Button accordions have become an integral part of some folk music traditions (‘melodeons’ for instance) due to their use in playing different notes depending on whether or not their bellows expands and contracts. They feature multiple rows of buttons which respond when expanded or contracted based on how their bellows expand or contract, providing another layer of flexibility in terms of note production.
Most diatonic models exist, though there are also some chromatic variants. Most have multiple tone switches on both the keyboard side and bass button side to control pitch sensitivity and bass button response.
Treble
The accordion’s treble part has an intuitive layout, which makes chord-building and arpeggio creation much simpler than on piano keyboard. Keep in mind when moving up or down diagonal rows on button accordions you are moving tones forward or backward; for example a minor 3rd upward moves you one semitone further upward than its adjacent major 3rd downward.
Buttons on the treble reed case (see first detail photo) connect to pallet covers that can be lowered or lifted, activating two metal reeds inside each reed block; one of them sounds when air is drawn through its bellows while the other sounds when its bellows are compressed.
Modern Irish diatonic accordions feature ten melodic buttons in the right hand, and 8 to 12 bass buttons on the left for producing bass notes and chords. Additionally, left hand works a smaller button keyboard for harmony accompaniment to melodies played from right-side of instrument.
Bass
The button accordion, also referred to as a melodeon or in French as an acordeon diatonic, consists of one or two long rows of bass buttons arranged in a diatonic scale without sharps or flats. There are various other varieties; some can produce bisonoric notes depending on bellows direction while others such as Garmon produce identical notes regardless of bellows direction.
An accordion player’s expertise lies in his or her ability to harmonize with other musicians, which requires making sure bass buttons match up with melody notes and holding each chord for an adequate duration in order to produce an ideal sound blend. When not being used, accordions should be stored somewhere dry so as to prolong their reeds and bellows’ lifespans.
Chords
Button accordions come in many styles and sizes; their left-hand button row typically provides bass notes as harmonic support to the melody played on the right-hand side.
The basic button layout is fairly straightforward. Up and down diagonal rows, you will find chords relating to roots, major, minor chords etc.
To create chords, press one of the outer buttons of a row (on the outside) and then push its opposite number (inside). For instance, pressing button 3 of D row will produce a pattern of D-F#-A which repeats itself throughout its row.
Few simple exercises will give you the confidence to play your favorite songs on an accordion. When not in use, always keep the bellows fastened together as this protects and prolongs their lifespan. Always store an accordion away from extreme temperatures and humidity levels as this could damage its reeds over time.
Melody
Button accordions (and melodeons) utilize a melody-sized keyboard with rows of buttons arranged chromatically for providing melodic line, while they can also play chords and bass notes to provide harmonic support to a tune.
The right hand treble keys are diatonic while the left-hand bass keys use the Stradella bass system – these can be pushed or pulled in different directions to produce different notes. A button accordion can also be played either unisonorically or bisonorically and is popular among folk musicians from Newfoundland and Labrador.
To play notes on a treble keyboard, start with your index finger on one of the inner row air buttons and press down with it until the bellows expand the air before pressing your finger down on a button to produce sound. Repeat this procedure with other fingers for practice until you feel comfortable moving to outer rows (4 and 5 duplicate the first two rows so it’s easy to remember which notes belong where).