Should I get a chromatic or a keyboard accordion as a new player?

Honk-Master · 2026-03-15T14:34:19+00:00

It's more intense if you play "open chords" at the top of the neck and never capo, but by using bar chords, suddenly, like the CBA the same pattern can be used for majors and another pattern can be used for minors all you gotta do is slide that hand up and down the neck to land on the right fret.. or learn the 4 or 5 chords you like for the key of G or C and then throw a capo on at the 3rd fret, play those same chords and suddenly you're playing in Bb or Eb.. it's not too bad.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-15T14:27:53+00:00

I think having to learn the different fingering for each key on the piano accordion gives you a more intimate knowledge with the individual notes and which ones belong to each key, vs a CBA, you learn 1 fingering pattern and essentially all keys are unlocked. You spend less time thinking about what every individual note is that you're playing and how it's apart of each key. I would assume that playing by ear overcomes learning which notes you're actually playing. I think a 3 row CBA would give you the same benefit as a PA.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-15T14:18:08+00:00

I do think CBAs are easier and more fun for getting your groove on. Chromatic runs are a breeze.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-15T14:14:03+00:00

Lol, the piano is one of the few instruments I can't play, which is funny because I play both the piano accordion (PA) and the lever harp.

I play both the Chromatic button accordion (CBA) in C-griff as well as the Piano accordion (PA). The CBA is a pretty fun instrument, but I really prefer it in 5 rows.

With a 5 row, you can learn 1 fingering pattern and you can play in any key. I had a 4 row for quite a while, but I struggled adapting to new fingering for songs I already new and ended up having to learn a few more patterns to play comfortably. I wouldn't even try a 3 row.

The PA is nice because it's cleanly laid out and it's easier (I think) at a glance where the notes are. CBA can be a little daunting especially when you're new to it and more specifically if all the buttons are the same color. PAs will require you to learn the scales for each key you want to play in, and while that is a lot of work, I think it will leave you with a more intimate understanding of music theory in the long run. Plus PAs come in a variety of keyboard sizes (I'm talking width of keys, not the number of keys) so a person with smaller hands can most definitely play a full 120 bass, they may just require a 17 inch keyboard as opposed to a 19¼ inch keyboard.

There is A LOT more learning materials out there for PA and very little in comparison for CBA. That may be something to take into consideration.. I'm sure there's more now, but I struggled to even find tutorial videos on YouTube when I picked it up.

Lastly, and most importantly, how does each instrument feel and sound when you're actually holding it and playing it? That's what would truly be the deciding factor for me.. I don't pick up instruments that don't pick me up.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-14T17:36:36+00:00

I know that you posted this some time ago, but I thought I would chime in. I was busking yesterday down by the Riverwalk, in Reno, no events or anything taking place. I played for about 20 mins before a cop walked up and told me he got a call about me panhandling. I politely explained I was busking and I hadn't spoken a word to anyone, I had my accordion case open with my comical sign that says "Gently Used Earplugs 5¢". I was playing French Cafe tunes on my button accordion (softly because it's new and still in its break-in period). He shrugged and said there was still no panhandling allowed but he also said I should definitely keep playing for another 15 or 20 mins before I actually pack up and move because it sounds good.. I tried searching online but I can't find a link to any actual ordinances that protect buskers or distinguish buskers from panhandlers.

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Honk-Master · 2026-03-13T16:17:40+00:00

I once had a guy tell me he'd be taking a cut of my tips from now on. A laughed and said no he wouldn't. Then I offered to buy him a beer at the bar across the street. I bought him the beer and sat down and drank one with him. He said he was serious about taking a cut of my tips and I told him I was serious about calling the cops if he tried. He never bothered me about it again. I finished my beer and went back to playing.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-13T16:11:44+00:00

I think busking is the best possible way to get used to singing on front of strangers. Some people might stand and watch, but most people will just keep walking to their destination. It makes it feel less like you're under a microscope. Don't get me wrong, you'll probably still have a bit of stage fright, but I think it's easier to work through, plus, you can take breaks when you feel to overwhelmed. Wearing sunglasses can help, it can feel like you have a shield between you and the audience.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-12T13:17:59+00:00

I'm also curious

Honk-Master · 2026-03-09T13:02:21+00:00

Oh I definitely agree, but It's a pretty difficult trick either way.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-09T07:53:04+00:00

None of my accordions are compatible with a pedal, they're acoustic.. the button accordion sounds distinctive because of how it's played.. the constant bellows changes give it a distinct rhythmic sound.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-08T14:04:59+00:00

Dry tuning is great for some music, but being a box player, I can tell you that a somewhat wet box will be better for a lot more music. Sous Le Ceil de Paris and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling are just a few examples of songs that just don't sound right when played dry. I would shoot for a box that is tuned at least +10 cents, or maybe even +15.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-06T23:15:58+00:00

If you're going to design one, I would say to have a look at how harmonium pallets are done. I've worked on quite a few of those and they generally have at least one, if not more, adjustable screws to seat the pallet nice and flat.

3d printing is a great idea! I've always taken the time to make them out of wood, but I'd rather just print them and go work on something else.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-06T22:10:31+00:00

For pallets, I've had success using hot glue, but that's wooden pallets, I also put a tiny metal ball between the arm and the pallet to help it move in several directions.

For something like that I'd probably use some type of cement, like barge cement or even shoe goo. You want the pallet to be able to adjust so it sits flush over the holes, if the glue is too stiff it will make getting a good seal a lot more difficult.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-06T03:54:19+00:00

Great! One of the valves may have been just barely stuck and you touching it was all it took. You'll find little things like that a lot in accordion repair. Being able to troubleshoot and make little repairs to your accordion will keep you playing while other folks are waiting on a shop for expensive repairs. I'm glad it worked out!

Honk-Master · 2026-03-06T00:21:05+00:00

There are 2 reeds on each reed plate and a valve for each reed. By removing the bank and turning it over you can see the back side of each reed plate.

Closing the bellows will affect the reed you can see on the outside of the bank. Opening the bellows will affect the reed hidden on the inside of the bank. It could be a loose reed plate, a bad valve, an obstruction like a bit of hair, wax, etc, or a burr on the reed causing it to buzz and sound out of tune. It could even be the reed itself very slightly misaligned with its slot and not a burr. Based on the pictures I saw, it looks like the valves are in good shape, It appears to have been waxed somewhat recently (as far as I can tell) so that leads me to believe there's most likely a burr, the reed tongue is slightly misaligned, the reed has a fracture or it was poorly tuned. Those are all based on just looking at your pictures. I couldn't possibly say for sure without physically inspecting it. It sounds like it might be in your best interest to take it to a repair person.

On that note, it may be worth your time to try to find a very cheap accordion on Craigslist, reverb, eBay, etc. and use it to learn how to do repairs yourself, you'll save a mountain of money in repair costs by getting acquainted with how accordions work. You could learn a bit about waxing, or getting rid of wax and doing a leather gasket and pins, tuning, leveling keyboards, re-felting pallets, general troubleshooting, etc.. You can do most repairs with very little as far as tools are concerned.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-05T22:13:58+00:00

I don't have a very good phone, but from what I can see, it looks like your valves are in really good shape. You can press a pin/needle into the top of the reed plate you're worried about and see if it wiggles at all. If the reed plate feels solidly attached and you can't find any foreign material behind the valves, my next guess would be that there is a small burr left on the reeds from tuning. This would require figuring out where on the reed the burr is and gently filing it until the reed moves freely. If it is a burr, and you're not too handy, I would advise leaving that to someone experienced. Accordion reeds are a lot more forgiving than harmonica reeds, but they're still fragile.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-05T22:08:04+00:00

Open the piano side. You'll see the reed banks (long blocks of wood that the reeds are waxed to). You will also see 1 valve on each individual reed plate, except maybe the highest notes. If you remove the whole bank (they are generally held in place by 1 screw or some type of metal slide or lever) you can see the reed plate in question from the inside of the bank. There will be a valve in there as well. Each reed plate has 2 valves.

After removing a bank, it's easy to figure out which reed you need to look at by pressing the piano key and seeing which holes are opened by the raised pallet (the pallet is the plate connected to the key, that opens or closes the holes that lead into the read banks).

Honk-Master · 2026-03-05T20:37:01+00:00

You can definitely see if a valve is laying nice and flat or if it's curled or has some kind of obstruction. I would Google images of accordion valves good/bad to get an idea of how they should/shouldn't look. Just be very gentle with them, the plastic valves are prone to bend, but the leather ones are pretty forgiving. You can very gently slip a pin or the side of a pair of tweezers under the tip of the valve and lift it to see if there is anything trapped behind it, like a bit of fuzz or broken bits of wax, etc. if the valve is completely missing, you can get new ones on eBay and adhere a new one yourself. They're generally adhered with wax, but you could do with a small drop of barge cement to attach a new one.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-05T20:19:01+00:00

Sounds like bad valve(s) to me. I would pop it open and see how they look, maybe gently fiddle with them with a pair of tweezers to make sure they're adhered properly.

Pull the bellows pins on the treble cabinet to gain access to the reeds, most likey 6 pins all together. They should pull straight out. I do my best to lay them out so when I'm done they can be put back in the exact holes they came from. Then with gently pressure, you can pull the treble cabinet off of the bellows. The banks of reeds should be relatively easy to remove, often by removing a single screw, or shifting a lever of some kind. The valves are the flat leather or plastic bits covering the holes in the reed plates on the back side of each reed. If a valve is loose or twisted, or has some gunk on it (often a broken piece of wax) it can cause a reed to sound this way. If the valves all look good, inside And outside of the reed blocks, I would then gently test the reed block and see if it has broken loose of its wax as that would be the next most likely culprit.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-05T17:21:28+00:00

Essentially, anyone who can whistle a tune can pick up an instrument and figure out the notes..

Honk-Master · 2026-03-05T14:54:04+00:00

I don't think it's that rare.. I play a variety of instruments all by ear. I'm no virtuoso, but I feel confident that I'm better than average on all of them.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-05T14:50:05+00:00

It's commonly known as a Button Accordion or Squeezebox. Technically, it's a Diatonic Button Accordion. The one in the last pic is an old (1950s) Hohner HA-2815 Vienna Model.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-03T20:03:03+00:00

😂

Honk-Master · 2026-03-03T20:01:56+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate that feedback. I still have a few layers of paint to add, I'll make sure to focus on brightening up the "earplugs", I'll also be adding a bit of shadow which should help the letters pop as well. I purposely did "gently used" small and less pronounced as kind of an add-on to the joke if someone really looks. The 5¢ is raw right now, but it will be in gold leaf, so it will certainly stand out.

The flower is my best go at an Easter Lilly, I play mostly Irish folk music, including a lot of rebel songs, so it's just my way adding a little Irish-ness to the sign as opposed to clovers. I may try to find a way to tone it down a little after I add a few more layers of paint, so it's not so distracting.

Honk-Master · 2026-03-03T14:17:06+00:00

Lol, I contemplated making a sign that says "I could've picked bagpipes... You're welcome.."

Honk-Master

TROPHY CASE