Accordion guide
How to Set Up and Use Accordion
Correct strap fitting, even bellows movement and clean key placement are the three foundations of good technique — this guide walks through each from the beginning.
Fitting and Wearing the Accordion
Before playing, fit the accordion correctly using both shoulder straps. The instrument should sit high against the torso — roughly level with the sternum — so the bellows can open and close without your elbow hitting your hip. The left-hand strap, fitted over the back of the hand, should be snug enough that the hand stays in contact with the bass buttons without actively gripping. Most accordion players also use a bass strap to secure the left arm against the bellows for added stability during longer sessions.
Bellows Control
The bellows produce sound by moving air across the reeds. Begin by practising slow, even pulls and pushes on open notes — just one key held down while the bellows open fully, then reverse. The tone of the instrument responds to bellows speed: faster movement produces more volume, slower movement produces less. Common beginners' errors include jerky direction changes and allowing the bellows to run fully open or shut. Keep changes smooth and reverse direction before reaching the limit of travel.
Right-Hand Technique on the Accordion
On a piano-keyboard model, the fingers rest on the keys in the same curved position as on a piano — no flat fingers, no tension in the wrist. Notes are triggered by a key press, not by bellows pressure alone, so practise placing fingers cleanly on individual keys before attempting to move the bellows. Start with simple five-note scale patterns in C major, practising each hand separately before combining. On a button model, the finger position is similar but the surface is smaller and the reach between rows requires some initial adjustment.
Left-Hand Bass and Chord Buttons
With the accordion strapped on and the right hand in position, locate the bass buttons with the left thumb acting as an anchor. Most players rest the thumb lightly against the strap or the edge of the grille. The standard pattern for beginners is alternating a root bass note with its corresponding major chord: press the bass note on beat one, the major chord on beats two and three, then the bass note again on beat four. This waltz-bass pattern is the foundation of most folk accordion accompaniment.
Practice Routine
Begin each session with five minutes of slow bellows exercise — just open and close the instrument on a single held note, focusing on evenness and smooth reversals. Follow this with scales on the right hand, then simple songs using only two or three chords on the left hand. An accordion method book — Hohner and Mel Bay both publish widely used beginner series — provides a structured sequence of exercises and repertoire. Aim for short, daily practice over long, infrequent sessions.
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