bass/chord side which produces chords when pushed – each played using fingers of either hand; buttons on the treble side being played by right hand fingers while those of bass/chord side require left hand players for best results. Unlike piano accordions which contain rows of keys with matching letters, diatonic button accordions feature up to five rows of buttons arranged diagonally across their width to produce melodies and chords when pushed.
The left side of this instrument features chord buttons which, when pushed, produce three note chords (called vamps). To produce them quickly and reliably, successive presses of these chord buttons must be made simultaneously before being released quickly after pressing, similar to playing piano keys with one finger.
Due to being a transposing instrument, button accordion music can easily be learned on this instrument by transposing key. Note reading isn’t essential either – many of the best button-box players play by ear.
Buying a Button Accordion
Button accordions consist of two bellows connected by a casing or frame and connected by keys for playing music. When the keys are pushed or pulled, air pressure builds up within them causing vibrating reeds to produce sound, producing sounds in many sizes, styles and forms with various systems for different forms of musical accompaniment.
Diatonic button accordions, most frequently found in European genres like polka and other dance forms, contain rows of buttons that play one note when stretched or compressed by their bellows. Some diatonic accordions feature repeating patterns for playing multiple musical keys simultaneously (bisonoric); however others can only be played in one key at any one time.
Piano-keyed button accordions feature a right-hand keyboard arranged like a piano, which enables their players to perform in all Western musical keys (including minor). A chromatic button accordion would be necessary to perform Irish or French Cafe music since these genres use fast transitions between keys that require access to all sharps and flats simultaneously.
Getting Started
The bass button accordion contains six rows of buttons arranged diagonally chromatically. Those closer to the bellows produce single notes while rows further back produce fixed chords (major, minor seventh and diminished).
If you’re new to accordion playing, start by pushing the bass buttons. Next, experiment with playing right-hand chords until you achieve a steady rhythm; try switching between C bass notes and C major chords on either hand as part of this practice session.
Henry Doktorski offers a diatonic button accordion method book with button charts and diagrams, photographs, as well as a CD that plays all of the musical examples from within the book. You may also find button layout drawings on a UK melodeon website; these help show how pushing on button 1 produces middle C sounding chords when you press down on that key.
Maintenance
Button accordions are free reed aerophones that utilize air vibration through reeds to produce sound.[1] They include Russian garmon, German accordion, Swiss Schwyzerorgeli and Basque trikitixa accordions – each button on its melody side produces two notes; there are also single action accordions such as German concertinas and French mouth organs which feature this mechanism.
Accordions act like air filters and can accumulate a great deal of dust and lint over time, leading to sticking keys on bass buttons and buttons on piano keys. Therefore, it is recommended that a professional conduct a full cleaning (including wax rewax) once per year.
As taking an accordion out of its case too quickly can cause condensation to form in its reed block, it is important that it has time to warm up in room temperature before being played on. This will also ensure that its reeds are set correctly.