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The following table shows how the number of right hand keys / left hand bass buttons restrict the type of music you may want
to play. The number shown (%) indicates the percentage of tunes PLAYABLE in a selection of popular music albums.
It's meant to be a guide, not a definitive assessment of all publications and music genres.
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Title of
publication
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26 keys b-c
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30 keys g-c
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34 keys g-e
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48 bass
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60/72 bass
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80/96 bass
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Hardcore English
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93%
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99%
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100%
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100%
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100%
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100%
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Karen Tweed's Irish Choice
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80%
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100%
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100%
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90%
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100%
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100%
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The Compleat Klezmer
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52%
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100%
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100%
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97%
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100%
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100%
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Musette Vol 1 (Beuscher)
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40%
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52%
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88%
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44%
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98%
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100%
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So the above table shows, for example, that if you want to play klezmer on a 48 bass/26 key instrument, you'd be restricted
by the right hand keys much more than the bass.
I haven't included 37/120 models or larger as you
can handle pretty much anything with them.
A 26/48 model is great for learning and if you get a decent one you'll probably want to keep it for portability even if
you upgrade at a later stage. A 34/72 is a great compromise between portability and versatility.
Bear in mind that with a 60 or 72 bass accordion, whilst all common chords are represented, it's not necessarily easy
to play in all keys as, for example, Fsharp is at one end of the button board, but Csharp (Dflat) is right at the other end.
Voices or number of reeds
Another choice you're faced with is the number of sets of reeds in an instrument. Very few models have just one set, most
have at least two in the right hand. To get the vibrato sound often associated with accordions one set of reeds is tuned
a few Hz higher than the concert pitch set. To get a more pronounced vibrato a third set of reeds is often tuned a few Hz
lower. Many three voice models have the third set tuned an octave lower instead to give a thicker, darker, sound. Four sets
of reeds make all the above possible or the fourth set can be tuned an octave higher than the concert pitch, this is usually
called a piccolo reed. Terminology like "oboe" "bassoon" "violin" etc on the stops is rather
unhelpful - you just need to get your head around what pitch reeds you are using and which are detuned in what direction.
If you have to have everything there are 5 voice models which weigh around 12kg.
On the bass side usually four sets of 12 reeds are used to cover the range of notes and chords. Another set of reeds
tuned an octave above/below give the possibility of a few changes of tone colour.
Note that the number of reeds on LHS is not related to the number of bass buttons.
Tunings
As if that's not enough there are a variety of ways a pair of reeds can be tuned ranging from "dry" - where the
reeds are tuned as close as possible to "wet" where they are tuned as far apart as is bearable. If you are ordering
an instrument it's as well to get it tuned the way you want. See this link to hear different tunings:
click to go to page about tunings
For another perspective (though I share his views) click here to see Captain Accordion's advice.
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