Post by David Gordon Burke on Nov 25, 2004 11:52:21 GMT -5
Air Button
The air button operates a valve that allows the bellows to open and close without the accordion making any sound. It is usually found on the side of the bass board, or is the very top bass button.
Back Strap
This joins the two shoulder straps together, on the accordionists back. Some players feel it holds the accordion in place more securely, and takes pressure off the back.
Bass Strap
Usually made of leather, this goes from the top to the bottom of the accordion, on the bass side. The strap is positioned over the wrist, providing a support for the left hand while playing the bass buttons. Its main use is to enable the player to move the bellows in and out.
Bellows
The bellows are the "heart" of the accordion. They create the volume by forcing air through the reeds. Controlling the flow of air with the bellows for expression and dynamics is one thing that is unique to accordions.
Bellows Clips - Straps
The bellows clips keep the bellows closed when the accordion is not in use. They are on the top and bottom of the bellows.
Grille
The grille covers the keyboard's treble valves and mechanisms. It is used to decorate the accordion, and usually displays the brand name and/or the logo of the manufacturer. It is common to see brightly coloured grilles with jewels and different coloured trimmings. The grille is usually "vented" to allow a louder treble sound. Occasionally, however the grille is used as a muting mechanism.
Master Bar
This is an optional type of On/Off switch, located on the outer edge of the treble keyboard. It is operated by a push with the heel of the hand, automatically opening all the register slides. After release, it springs back to its original position. This allows the player to introduce all the reeds without taking fingers off the keyboard.
REEDS
The reed produces the accordions sound. It consists of thin steel, which is riveted at one end of the reed plate (usually made of aluminium). The other end of the reed is free to vibrate in and out of the slot, when air pressure is supplied from the bellows. The reed plates are mounted on reed blocks, which are usually made of poplar wood. Reeds have leathers to moderate the airflow.
Valves
Valves are the padded bars which open and close sound holes and are operated, through valve levers, from the keys or buttons. These sound holes are located on the treble side of the instrument, under the grille.
Pitch
The pitch of a reed is determined by the speed at which it vibrates. This speed is governed by the length and thickness of the reed. The longer and thicker the reed, the slower the rate, and consequently the lower the pitch. A reed does not vibrate faster when greater air pressure is applied, but moves further in and out, creating a greater volume.
Quality of Reeds
The reeds are the most vital part of an accordions sound quality. They belong in four categories, listed below.
Note: These categories may vary from source to source.
Commercial
These are the least expensive reeds, and are manufactured almost entirely by machine. They are smaller than others of higher quality. The aluminium reed plate is also of a lesser quality, and often has a dull finish.
Hand Finished
The reed plates will have some degree of shine, but the finish of the plate will not have a finely smoothed finish. The manufacturer mounts the reed tongue by hand.
Tipo A Mano
These reeds are usually made on a larger plate, and in some cases the reed plates are the same size as those used to manufacturer Hand Made reeds. The phrase "Tipo A Mano" means "Imitation Hand Made Type". The better Tipo A Mano reeds (made of superior steel) with good hand work, can be nearly as good as most Hand Made reeds.
Hand Made - A Mano
This is best cut of reed. The reed plates are hand cut and made of the best aluminium, called Duraluminium. They are finely finished to the point where they shine. The reed tongue of the Hand Made Reed is often blue on the sides of the square blue steel base, because the steel is heat tempered in strips. The base of the reed is often obscured by a layer of wax, which is applied during the installation of reeds onto reed blocks. This characteristic tells you that the reed is hand made.
Shoulder Straps
The shoulder straps are used to stabilise an accordion as it is being played. There is one strap for each shoulder. These straps make it possible for a musician to play when standing.
Register Slides
These are thin strips of metal, that slide in between the reed banks and the valves. They are designed to open and shut the banks of reeds. A mechanism connects these slides to the switches.
SWITCHES
The function of a Switch is to open or close one or more sets of reeds, via register slides in the reed blocks. The more reeds in an accordion, the more switches become available.
Treble switches
There are two types of switches that are on the grille: the automatic and the On/Off (push once for On and again for Off). Each push button of the automatic switch opens specified slide registers and closes others (according to the setting of the combination of reeds, see below).
Bass Switches
Most full-sized accordions are now equipped with one or more switches on the bass section also. These are normally in a vertical row, along the inside of the bass board. As with treble switches, there are two types; automatic and on/off. The automatic type of switch is sometimes called a pre-set switch, and it involves a great deal more mechanism than the simple on/off type lever switch. There can also be switches located near the air button.
Note: Both Treble and Bass Switches are arranged in different orders on different makes of accordions.
Most full-size accordions have four sets of treble reeds, and some have five. With various combinations of these there can be fifteen or more switches on the grille. Each select a different combination of reeds by opening and closing slides.
Thumb Straps
The thumb strap is for the thumb of the right hand, and is mostly used on lighter concertinas and bandoneons, where shoulder straps are not needed.
Tone Chamber
The tone chamber is the translation for the word "Cassotto" (meaning "box") which is what a Tone Chamber constitutes; a box into which a set of reeds is placed. Cassotto is the general term used for any instrument with reeds in a chamber. However, the term "Double Cassotto" can be used when there are two sets of reeds in the chamber. A Tone Chamber gives an instrument a rich, full sound.
Treble Keyboard (Piano Accordion)
The treble keyboard has the same layout as the piano. The lowest note is at the top when you look at it from the front. For further information, see Types of Accordions and how they work.
Valves
These are what let the air into the reed. See REEDS for further information.
Wrist Straps
These help hold the accordion in position, and like the bass straps are usually made of leather. They can be worn on either on the right or left hand. Like thumb straps, they are also used on smaller concertinas and bandoneons and small accordions.
The air button operates a valve that allows the bellows to open and close without the accordion making any sound. It is usually found on the side of the bass board, or is the very top bass button.
Back Strap
This joins the two shoulder straps together, on the accordionists back. Some players feel it holds the accordion in place more securely, and takes pressure off the back.
Bass Strap
Usually made of leather, this goes from the top to the bottom of the accordion, on the bass side. The strap is positioned over the wrist, providing a support for the left hand while playing the bass buttons. Its main use is to enable the player to move the bellows in and out.
Bellows
The bellows are the "heart" of the accordion. They create the volume by forcing air through the reeds. Controlling the flow of air with the bellows for expression and dynamics is one thing that is unique to accordions.
Bellows Clips - Straps
The bellows clips keep the bellows closed when the accordion is not in use. They are on the top and bottom of the bellows.
Grille
The grille covers the keyboard's treble valves and mechanisms. It is used to decorate the accordion, and usually displays the brand name and/or the logo of the manufacturer. It is common to see brightly coloured grilles with jewels and different coloured trimmings. The grille is usually "vented" to allow a louder treble sound. Occasionally, however the grille is used as a muting mechanism.
Master Bar
This is an optional type of On/Off switch, located on the outer edge of the treble keyboard. It is operated by a push with the heel of the hand, automatically opening all the register slides. After release, it springs back to its original position. This allows the player to introduce all the reeds without taking fingers off the keyboard.
REEDS
The reed produces the accordions sound. It consists of thin steel, which is riveted at one end of the reed plate (usually made of aluminium). The other end of the reed is free to vibrate in and out of the slot, when air pressure is supplied from the bellows. The reed plates are mounted on reed blocks, which are usually made of poplar wood. Reeds have leathers to moderate the airflow.
Valves
Valves are the padded bars which open and close sound holes and are operated, through valve levers, from the keys or buttons. These sound holes are located on the treble side of the instrument, under the grille.
Pitch
The pitch of a reed is determined by the speed at which it vibrates. This speed is governed by the length and thickness of the reed. The longer and thicker the reed, the slower the rate, and consequently the lower the pitch. A reed does not vibrate faster when greater air pressure is applied, but moves further in and out, creating a greater volume.
Quality of Reeds
The reeds are the most vital part of an accordions sound quality. They belong in four categories, listed below.
Note: These categories may vary from source to source.
Commercial
These are the least expensive reeds, and are manufactured almost entirely by machine. They are smaller than others of higher quality. The aluminium reed plate is also of a lesser quality, and often has a dull finish.
Hand Finished
The reed plates will have some degree of shine, but the finish of the plate will not have a finely smoothed finish. The manufacturer mounts the reed tongue by hand.
Tipo A Mano
These reeds are usually made on a larger plate, and in some cases the reed plates are the same size as those used to manufacturer Hand Made reeds. The phrase "Tipo A Mano" means "Imitation Hand Made Type". The better Tipo A Mano reeds (made of superior steel) with good hand work, can be nearly as good as most Hand Made reeds.
Hand Made - A Mano
This is best cut of reed. The reed plates are hand cut and made of the best aluminium, called Duraluminium. They are finely finished to the point where they shine. The reed tongue of the Hand Made Reed is often blue on the sides of the square blue steel base, because the steel is heat tempered in strips. The base of the reed is often obscured by a layer of wax, which is applied during the installation of reeds onto reed blocks. This characteristic tells you that the reed is hand made.
Shoulder Straps
The shoulder straps are used to stabilise an accordion as it is being played. There is one strap for each shoulder. These straps make it possible for a musician to play when standing.
Register Slides
These are thin strips of metal, that slide in between the reed banks and the valves. They are designed to open and shut the banks of reeds. A mechanism connects these slides to the switches.
SWITCHES
The function of a Switch is to open or close one or more sets of reeds, via register slides in the reed blocks. The more reeds in an accordion, the more switches become available.
Treble switches
There are two types of switches that are on the grille: the automatic and the On/Off (push once for On and again for Off). Each push button of the automatic switch opens specified slide registers and closes others (according to the setting of the combination of reeds, see below).
Bass Switches
Most full-sized accordions are now equipped with one or more switches on the bass section also. These are normally in a vertical row, along the inside of the bass board. As with treble switches, there are two types; automatic and on/off. The automatic type of switch is sometimes called a pre-set switch, and it involves a great deal more mechanism than the simple on/off type lever switch. There can also be switches located near the air button.
Note: Both Treble and Bass Switches are arranged in different orders on different makes of accordions.
Most full-size accordions have four sets of treble reeds, and some have five. With various combinations of these there can be fifteen or more switches on the grille. Each select a different combination of reeds by opening and closing slides.
Thumb Straps
The thumb strap is for the thumb of the right hand, and is mostly used on lighter concertinas and bandoneons, where shoulder straps are not needed.
Tone Chamber
The tone chamber is the translation for the word "Cassotto" (meaning "box") which is what a Tone Chamber constitutes; a box into which a set of reeds is placed. Cassotto is the general term used for any instrument with reeds in a chamber. However, the term "Double Cassotto" can be used when there are two sets of reeds in the chamber. A Tone Chamber gives an instrument a rich, full sound.
Treble Keyboard (Piano Accordion)
The treble keyboard has the same layout as the piano. The lowest note is at the top when you look at it from the front. For further information, see Types of Accordions and how they work.
Valves
These are what let the air into the reed. See REEDS for further information.
Wrist Straps
These help hold the accordion in position, and like the bass straps are usually made of leather. They can be worn on either on the right or left hand. Like thumb straps, they are also used on smaller concertinas and bandoneons and small accordions.
