| This is
a list of words associated with the accordion and their meanings.
It has been separated into two sections for easy reference;
one for parts of the accordion and one for general music terms
that easily relate to the accordion. If you have a word to add
to the list, please
send it to us.
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Air
Button
The air button operates a valve that allows
the bellows to open and close without
the accordion making any sound. It is usually found on the side
of the bass board, or is the very top bass button.
Back Strap
This joins the two shoulder straps
together, on the accordionists back. Some players feel it holds
the accordion in place more securely, and takes pressure off
the back.
Bass Switches
See Switches
Bass Strap
Usually made of leather, this goes from the top to the bottom
of the accordion, on the bass side. The strap is positioned
over the wrist, providing a support for the left hand while
playing the bass buttons. Its main use is to enable the player
to move the bellows in and out.
Bellows
The bellows are the "heart" of the accordion. They
create the volume by forcing air through the reeds.
Controlling the flow of air with the bellows for expression
and dynamics is one thing that is unique to accordions.
Bellows Clips
The bellows clips keep the bellows closed when the accordion
is not in use. They are on the top and bottom of the bellows.
Cassotto
See Tone Chamber
Chin Switches
These are a type of treble switch.
They are found on top of the accordion, above the treble keyboard.
They do the same thing as any other switch, but are very easy
to use, because the player does not have to move their hand
to change switches.
Couplers
See Switches
Grille
The grille covers the keyboard's treble valves and mechanisms.
It is used to decorate the accordion, and usually displays the
brand name and/or the logo of the manufacturer. It is common
to see brightly coloured grilles with jewels and different coloured
trimmings. The grille is usually "vented" to allow
a louder treble sound. Occasionally, however the grille is used
as a muting mechanism.
Master Bar
This is an optional type of On/Off switch,
located on the outer edge of the treble keyboard. It is operated
by a push with the heel of the hand, automatically opening all
the register slides. After release, it springs back to its original
position. This allows the player to introduce all the reeds
without taking fingers off the keyboard.
REEDS
The reed produces the accordions sound.
It consists of thin steel, which is riveted at one end of the
reed plate (usually made of aluminium). The other end of the
reed is free to vibrate in and out of the slot, when air pressure
is supplied from the bellows. The reed plates are mounted on
reed blocks, which are usually made of poplar wood. Reeds have
leathers to moderate the airflow.
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Valves
Valves are the padded bars which open and close sound holes and
are operated, through valve levers, from the keys or buttons.
These sound holes are located on the treble side of the instrument,
under the grille.
Pitch
The pitch of a reed is determined by the speed at which it vibrates.
This speed is governed by the length and thickness of the reed.
The longer and thicker the reed, the slower the rate, and consequently
the lower the pitch. A reed does not vibrate faster when greater
air pressure is applied, but moves further in and out, creating
a greater volume.
Quality
of Reeds
The reeds are the most vital part of an accordions sound quality.
They belong in four categories, listed below.
Note: These categories may vary from source to source.
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Commercial
These are the least expensive reeds, and are manufactured almost
entirely by machine. They are smaller than others of higher quality.
The aluminium reed plate is also of a lesser quality, and often
has a dull finish.
Hand
Finished
The reed plates will have some degree of shine, but the finish
of the plate will not have a finely smoothed finish. The manufacturer
mounts the reed tongue by hand.
Tipo
A Mano
These reeds are usually made on a larger plate, and in some
cases the reed plates are the same size as those used to manufacturer
Hand Made reeds. The phrase "Tipo A Mano" means "Imitation
Hand Made Type". The better Tipo A Mano reeds (made of
superior steel) with good hand work, can be nearly as good as
most Hand Made reeds.
Hand
Made
This is best cut of reed. The reed plates are hand cut and
made of the best aluminium, called Duraluminium. They are
finely finished to the point where they shine. The reed tongue
of the Hand Made Reed is often blue on the sides of the square
blue steel base, because the steel is heat tempered in strips.
The base of the reed is often obscured by a layer of wax,
which is applied during the installation of reeds onto reed
blocks. This characteristic tells you that the reed is hand
made.
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Registers
See Switches
Shoulder Straps
The shoulder straps are used to stabilise an accordion as it is
being played. There is one strap for each shoulder. These straps
make it possible for a musician to play when standing.
Register Slides
These are thin strips of metal, that slide in between the reed
banks and the valves. They are designed to open and shut the banks
of reeds. A mechanism connects these slides to the switches.
SWITCHES
The function of a Switch is to open or close one or more sets
of reeds, via register
slides in the reed blocks. The more reeds
in an accordion, the more switches become available.
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Treble
switches
There are two types of switches that are on the grille: the automatic
and the On/Off (push once for On and again for Off). Each push
button of the automatic switch opens specified slide registers
and closes others (according to the setting of the combination
of reeds, see below).
Bass
Switches
Most full-sized accordions are now equipped with one or more
switches on the bass section also. These are normally in a vertical
row, along the inside of the bass board. As with treble switches,
there are two types; automatic and on/off. The automatic type
of switch is sometimes called a pre-set switch, and it involves
a great deal more mechanism than the simple on/off type lever
switch. There can also be switches located near the air
button.
Note:
Both Treble and Bass Switches are arranged in different orders
on different makes of accordions.
Quint
Switches
The individual incorporation of the perfect 5th (which is
actually a 12th; an octave higher plus a 5th higher again)
to every note on an accordion, giving a Pipe-organ type sound.
This especially suits Russian or Pipe Organ music. This switch
is usually only found on larger accordions.
Most full-size
accordions have four sets of treble reeds, and some have five.
With various combinations of these there can be fifteen or more
switches on the grille. Each select a different combination
of reeds by opening and closing slides.
For example,
these are the combinations available with automatic switches
on a three reed accordion:
|
|
| 1. |
LOW |
MIDDLE |
HIGH |
| 2. |
LOW |
MIDDLE |
-- |
| 3. |
LOW |
-- |
-- |
| 4. |
LOW |
-- |
HIGH |
| 5. |
-- |
MIDDLE |
HIGH |
| 6. |
-- |
MIDDLE |
-- |
| 7. |
-- |
-- |
HIGH |
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Switches can
be doubled up in other places on the accordion:
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Thumb
Straps
The thumb strap is for the thumb of the right hand, and is mostly
used on lighter concertinas and bandoneons, where shoulder straps
are not needed.
Tone Chamber
The tone chamber is the translation for the word "Cassotto" (meaning
"box") which is what a Tone Chamber constitutes; a box into which
a set of reeds is placed. Cassotto is the
general term used for any instrument with reeds in a chamber.
However, the term "Double Cassotto" can be used when there are
two sets of reeds in the chamber. A Tone Chamber gives an instrument
a rich, full sound.
Treble Switches
See Switches
Treble Keyboard (Piano Accordion)
The treble keyboard has the same layout as the piano. The lowest
note is at the top when you look at it from the front. For further
information, see Types of
Accordions and how they work.
Valves
These are what let the air into the reed. See REEDS
for further information.
Wrist Straps
These help hold the accordion in position, and like the bass straps
are usually made of leather. They can be worn on either on the
right or left hand. Like thumb straps,
they are also used on smaller concertinas and bandoneons and small
accordions.
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| MUSICAL
TERMS
|
| ACCORDION
PARTS
|
Many
musical terms can be related to the accordion. These are definitions
of the most commonly used terms. This list also includes terms
which specifically relate to the accordion.
Accents
This is when the player suddenly pulls on the bass
strap or pushes on the side of the bass board with his/her
arm while pressing a note, which creates a short sharp sound.
Good co-ordination is required to get the timing of an accent
exact.
Alternating Bass
To play this, a root note (fundamental) is played, then a chord
of that root note, followed by the fundamental dominant (5th)
of the root note, and back to the chord of the root note. A
simple example is: C, C Major, G, C Major.
Bellow Shakes
The bass arm pulls quickly in and out causing a "stuttering"
effect. There are many types of bellow shakes, which give different
effects:
Duple Bellow Shake
In the space of a beat, a note is sounded twice. The duple bellow
shake is played by creating a "hinge" with one side
of the bellows and only opening the bellows from the opposite
side.
Triple Bellow Shake
In the space of one beat, a note is sounded three times. The
bellow movement is In, Out, In and vice versa. This can take
a lot of co-ordination to get the feel of the rhythm because
the pulse (the first in or out) changes bellows direction every
time.
Quadruple Bellow Shake
In the space of one beat a note is sounded four times. The bellow
movement is In, Out, In, Out. This bellows shake can sometimes
be played using the four corners of the bellows, where the bellows
are moved in a circular motion, creating the feeling of four
counts. This, however takes a long time to learn!
Converter Bass
This is a bass system which can play both standard and free
bass, by using the Bass Switches.
An accordion with a converter bass is possibly the most versatile
accordion available.
Crescendo (gradually getting louder)
This is a term familiar to most musicians, but the accordion
is one of the best instruments on which to play a crescendo.
Pressure is gradually increased to the bellows,
which increases the volume.
Decrescendo (gradually getting softer)
This is the opposite of the crescendo, and again the accordion
is one of the better instruments on which to perform it. By
gradually decreasing pressure to the bellows
volume also decreases.
Diatonic
A Diatonic accordion has two reeds tuned to different pitches
for each note. The direction of the bellows determines which
note is produced. For detailed information see Types
of accordions and how they work.
Double Action
The pitch of the note is not affected by the direction of the
bellows, eg: C is the same note on the out bellows as it is
on the in bellows.
Free Bass
Unlike the stradella system, all the bass
buttons play individual notes. This gives the accordion a fantastic
range of notes. Organ and piano pieces can be played without
needing to be arranged. Free Bass is used by many baroque and
classical players.
MIDI
Please refer to Frequently
Asked Questions for a full explanation.
Musette
Musette is a sound produced by specifically tuning the reeds
of an accordion higher or lower than normal. It is very common
in traditional French music. Musette can also be called "Tremelo".
Stradella Bass
This is the traditional bass style of the accordion. There are
up to three (and sometimes four) rows of buttons which are single
notes, and up to four rows of buttons which are fixed chords
(3 notes play when one button is played).
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