Q&A for How to Play the Accordion

Keep it in a cool place and never, never in sunlight or near high heat sources. There is a waxy substance for every key stop internally. Always keep it in its case when not in use.

Several places online will play a specific note to aid in tuning; match the note played with that on your accordion.

In a piano accordion, the bass buttons are organised according to the circle of fifths - so for example, the button above C is G (a fifth higher), and the next one is D (another fifth higher). The button below C is F (a fifth lower). On each horizontal row, you have several different variations of the same chord (except for the first column). For example, on the C row, the second button is a plain C note, the third is a major C chord, the fourth is a minor C chord, the fifth is a dominant 7 C chord, and the sixth is a diminished 7 C chord. It goes this way for all rows.

Unless you know what you're doing (or are willing to risk ruining your instrument), you will need to take it to someone who knows how to repair them. It's likely that the old wax will need removing, reed leathers need replacing and reeds re-set in their blocks. It isn't a small job, and it isn't a cheap one.

The easiest thing to do is to take it to someone professional for fixing. You can also open the trug yourself and press the air valve while pulling the bellows. And then you might see what is wrong and you can try to fix it by moving the clapper inside the instrument a little. But if you don't know how to do it properly, then do not even try.

Yes, it is in the free reed family alongside the harmonica.