Q&A for How to Play the Accordion

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  • Question
    How do I maintain my accordion?
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    How can I tell if my accordion is tuned correctly?
    Community Answer
    Several places online will play a specific note to aid in tuning; match the note played with that on your accordion.
  • Question
    How do I tell which buttons are which on an accordion?
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    What do I do if the accordion wax melts when I'm playing it?
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    The accordion still plays a note when the air valve is pressed. It plays B4 no matter which other notes I press. How can I fix this?
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    Is an accordion considered a wind instrument?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it is in the free reed family alongside the harmonica.
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