How to Apply Music Theory to Bass Side of an Accordion

Though the accordion may not be revered as the most desireable instrument to play, it does require great skill to learn to play. With its range of notes and ability to play chords with a single push of a button, it is most used with polka and folk music. Many rock sounds also come from the basic chords of an accordion.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Understand the basic set-up of the accordion. The first two rows, including the one with the rhinestone, is the single notes. The keys that run diagonal are the bass chords. This is important to know and understand, as that is how bass notes will come into play.

2. Locate the row of notes that consists of C, F, B-flat going backwards all the way down. This is known as the counter bass notes. It refers to the third note of each button in the row. For example, a C note has a counter bass of E, F, and A.

3. Learn the diagonal notes. Find the C single note, one diagonal button down is the C major chord. One more diagonal note down is the C minor chord. One more in that direction is the C7 chord and the last button down the diagonal from C single, is the C diminished chord.

4. Practice the diagonal transitions and the major chords for all the single notes to be able to make these transitions smoothly. It is important to understand what each key of the 120-key accordion does. You may not remember the name of each one for awhile, but the progression is important.