How to Play the Accordion

Summary: An accordion is a bellows instrument, using a mixture of keys and stops to create a distinct timbre and resonance that lend themselves easily to Zydeco, Tejano and Polka music. It is played by squeezing and expanding the bellows while depressing keys, buttons or stops, depending on the variety of accordion. The sound an accordion makes is usually light and full of harmony, hence the types of music the instrument is typically associated with. Yet, it can also represent a wider range of human emotion.

Whatever your musical interest is, learn the techniques you need to start playing today. In this free music lesson on video, get the tips and tricks every beginner needs to make music on the accordion, including demonstrations of how to hold the instrument, operate the bellows and sound notes on the keyboard. Our expert music teacher will even show you how to play a simple accordion song.