- 1). Sit with your accordion's melody side -- the one with the most buttons -- resting on your right leg. Use the straps if your accordion has one. Place your left hand's pinkie and index fingers on the notes on your accordion's bass side. Depending on the size of your button box accordion, there will be two or four buttons on the bass side. Place your right thumb through the thumb strap if your accordion has one; it should be located just under the melody buttons.
- 2). Push down the bass button underneath your little finger and move the bellows outward. Move the bellows with your left hand, keeping the right side of the accordion fixed in position on your knee. Play the button opposite the one you pressed using your index finger while still pulling the bellows outward. This "oom-pah" bass line is common in accordion music. Repeat the same button combination while pushing the bellows inward. Continue to play this bass line.
- 3). Play some melody notes by pressing the buttons with your right hand. Depending on your accordion, there will be one, two or even three rows of melody buttons. If you have a one-row accordion, these are generally found in the key of C/G, and you can play any melody buttons to produce a nice-sounding tune (you will always be in key). If you have a two-row accordion, it is likely to be in D/G, and if you play the inner row of melody buttons along with the outer row of bass buttons, you will be in key.
- 4). Learn the specific button locations on your accordion. Many different types of button accordions exist, and if you want to master playing yours, you will have to find a diagram of the note locations. Learn the locations of the various notes on your accordion, and then begin to learn songs. Two-row accordions in B/C are chromatic, meaning you can play any note on them.
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