accordeon

An accordéon is a portable, free-reed aerophone in which sound is produced as air is moved by bellows across reeds inside the instrument. When a key or button is pressed, the corresponding reed speaks and vibrates, with the bellows providing a continuous air stream. The right-hand keyboard or buttonboard plays melodies, while the left-hand side supplies bass notes and accompaniment patterns.

There are several common configurations. The piano accordion features a piano-like keyboard on the right and a bass/chord keyboard on the left, with the bellows forming the core method of sound production. The button accordion uses button keyboards on the right (chromatic or diatonic) and various bass systems on the left, including the Stradella bass or free-bass arrangements. The instrument can include multiple ranks of reeds, tuned to different pitches, enabling a wide range of tonal colors.

Historically, the accordéon emerged in the early 19th century in Europe, with rapid development in German-speaking and nearby regions. Early makers and inventors from Austria and Germany contributed to its design, and the modern instrument was refined through the 1800s. The Stradella bass system, one of the most widespread left-hand configurations, helped standardize accompaniment patterns and fostered widespread use in folk, café, and popular music.

In practice, the accordéon is used across many genres and regions. It is central to French musette and Italian folk music, prominent in various Central and Eastern European traditions, and integral to Cajun and Québécois folk scenes. In contemporary music, it appears in classical, jazz, world, and popular contexts, reflecting the instrument’s versatility and portability.