Piano accordion presents a rewarding challenge to beginner players. Even with minimal effort, chords can be produced that work effectively – giving rise to an immediate feeling of accomplishment and pride in accomplishment.
The piano accordion boasts an immense repertoire. It is used in popular music (chamame, polka and tango in Argentina; vallenato serrano merengue from Colombia and Dominican Republic); classical, jazz and folk genres.
The bellows
The bellows is where air flows and sound is created. Your playing technique will determine its intensity (bellows vs finger attack) as well as adjusting how long the sound remains by opening/closing of bellows before sound stops being produced.
Movement of the bellows gives melodeon players its signature punch at every button press, and articulates each note clearly. Many dancey rhythmic players turn their bellows constantly as part of their style; this helps maintain rhythm while adding to tunes’ emotional appeal.
Advanced bellows technique involves altering the direction of bellows movement on every beat (In, Out, In). This requires great co-ordination, but even once perfected it may still sound “choppy”. For optimal performance during rests it is essential to continue moving the bellows; otherwise the next note could start weak or abruptly.
The bass side
Piano accordions feature five rows with three reed sets each, giving the player access to four keys (or more if the fifth row serves as chord row). Furthermore, some models provide two registers per tab for single reed sound or vibrato vibrato effects.
Most chromatic button accordions come equipped with the stradella bass system, a six-row system of buttons arranged in six rows that allows rhythmic accompaniment or bass solos within an octave range. It works great for Latin, Pop and Folk music as well as classical but lacks the versatility required by Bach to provide multiple layers for multiple layer performances.
Some models feature couplers, which are buttons which activate additional sets of reeds for additional harmonics and tones. Couplers make the instrument more versatile and useful but require special attention to use correctly; usually only available on larger models and costing considerably.
The treble side
The treble side is the keyboard of an accordion and contains up to three rows of single notes and fixed chords that all play simultaneously when pressed. Each rank on this side of the instrument has been tuned a fraction higher than its neighbour, producing its characteristic tremolo sound that’s very popular among folk and traditional musicians.
These “ranks” can be configured between a standard piano system, typically found on western accordions, and the wet or musette system used on many French and continental folk instruments. Furthermore, they can also be tuned a whole tone lower for basso continuo effects.
Piano accordions feature a treble section with a tone chamber and up to two sets of reeds, creating an extremely lush sound. However, an audience’s judgment of balance between treble and bass side can only truly be determined as its sound travels directly towards their ears.
The keyboard
There are various kinds of accordions. From diatonic models, through chromatic (with the ability to play an entire chromatic scale with just one movement of the bellows) and digital tones. They vary in terms of size, buttons/keys available on either side of the instrument, tuning and voicing specifications as well as construction.
An accordion piano could contain up to 37 treble keys and 96 bass buttons; or as few as 8 in two rows of four. Furthermore, it may feature either one or two keyboards for playing this instrument.
Diatonic piano accordions can be used to play an array of musical styles, from simple accompaniments for traditional songs to power chording on the bass side. Their flexibility also makes them great for use as part of a full band; Sam Pirt (of The Tango Project) makes great use of this strategy in his work.