Everything you wanted to know about accordions — but weren't sure who to ask
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Whether you've just spotted someone playing a melodeon at a folk festival, or you've been quietly curious about the accordion for years, you're in the right place. We get these questions all the time — so we've gathered the most common ones and answered them honestly, without the jargon.
At Squeezebox Marketplace, our whole approach is built on friendly, knowledgeable advice. So pull up a chair — let's talk accordions.
Are accordions still being made today?
Absolutely — and the craft is very much alive. Accordion manufacturing continues across Europe, with Italian makers in particular setting the standard for quality. The growing popularity of folk music, especially the diatonic button accordion in traditions from Morris dancing to Breton music, has kept many brands like Hohner in production and encouraged a new wave of specialist makers.
Here at Squeezebox Marketplace we are proud to be the UK's exclusive stockist of Pigini accordions and Dino Baffetti melodeons and accordions — two of Italy's most respected names, built with genuine passion and extraordinary attention to detail.
What exactly is a piano accordion?
A piano accordion is an accordion with a right-hand keyboard that looks and feels like a miniature piano or organ keyboard. Despite the name, its sound mechanism is closer to an organ — both are aerophone instruments, meaning they produce sound through moving air.
The term "piano accordion" was coined by the performer Guido Deiro back in 1910, and it stuck. Today it remains the most widely recognised type of accordion, and a great starting point for anyone with a background in piano or keyboard playing.
Browse our full range of piano accordions — from beginner-friendly instruments to professional Italian-made models.
What is a melodeon, and how is it different from an accordion?
The melodeon is a type of small accordion — but instead of piano keys, it uses rows of buttons on the treble side. Most melodeons have one or two rows of treble buttons and a small number of bass buttons (often 2 or 8).
The key thing that makes the melodeon unique is that it is bisonoric — meaning it plays a different note depending on whether you push or pull the bellows. This is what gives the melodeon its distinctive, lively character, and why it has become such a beloved instrument in folk traditions, including the traditional music of East Anglia.
We stock a wide range of melodeons, from single-row instruments for beginners to multi-row melodeons for more advanced players.
Is the melodeon hard to learn?
We'll be honest with you — the melodeon has a steeper learning curve than many instruments. The push-pull note system takes time to get into your fingers and your ears, and there are habits easy to fall into early on that can slow your progress later. Time and consistency are your biggest assets.
That said, many thousands of people have learned to play and found it enormously rewarding. The folk and session community around melodeon playing in the UK is wonderfully welcoming, and the instrument sits beautifully in that world.
Our sheet music and tutor materials are a great place to start, and we're always happy to point you in the right direction.
Can I learn accordion as a complete beginner?
Yes — and more easily than you might think. The key to learning any instrument, accordion included, is consistency. Short, regular practice sessions will always outperform occasional long ones. Learning with logic — understanding why you're doing what you're doing, rather than just copying — makes the whole process faster and more enjoyable.
The accordion is particularly rewarding because you can produce a full, satisfying sound relatively quickly. You don't need years of practice before it starts to feel musical.
Am I too old to learn? What if I'm 60, 70 or beyond?
You are absolutely not too old. We mean that sincerely, not just as reassurance.
The accordion is one of the most sociable instruments there is — it belongs at ceilidhs, folk clubs, and kitchen sessions as much as on concert stages. Adults often make excellent progress precisely because they bring patience, life experience, and genuine motivation to their learning.
We regularly speak with players who picked up the accordion or melodeon later in life and never looked back. If anything, the question isn't whether you can learn — it's which instrument is right for you. That's exactly the kind of conversation we love having.
Not sure where to start?
Our Buying Guides are written specifically for people at the beginning of their journey. And if you'd rather just talk it through, get in touch — we're real people who love these instruments, and we're happy to help you find the right fit.
We also offer a rental scheme for those who'd like to try before committing to a purchase — a low-cost, low-risk way to get started. Just ask us about it.