Types of Accordion Explained: Piano, Button, Melodeon & More

Types of Accordion: Piano, Button, Melodeon and More

The accordion family is as diverse as the music it creates, ranging from the tango halls of Argentina to the folk festivals of the Alps. While they all share the fundamental "bellows and reeds" design, the terminology and note layouts are often defined by the "rules of thumb" of specific playing cultures.

If you're new to the instrument, you may also find our guide Which Accordion Should a Beginner Buy? helpful. You may also find our accordion terminology guide useful if you're unfamiliar with some of the terms used below.

Piano Accordion

The most recognizable type in the Western world, the piano accordion features a vertical keyboard on the right side and a set of buttons (usually the Stradella bass system) on the left.

• Best for: Beginners, keyboardists, and versatile genres like jazz, pop, and classical.
• Key Feature: It is chromatic and unisonoric (each key produces the same note whether you push or pull the bellows).

Explore: Browse our full range of piano accordions.

Button Accordion

The term "button accordion" is broad and its meaning often shifts depending on geographic and musical context.

The Continental Chromatic Button Accordion (CBA)

Common across Europe and Russia, these are high-performance instruments where the keyboard is replaced by rows of small buttons. These allow for much tighter fingering and wider intervals than a piano keyboard.

• C-System: Popular in Western Europe and the UK. The notes ascend diagonally.
• B-System: Favored in Eastern Europe and Russia (often called the Bayan).
• Cultural Note: While these are regional standards, you will find virtuosos of both systems globally.

The Irish Distinction

In the world of Irish Traditional Music (ITM), the terminology is unique:

• Button Accordion: Usually refers to a two-row bisonoric instrument, typically tuned to the keys of B/C or C#/D.
• Melodeon: In the Irish context, this name is often strictly reserved for the one-row ten-button instrument.

Shop: View our Irish button accordions

and Melodeons

Diatonic Button Accordion & Melodeon

Outside of Ireland, "Diatonic" usually refers to instruments tuned to a specific major scale (like G or C).

• Bisonoric: Pushing the bellows produces one note; pulling produces another.
• The Melodeon: For many diatonic players globally, any two-row push-pull instrument is called a melodeon. It is the backbone of English folk, Cajun, and Quebecois music.

If you're considering this type of instrument, our Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Your First Melodeon is a helpful starting point. You may also find our Definitive Guide to D/G and G/C Melodeons useful when deciding which keys suit your style.

If you are exploring specific instruments, this D/G melodeon comparison guide provides a useful side-by-side analysis.

Concertina: English vs. Anglo Systems

The concertina is a small, hexagonal member of the family where buttons are located on both end-plates.

The English Concertina

The English concertina is a unisonoric and chromatic instrument.

• Key Feature: Every button produces the same note.
• Best For: Classical music, complex melodies, and song accompaniment.

The Anglo Concertina

The Anglo concertina is bisonoric.

• Key Feature: Usually built with two or three rows.
• Best For: Irish Traditional Music and Morris dancing.

The Duet Concertina

The duet concertina allows for simultaneous melody and accompaniment.

• MacCann Duet
• Crane Duet
• Hayden Duet

Bandoneon

The soul of Argentine Tango.

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Which Accordion Type Is Best for Beginners?

If you're just starting out, the best choice often comes down to comfort, musical style, and learning goals. Many beginners start with a piano accordion due to its familiar keyboard layout, while others prefer the simplicity and rhythm of a melodeon.

If you're still unsure, our guide to which accordion a beginner should buy can help you decide.

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