Click here to go back to main page

Accordion FAQ

What is meant by voice(s)?

The number of voices an instrument has can be described as the maximum
number of reeds per note.

Basically if you have a four voice accordion the most reeds that can play from
pressing a single treble key is four.

If you look inside typically the number of reed blocks will tell you the number of voices
or if there are dot markings on the couplers the master coupler usually in the center will have 2, 3, 4 or 5 dots indicating the voices.


Standard master coupler markings
4 Voice Musette
4 Voice Double Octave
2 Voice
3 Voice

What is a casotto accordion (Tone Chamber)?

A tone chamber (a.k.a. "cassotto") is a cavity designed into the internal structure of some piano and chromatic accordions through which the sound from selected sets of reeds must pass before reaching the listener.
The main purpose of the tone chamber is to give those reeds a more mellow sound.
It also makes some improvement in the response time of the lower notes.
These accordions will also typically have hand made reeds.

What are registers / Couplers ?

Couplers change the combination of reeds that are playing at the same time
giving you different sounds.

These come in different forms

Standard registers (F1) - on the grill usually marked with dots or a name to indicate
the combination of reeds it selects.

Wrist Coupler - Along the edge of the keyboard usually selects
"master" (all reeds on) /
On some older accordions these changed between 2 settings.

Chin registers (F3) - As the name suggests registers on top of the keyboard
that you change with your chin.

Pull Knob registers (f2) - These act on each set of reeds individually allowing you to manually pick the combination. Usually found on german style accordions.

Bass couplers - Perform the same function as standard registers but in different combinations between chords and bass reeds these are usually not marked.

F1
F2F3


What do the symbols on the couplers mean ?

A dot in the top field represents a 4' reed (piccolo)
The dots in the middle represent 8' reeds (clarinet)
A dot in the bottom field represents a 16' reed (bassoon)

If the dot is in the middle the reed is straight tuned
If it is to the left it is tuned flat
If it is to the right it is tuned sharp

The amount the reeds are tuned sharp or flat dictates the type of tuning an accordion has.

What is a MIDI Accordion ?

MIDI stands for Music Instrument Digital Interface. This is a music industry standard language, used in most modern electronic instruments. Accordionists have used this technology since the mid 1980's.

Whenever a note is played on a MIDI instrument a message is sent to the sound generator (Module / Expander) to play the note . This allows you to have any available sound on any part of the accordion be it treble, bass or chords and to combine these sounds in any way you like.

As the technology of synthesised sound improves, electronic instruments become obsolete. However, a MIDI accordion can always upgrade to the latest in sound technology without having to change the accordion itself. This is because you only need to update the MIDI Module not the accordion . This is a huge advantage over the older electronic (cordovox style) accordions, where the whole instrument needed upgrading and the old accordion devalued.

Another advantage of the MIDI accordion is that you can have a MIDI "kit" fitted to an existing accordion. MIDI fits onto any accordion, new or old. meaning you do not have to purchase a new accordion.

New modules like the XD3 above give you a vast selection of realistic sounds and styles to choose from.