. The Button Accordion

The Button Accordion is often played in traditional music. It usually has two rows of buttons on the right side and 8 bass buttons on the left
It was first invented in the early nineteenth century and became widely used in traditional music in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

When a button is pressed, air is blown across a set of paired metal reeds, causing them to vibrate and produce a particular note. The bellows are pulled out and pushed in by the arms, so it also became known as the 'squeeze box'. Usually on a button accordion you get a different note when you pull (draw) out or push in (press) the bellows while pressing the same key. There are also 8 bass keys to be played with the left hand but they are not always used.

Joe Burke one of Ireland's greatest accordion players. The album is called the Morning Mist on the Green Linnet label. On this album Joe plays jigs, reels, hornpipes, airs and a strastpey from Scotland.

Joe Derrane from Boston, USA plays a wonderful selection of tunes from his album Return to Inis Mór (Green Linnet)

Paddy O'Brien and Séamus Connolly from the album The Banks of the Shannon (Green Linnet)

Johnny B Connolly from the album Brigetown (Green Linnet)

Traditional music is not played as frequently on the Piano Accordion. This has keys similar to a piano and press and draw produces the same note. It may have 80 bass keys for the left hand. It is more popular in Northern Ireland and Scotland and in the past was commonly used in céilí bands

The melodeon is a simple accordion. Many of them have ten buttons, giving it twenty notes altogether. It also has two bass keys on the left side, which give the chords. It became popular in the 19th century for set dancing instead of the uilleann pipes.

Do you want to know more?

The Melodeon FAQ

Irish Melodeons

Read about Joe Cooley - an famous accordion player from East Galway