Learn to play the piano accordion with our CD ROM piano accordion tutorial. Piano accordion instruction is by our piano accordion tutor Karen Tweed. Video and audio files combine with music notation, text and photos to make the learning process as easy as possible.
Accordion Information Guide: a complete resource of Accordion and its related topics such as accordion lessons, how to play accordion, accordion music, tips to be followed while purchasing used accordions and antique accordions, and accordions types. >>read more
Jim Allen's Button Accordion: The diatonic button accordion,
how it works and how it's played.
The diatonic accordion, also known as the melodion, is a joyful-sounding instrument which is best played by ear and by memory. It is set up to play in one major key for each row of buttons, making it inconvenient to play from a... >>read more
Slovenian Accordions by Jim Allen:
Here are a couple of keyboad layouts for Slovenian diatonic button accordions. These were furnished to me by another person, who had received them from someone else. I have never played one of these instruments, so I can't vouch for the accuracy of the layouts. I welcome any comments or corrections.... >>read more
Hohner Club Accordions by Jim Allen: Club accordions differ somewhat from the usual diatonic layout. They have two melody rows and a helper row containing chromatic notes and some notes on the opposite stroke from those on the melody rows.
This layout is from an old Hohner catalog and appears to be for the Club Norma and Club... >>read more
The Double Action Diatonic Accordion by Jim Allen: There's a rare type of diatonic accordion which is now being marketed by a company which imports fancy items made in the former Soviet Bloc countries. It has 25 buttons in two rows on the treble side, and another 25 in three rows for the bass. Apparently it's quite popular in Russia. ... >>read more
Chromatic Button Accordions by Jim Allen: The chromatic button accordion is a mystery to most musicians. Its keyboard looks like a jumble of buttons that don't seem to be in any useful arrangement.
In this case, reality is the opposite of the perception. They right hand button layout is logical and easier than the keyboard of a... >>read more
Maintaining The Accordion by Jim Allen: An accordion is usually trouble-free for many years. Most of the fixes it might need are fairly easy for an amateur who has had some experience in building model trains or airplanes, or is handy around the house. Since I first wrote this, I have discovered a new book, "The Ins and Outs of the Accordion" by... >>read more
Cajuns, Accordions, Fiddles and Scales by Jim Allen: Many times I have heard or read that Cajuns play their accordions up a fifth. One web site says that Cajuns play up a fifth and go to great lengths to avoid playing the seventh note, Ti, because it will be flat.
I have often puzzled over these statements. I play a very few... >>read more
MIDI and the Accordion: MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It uses digital signals to play notes and select voices. MIDI pickups on an accordion do not transmit the accordion sound. They are systems of electrical switches that feed into computer chips which generate MIDI messages. These messages feed into sythesizers which... >>read more