Depressing the key causes the pallet to open, allowing air to flow to the reed and producing sound. When the key is left undisturbed, the hole in the reed block is closed and air can not reach the reed below. Each key is extended into the body of the accordion and has a device attached to it called a pallet, which covers the holes of the reed block. A popular style is the piano-type keyboard. The keyboard on the treble side of the accordion can have various configurations. Depending on the type of accordion, there can be multiple treble and bass reed blocks. For example, a long reed produces a lower note than a shorter reed.
The length and thickness of the reed determines the pitch of the note it produces. Each reed is arranged on the treble or bass reed blocks and is associated with a key on the keyboard or various buttons on the bass keyboard. To conserve air, a plastic or leather flap is placed on the opposite side of the slot away from the reed, preventing air flow in this direction. Air flowing in the opposite direction does not create sound because the reed only bends instead of vibrating. When air passes through this slot in the appropriate direction (first on the reed, then through the slot) the reed vibrates, producing the characteristic accordion sound. Below the reed is a slot which allows air to flow through the bellows. The reeds are made up of metal strips that are riveted to either side of a rectangular metal plate.
#Accordion musical instrument free
The accordion is called a free reed instrument because it uses free-standing reeds to produce sound, similar to the harmonica. The reeds and electronic components are located on the inside of the bellows. The bass end contains finger buttons that play bass notes and chords. The treble end of the accordion has a keyboard attached. The modern accordion has three primary sections, the expandable bellows and the two wooden end units called the treble and bass ends. Instruments which have MIDI contacts can be connected to any MIDI-compatible device, such as synthesizers, electronic pianos, and sound modules. A recent development is the inclusion of Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) systems with conventional accordions. Eventually, accordions were connected to electronic boxes of their own, allowing for sound generation, amplification, and speakers. At first, they were wired to allow a hookup through an electronic organ.
The incorporation of electronics into accordions began around World War II. By the early twentieth century, manufacturers had settled on a standard size and shape for the instruments, which eventually led to the modern accordion. The addition of more bass keys was particularly important. As several early companies, such as Hohner, Soprani, and Dallape, began manufacturing the instrument in the 1860s, other changes were made. Steel reeds were incorporated into the instrument in 1857.
The chromatic versions produce the same note regardless of the action of the bellows. The early diatonic accordions produced different notes when the bellows were drawn opened and pressed closed. One major modification was made in 1850, when the chromatic accordion was introduced. Over the next several decades, various improvements were made to the accordion. He was awarded a patent for this instrument, which he called an accordion. Seven years later, Cyrillus Damian refined the instrument by adding four bass keys that produced chords.
#Accordion musical instrument portable
It had an expandable bellows, a portable keyboard, and a series of free vibrating reeds inside. In Germany, Christian Buschmann introduced and patented an instrument called the "Handaeoline" in 1822. The first accordions were invented in the early nineteenth century. It has a shape that resembles a phoenix and was introduced to European musicians in 1777. It consists of a series of bamboo pipes, a resonator box, a wind chamber, and a mouthpiece. This instrument was invented approximately 5,000 years ago. HistoryÄevelopment of the accordion is generally thought to have been inspired by the Chinese cheng, the first known instrument to use a free vibrating reed to create sound. First constructed in the early nineteenth century, the accordion continues to evolve into an ever more versatile instrument. The accordion is constructed from hundreds of pieces, and much of it is hand assembled. Within the instrument are metal reeds, which create sound when air, generated by the movement of the bellows, flows around them and causes them to vibrate. It consists of a keyboard and bass casing that are connected by a collapsible bellows. The accordion is a portable, freely vibrating reed instrument.