A one row diatonic accordion, also referred to as the melodeon, features one single keyboard row of ten buttons with both treble (playing notes in limited keys) and bass buttons for producing root chords for specific keys.
The accordion is beloved instrument among musicians of Irish/Celtic, Tex-Mex/Conjunto, Zydeco and Classical styles alike. Additionally, its versatile instrumentation allows it to perform in many other genres like jazz and R&B music as well as classical performances with free bass or convertor bass bass accompaniment.
What is a Diatonic Accordion?
Diatonic accordions feature two keyboards on either side and a bellows in between. Every button on a keyboard opens or closes a valve that allows airflow through its reeds to produce sound, creating sound.
Right-hand rows of buttons are spaced a fifth apart and serve to produce melodies while left-hand rows provide bass notes and chords to accompany it. Different diatonic accordions have either two different notes per button on the right-hand side (bisonoric), or only have one note per button (unisonoric). Examples include the Russian garmon, Steirische Harmonika/Slovenian accordion used in Alpine regions, or Basque trikitixa accordions.
Most diatonic accordions are double action, meaning their pitch changes when you move the bellows in different directions. There are also single action diatonic and chromatic accordions; musicians may utilize both depending on their needs.
Diatonic Accordion vs. Chromatic Accordion
Diatonic accordions feature a fixed number of notes. Pressing one of its buttons plays one note when you push, while another when released; they’re popularly used in folk, Vallenato, Norteno Musette Pop and Rock music genres; they are much smaller than their chromatic counterparts with piano or button keys on right hand keyboard and 120 basses; these allow more variations in pitch variation as well as expanded repertoires.
Selecting an accordion that best matches your genre of music can be daunting, yet essential. Some genres like Zydeco and some forms of folk require specific types of accordions for optimal sound. Polo and Cajun music, on the other hand, may use diatonic accordions although each instrument has specific techniques used exclusively in these genres. Many accordions feature two 8′ rank keyboards tuned a fraction of a semitone apart which produce beats when they play simultaneously giving off their distinctive tremolo sound.
Diatonic Accordion vs. Bandoneon
Some traditional forms of music require specific accordions to sound correct; Zydeco and Cajun accordions feature specific key ranges that only work well with certain diatonic systems.
The chromatic bandoneon is similar to its diatonic counterpart but features keys spaced half-tone apart, giving access to all notes on the scale. While there may not be much audible difference in sound quality between them, its sounds vary subtly between each accordion when playing the same musical phrase with volume and intensity differences between accordions.
A chromatic accordion can be an ideal way for musicians looking to explore various musical genres without taking up too much of their time with diatonic accordion fingerings. But be wary that playing it requires greater pressure when blowing in and out compared with diatonic accordion; without sufficient strength to meet this demand quickly you may struggle to master this instrument quickly.
Diatonic Accordion vs. Mouth Harp
Diatonic button accordions are one of the most frequently seen forms of accordions, featuring one to multiple rows of buttons in various keys and available with bisonoric reeds whose pitch varies based on whether you push out or pull in on their bellows.
This allows a player to play an array of melodies. Additionally, bass notes and chords can often be found on the left side of the instrument. There are various diatonic accordions: Russian garmons; Steirische Harmonikas popular in Alpine regions of Europe; Swiss Schwyzerorgelis and Basque Trikitixas are among them.
Recently, accordions were seen as instruments used by poor people and weren’t taken very seriously by cultural elites. However, that perception has changed gradually; today they’re seen as beautiful instruments with endless versatility that are easy to learn for newcomers.