Button accordions offer an extensive array of notes depending on their type. With practice and memorization comes success when translating sheet music to button combinations that create sounds.
Bass buttons are arranged in an easy to remember pattern known as the C or B system, making memorizing combinations of bass notes much simpler.
Diatonic
Button accordions come in all sizes and varieties, but most diatonic ones feature two rows of treble buttons and 12 bass buttons, all playing the same notes when pushed or pulled; two row diatonic instruments usually employ unisonoric (play the same note when pushing or pulling), with bisonoric playing different notes depending on whether or not you open or close the bellows.
Melodeons are popular diatonic instruments, widely utilized in folk and modern styles alike. While their roots lie primarily within folk music traditions, today the melodeon is increasingly being utilized for modern musical compositions that incorporate classic influences.
Peter Pot is one of the world’s premier melodeon players who plays entirely by ear. While this doesn’t make them bad musicians, it demonstrates that learning music reading skills isn’t required in order to play this wonderful instrument.
Chromatic
Chromatic button accordions (CBAs) differ from diatonic button accordions by offering rows of buttons arranged chromatically on their melody-side keyboard, unlike their diatonic counterparts that offer single treble notes on one side and either Stradella bass or free-bass systems on the other.
The chromatic button layout allows for increased chord and fingering possibilities. Furthermore, its closer spacing than piano keys facilitates extraordinary stretches and arrangements even with small hands.
Chromatic button accordions can feature up to five rows of trebles, with two of the rows duplicating one another. This makes transitioning from three row diatonic to five row chromatic very simple as most chord and fingering patterns will remain similar; however, finding an effective technique for moving between notes of different intervals requires some practice – this can be achieved by adapting major scale note patterns or using extra notes from other rows as needed.
Free Bass
Button accordions with free bass systems give you greater access to playing melodies on the left hand manual and creating your own chords (though understanding this type of arrangement isn’t essential for becoming a professional accordionist). The standard Stradella bass system offers 12 semitone bass notes along with four rows of prefixed chord buttons – perfect for amateur musicians starting out!
C-system piano accordions resemble piano accordions when played, since their button diagonals tend to align with major seconds, providing a comfortable experience when performing diatonic music; chromatic passages may require finger switches for optimal results.
These accordions come equipped with a sixth row to create diminished chords. Some compact size or previously ladies size accordions feature smaller keys, which is not an issue but may limit how many notes can be played simultaneously. Furthermore, these models usually only feature three reed sets instead of four and tend to be lighter and more portable than piano accordions.
Bass Button Layout
Add bass and chord buttons to the left hand of your accordion for greater versatility. Use the bass button to form all kinds of chords using notes from remaining chord rows; while chord buttons sound major triads, minor triads, dominant seventh chords (minus 5th) and diminished seventh chords.
Hans Palm’s accordion website offers the easiest way to learn this concept – his chord combination chart displays pairs, making it simple and memorable.
This system, which can be combined with the chromatic layout on a converter bass accordion, consists of two bass rows near the bellows and four chord rows; these sound like traditional button arrangements but include additional harmony buttons which provide fingering consistency and invariancy compared to standard button arrangements like those found on traditional accordions like the Stradella or Stradella-type accordions. You can see an example diagram at UK Melodeon site but note it opens a separate browser tab!