Akkordeons

Akkordeons, commonly known in English as accordions, are portable free-reed instruments that produce sound as air is moved through metal reeds by a bellows. Pressing keys or buttons opens valves that admit air to selected reeds, generating pitch.

Most models have two main sections connected by bellows: a treble side on the right and a bass/chord side on the left. The treble may use a piano keyboard or a grid of buttons, while the left provides bass notes and chord buttons. Inside are metal reeds; bellows control air flow and dynamics. Many instruments offer registers to alter timbre.

Types include the piano accordion, the chromatic button accordion, and the diatonic accordion. The bandoneón is a related button accordion used in tango. The bayan is a Russian variant. The Stradella bass system is a common arrangement for chords and single notes on the left.

Originating in the early 19th century in Central Europe, Cyrill Demian is often credited with its invention and patent around 1829 in Vienna. The instrument spread widely in Europe and the Americas, becoming central to many folk and dance traditions, including polka, musette, tango, Cajun, and zydeco.

Today accordions appear in traditional, classical, and contemporary music. Major manufacturers include Hohner and Scandalli, among others. Modern models may integrate electronic or MIDI features, expanding sound options. Maintenance focuses on reeds, airtight bellows, and tuning.