Eleuke
M. Gerarda
Waikiki
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This page is a resource for sales staff working in the Musical Instruments Retail sector - it is not intended to be an encyclopaedia entry. Beware, this and many other pages may contain jokes and wry comments (like this one).
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Other definitions and information for those of us who aren't accordion aficionados:
Air Button, Bellows, Chin Switches, Converter Bass, Couplers, Free Bass, Grille, Keyboard, Master Bar, Musette, Reeds, Registers, Shoulder Straps, Stradella Bass, Switches, Thumb Straps, Tone Chamber, Valves, Wrist Straps.
For even more info: check out http://www.accordions.com/terminology.aspx, a great website for all sorts of stuff re accordions.
The piano accordion has a piano-style keyboard which is operated by the right hand (it actually feels more like an organ keyboard to play) and an array of buttons which produce either single bass notes or chords (or a combination of the two) operated by the left hand. The bellows are pumped by the player's left arm.
The number of bass buttons also defines the model of the instrument, along with the number of reeds per note in the right hand - e.g. an Atlantic IV 120 bass has (up to) 4 reeds per note and 120 buttons on the left hand, whereas a Morino II 72 has 2 reeds per note and 72 bass buttons.
Button accordions are either fully chromatic (as pictured above) or diatonic instruments.
The diatonic instruments are often in a number of related keys,
e.g. C & G or G, C & F) where each row of buttons is in a particular key.
The left arm pumps the bellows as per the piano accordion.
Concertinas are true "sqeeze boxes" - the bellows are pumped by both hands while playing. They have a small number of buttons for each hand and are usually diatonic (in a single key), though some chromatic models are available. Much smaller than the accordions.
This page is still under construction - thanks for your patience.
Releases the air when the bellows are opened or closed without the accordion sounding.
The "middle bit" between the two sides, made of waxed calico and vellum or pigskin. Used to pump air into the reeds to make the sound.
These are found on the top of the instrument. They are operated by the player's chin and thus can be used without interrupting the music. They usually operate treble tone controls, i.e. switching between one voice combination and another.
A system which allows a single accordion to play either traditional (Stradella) bass system or Free bass by means of switches on the bass side of the instrument. Models with this feature are the most versatile of all accordions.
Also called switches.
Each button on the Left hand plays a single note rather than the chords produced on the traditional or Stradella system.
The often decorative panel that covers the treble valves on the accordion. It is usually vented (i.e. has some holes in it) to increase the volume of the treble side.
The "piano" bit of the piano accordion. A standard piano or organ type keyboard consisting of the "white" and "black" notes, used for the melodic and/or treble parts of the music being played. Replaced by an array of buttons on the button accordion.
A long switch located on the outside of the treble keyboard on some accordions, which allows the player to activate all of the reeds at once for the loudest and fullest sound. Operated with the heel of the right hand.
A tremolo effect obtained using set of reeds tuned very slightly "out of tune" to the main reeds and threrefore "beating" against them as they sound together. Often preferred by Folk musicians.
Thin strips of metal (usually aluminium and sometimes steel) set on a "block" with holes in it activated by the keys or buttons. Pushing a key or button while operating the bellows forces air to pass through the hole and makes the reed vibrate.
The most important part of the accordion.
Also called switches.
These allow the player to take the weight of the instrument on the shoulders, thus freeing the hands to play. Found only on accordions, not on concertinas.
Each button on the left side operates three reeds, meaning that each button produces a chord. A convertor switch de-activates the link between the reeds sounding the root notes of the chords and the other reeds, thus "converting" to free bass.
Most accordions have three or more blocks of reeds, and the switches activate various combinations of these blocks. For example, a "quint" switch will bring the note played plus an auxilliary reed tuned an octave and a fifth higher into play ("quint" being Latin for 5th). This gives the player a wide tonal pallette to play with, especially on the larger accordions with 5 sets of reeds.
Small loops of leather on concertinas or occasionally on smaller accordions, used to help hold the instrument. Usually found on the right hand side of a concertina.
The "box" surrounding the reed block, which contributes to the tone and volume of the instrument.
The reeds of the accordion are free vibrating strips of thin steel fixed at one end to the reed block. The valves are strips of leather attached to the opposite or under side of the reed block to prevent air from leaking through the block when that particular reed is not being played.
The term "valve" is also used to describe the stoppers attached to the buttons or keys of an accordion which open the holes beneath when the particular key or button is pushed, thereby allowing air to flow to the reed beyond.
Usually found on the left hand side of an accordion, used to pull the bellows out and help support the instrument.