How to Play the Accordion

The accordion is a very intricate instrument which produces quite a unique sound. It comes from nineteenth century Europe and is usually associated with romantic Italian music or polka music. Follow the tips below for learning to play the accordion.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Sit down on a chair and set the accordion on the left knee. The straps should be over the player's shoulders. The straps are usually adjustable if they do not fit snugly.
2. Play the keyboard with the right hand. The keys are just like the keys of a piano or keyboard. The white keys are notes A through G and the black keys are flats and sharps. The melody of the song is played on the keyboard.
3. Play the bass buttons with the left hand. An accordion may have up to 120 bass buttons. Because the buttons can't be seen, the ones used most regularly are marked. These are the C fundamental, E fundamental and A flat fundamental bass.
4. Use the ring finger for the basses, the chords with the middle finger and the minor chords with the index finger. The basses are played on the stress beats, and the chords are played on the off-beats. This alternation is what gives playing the accordion the "oom-pah" sound.
5. Compress and expand the instrument to manipulate the tones it produces. This is what will create the notes when pressing the keys or basses. Make sure to only do this while something is being pushed; otherwise it will damage the instrument.
6. Find a good music teacher. Even if a specific accordion teacher is not available, a general music teacher can teach music theory and fundamentals in addition to reading music.