The most likely precursor to free reed aerophones is the Jew's harp, an instrument known to many cultures throughout the world, and by many names. In this instrument, the main sound producer is the vibrating reed tongue itself, rather than the air flow. Various free reed instruments appear to have been invented since antiquity, and are depicted in literature from Greece and Egypt. Among the ancient instruments, the Khene of Laos and the Sheng of China have survived to modern times. It has been claimed that the Sheng was brought to Sai ...

See also:

Free reed aerophone, Free reed aerophone - Operation, Free reed aerophone - History, Free reed aerophone - Other examples, Free reed aerophone - Related instruments

Read more here: » Free reed aerophone: Encyclopedia II - Free reed aerophone - History

The most likely precursor to free reed aerophones is the Jew's harp, an instrument known to many cultures throughout the world, and by many names. In this instrument, the main sound producer is the vibrating reed tongue itself, rather than the air flow. Various free reed instruments appear to have been invented since antiquity, but were unknown in the West until comparatively recently. Among the ancient instruments, the Khene of Laos and the Sheng of China have survived to modern times. It has been claimed that the Sheng was brought t ...

See also:

Free reed aerophone, Free reed aerophone - Operation, Free reed aerophone - History, Free reed aerophone - Other examples, Free reed aerophone - Related instruments

Read more here: » Free reed aerophone: Encyclopedia II - Free reed aerophone - History

Reed organs of European and U.S. design nearly always have a split keyboard, with one set of stop controls for the bass register at E3 and below and another for the treble. The standard European configuration of stops included five numbered drawknobs for each register: An 8' foundation rank A 16' foundation rank A 4' reedlike rank An 8' reedlike rank A 16' soft, salacional-like rank U.S. made reed organs varied considerably in their stoplists, with the most common instruments having two complete sets of reeds and ten or more dr ...

See also:

Reed organ, Reed organ - Stops

Read more here: » Reed organ: Encyclopedia II - Reed organ - Stops

An accordion is a musical instrument of the handheld bellows-driven free reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as squeezeboxes. The accordion is played by compression and expansion of a bellows, which generates air flow across reeds; a keyboard controls which reeds receive air flow and therefore the tones produced. For a full description of the sound-producing mechanism, see Free reed aerophone. Accordion - Physical description. Modern accordions consists of a ...

Including:

• Accordion - Physical description
• Accordion - History
• Accordion - Piano accordions
• Accordion - Button accordions
• Accordion - Stradella bass system
• Accordion - Free bass systems
• Accordion - Audio samples
• Accordion - Related instruments
• Accordion - Other free-reeds

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The accordion is one of several European inventions of the early 19th century that used free reeds driven by a bellows; notable among them were: The Aeoline, by German Bernhard Eschenbach (and his cousin, Caspar Schlimbach), 1810. Was a piano with added aeoline register. Aeoline Harmonika and Pysharmonika are very similar names at that time. Aeoline and Aura ware first without bellows or keyboard. The Hand Physhamonika Anton Haeckel 1818 Hand type mentioned in music new ...

See also:

Accordion, Accordion - Physical description, Accordion - History, Accordion - Piano accordions, Accordion - Button accordions, Accordion - Stradella bass system, Accordion - Free bass systems, Accordion - Audio samples, Accordion - Related instruments, Accordion - Squeezeboxes, Accordion - Other free-reeds, Accordion - Trivia

Read more here: » Accordion: Encyclopedia II - Accordion - History

Harmonica - The diatonic harmonica. The diatonic harmonica is the most widely known type of harmonica. It has ten holes which offer the player 19 notes (10 holes times a draw and a blow for each hole minus one repeated note) in a three octave range. The standard diatonic harmonica is designed to allow a player to play chords and melody in a single key. Because they are only designed to be played in a single key at a time, diatonic harmonicas are available in all keys. Here is a standard diatonic harmonica's ...

See also:

Harmonica, Harmonica - Parts of the harmonica, Harmonica - Harmonica types, Harmonica - The diatonic harmonica, Harmonica - The chromatic harmonica, Harmonica - The bass harmonica, Harmonica - The chord harmonica, Harmonica - The Tremolo Harmonica, Harmonica - The Octave Harmonica, Harmonica - Toy harmonicas, Harmonica - Harmonica Techniques, Harmonica - Breaking in Harmonicas, Harmonica - Bending and other techniques, Harmonica - History, Harmonica - Related instruments, Harmonica - Harmonica community, Harmonica - Some famous harmonicists

Read more here: » Harmonica: Encyclopedia II - Harmonica - Harmonica types

Harmonica - The diatonic harmonica. The diatonic harmonica is the most widely known type of harmonica. It has ten holes which offer the player 19 notes (10 holes times a draw and a blow for each hole minus one repeated note) in a three octave range. The standard diatonic harmonica is designed to allow a player to play chords and melody in a single key. Because they are only designed to be played in a single key at a time, diatonic harmonicas are available in all keys. Here is a standard diatonic harmonica's ...

See also:

Harmonica, Harmonica - Parts of the harmonica, Harmonica - Harmonica types, Harmonica - The diatonic harmonica, Harmonica - The Chromatic harmonica, Harmonica - The Tremolo Harmonica, Harmonica - The Octave Harmonica, Harmonica - The Orchestral harmonicas, Harmonica - New Developments, Harmonica - The Pitch Pipe, Harmonica - Harmonica Techniques, Harmonica - Bending and other techniques, Harmonica - Positions, Harmonica - Breaking in a Harmonica, Harmonica - History, Harmonica - Europe and North America, Harmonica - East Asia, Harmonica - Related instruments, Harmonica - Harmonica community, Harmonica - Harmonica manufacturers, Harmonica - Some famous harmonicists

Read more here: » Harmonica: Encyclopedia II - Harmonica - Harmonica types

The accordion is one of several European inventions of the early 19th century that used free reeds driven by a bellows; notable among them were: The Aeoline, by German Bernhard Eschenbach (and his cousin, Caspar Schlimbach), 1810. Was a piano with added aeoline register. Aeoline Harmonika and Pysharmonika are very similar names at that time. Aeoline and Aura ware first without bellows or keyboard. The Hand Physhamonika Anton Haeckel 1818 Hand type mentioned in music new ...

See also:

Accordion, Accordion - Physical description, Accordion - History, Accordion - Piano accordions, Accordion - Button accordions, Accordion - Stradella bass system, Accordion - Free bass systems, Accordion - Audio samples, Accordion - Related instruments, Accordion - Squeezeboxes, Accordion - Other free-reeds

Read more here: » Accordion: Encyclopedia II - Accordion - History

There are various free bass systems in use; most consist of a rotated version or mirror image of one of the melody layouts used in chromatic button accordions. One notable exception is the Titano line of convertor bass, which repeats the first two bass rows of the Stradella system one and two octaves higher moving outward from the bellows. Skillfull use of the free bass system enabled the performance of classical piano music, rather than music arranged specifically for the accordion's standard chorded capability. Beginning in the 1960 ...

See also:

Accordion, Accordion - Physical description, Accordion - History, Accordion - Piano accordions, Accordion - Button accordions, Accordion - Stradella bass system, Accordion - Free bass systems, Accordion - Audio samples, Accordion - Related instruments, Accordion - Squeezeboxes, Accordion - Other free-reeds, Accordion - Trivia

Read more here: » Accordion: Encyclopedia II - Accordion - Free bass systems

The unrelated glass harmonica is a musical instrument formed of a nested set of graduated glass cups mounted sideways on an axle and partially immersed in water, and played by touching the rotating cups with wetted fingers, causing them to vibrate. The concertina, diatonic and chromatic accordions and the melodica are all free-reed instruments which were developed alongside the harmonica. Indeed, the similarities between harmonicas and so-called "diatonic" accordions or melodeons is such that in German the name for the former is "Mund ...

See also:

Harmonica, Harmonica - Parts of the harmonica, Harmonica - Harmonica types, Harmonica - The diatonic harmonica, Harmonica - The Chromatic harmonica, Harmonica - The Tremolo Harmonica, Harmonica - The Octave Harmonica, Harmonica - The Orchestral harmonicas, Harmonica - New Developments, Harmonica - The Pitch Pipe, Harmonica - Harmonica Techniques, Harmonica - Bending and other techniques, Harmonica - Positions, Harmonica - Breaking in a Harmonica, Harmonica - History, Harmonica - Europe and North America, Harmonica - East Asia, Harmonica - Related instruments, Harmonica - Harmonica community, Harmonica - Harmonica manufacturers, Harmonica - Some famous harmonicists

Read more here: » Harmonica: Encyclopedia II - Harmonica - Related instruments

Accordion - Squeezeboxes. Concertina Bandoneon Flutina Accordion - Other free-reeds. Harmonica Harmonium Melodica Sheng Khene ...

See also:

Accordion, Accordion - Physical description, Accordion - History, Accordion - Piano accordions, Accordion - Button accordions, Accordion - Stradella bass system, Accordion - Free bass systems, Accordion - Audio samples, Accordion - Related instruments, Accordion - Squeezeboxes, Accordion - Other free-reeds, Accordion - Trivia

Read more here: » Accordion: Encyclopedia II - Accordion - Related instruments

The Stradella Bass System uses rows of buttons arranged in a circle of fifths; this places the principal major chords of a key in three adjacent rows. Each row contains, in order: A major third (the "counter-bass" note), the root note, the major chord, the minor chord, the seventh chord, and the diminished seventh chord. Depending on the price, size or origin of the instrument, some rows may be missing completely or in different positions. In most Russian layouts the diminished seventh chord row is moved by one button, so that ...

See also:

Accordion, Accordion - Physical description, Accordion - History, Accordion - Piano accordions, Accordion - Button accordions, Accordion - Stradella bass system, Accordion - Free bass systems, Accordion - Audio samples, Accordion - Related instruments, Accordion - Squeezeboxes, Accordion - Other free-reeds, Accordion - Trivia

Read more here: » Accordion: Encyclopedia II - Accordion - Stradella bass system

There are various free bass systems in use; most consist of a rotated version or mirror image of one of the melody layouts used in chromatic button accordions. One notable exception is the Titano line of converter bass, which repeats the first two bass rows of the Stradella system one and two octaves higher moving outward from the bellows. Skillfull use of the free bass system enabled the performance of classical piano music, rather than music arranged specifically for the accordion's standard chorded capability. Beginning in the 1960 ...

See also:

Accordion, Accordion - Physical description, Accordion - History, Accordion - Piano accordions, Accordion - Button accordions, Accordion - Stradella bass system, Accordion - Free bass systems, Accordion - Audio samples, Accordion - Related instruments, Accordion - Squeezeboxes, Accordion - Other free-reeds, Accordion - Trivia

Read more here: » Accordion: Encyclopedia II - Accordion - Free bass systems

On button accordions the melody-side keyboard consists of a series of buttons (rather than piano-style keys.) There exists a wide variation in keyboard systems, tuning, action and construction of these instruments. Diatonic button accordions have a melody-side keyboard that is limited to the notes of diatonic scales in a small number of keys (sometimes only one). The bass side usually contains the principal chords of the instr ...

See also:

Accordion, Accordion - Physical description, Accordion - History, Accordion - Piano accordions, Accordion - Button accordions, Accordion - Stradella bass system, Accordion - Free bass systems, Accordion - Audio samples, Accordion - Related instruments, Accordion - Squeezeboxes, Accordion - Other free-reeds, Accordion - Trivia

Read more here: » Accordion: Encyclopedia II - Accordion - Button accordions

The basic parts of the harmonica are the comb, reed-plates and cover-plates. The comb is the term for the main body of the instrument. These are traditionally made of wood, but plastic (ABS) and metal combs are perhaps more common today. The comb contains the air chambers which house the reeds - the name comb comes from the fact that in simple harmonicas it does indeed resemble a hair-comb. In some designs, however, the comb is in fact very complex in arranging how the air is directed, particularly more modern custom and experimental designs ...

See also:

Harmonica, Harmonica - Parts of the harmonica, Harmonica - Harmonica types, Harmonica - The diatonic harmonica, Harmonica - The Chromatic harmonica, Harmonica - The Tremolo Harmonica, Harmonica - The Octave Harmonica, Harmonica - The Orchestral harmonicas, Harmonica - New Developments, Harmonica - The Pitch Pipe, Harmonica - Harmonica Techniques, Harmonica - Bending and other techniques, Harmonica - Positions, Harmonica - Breaking in a Harmonica, Harmonica - History, Harmonica - Europe and North America, Harmonica - East Asia, Harmonica - Related instruments, Harmonica - Harmonica community, Harmonica - Harmonica manufacturers, Harmonica - Some famous harmonicists

Read more here: » Harmonica: Encyclopedia II - Harmonica - Parts of the harmonica

The harmonica developed from the intense interests in free-reeds which arose in Europe in the early 19th century. While free-reeds had been fairly common throughout East Asia for centuries and known in Europe for some time before this period, around 1820 there was a virtual eruption of new free-reed designs in Europe and North America. While a young Friederich Ludwig Buschmann is often cited as the inventor of the harmonica in 1821, it was almost certainly a case of simultaneous development amongst several inventors working independently wit ...

See also:

Harmonica, Harmonica - Parts of the harmonica, Harmonica - Harmonica types, Harmonica - The diatonic harmonica, Harmonica - The Chromatic harmonica, Harmonica - The Tremolo Harmonica, Harmonica - The Octave Harmonica, Harmonica - The Orchestral harmonicas, Harmonica - New Developments, Harmonica - The Pitch Pipe, Harmonica - Harmonica Techniques, Harmonica - Bending and other techniques, Harmonica - Positions, Harmonica - Breaking in a Harmonica, Harmonica - History, Harmonica - Europe and North America, Harmonica - East Asia, Harmonica - Related instruments, Harmonica - Harmonica community, Harmonica - Harmonica manufacturers, Harmonica - Some famous harmonicists

Read more here: » Harmonica: Encyclopedia II - Harmonica - History

Harmonica - Bending and other techniques. In addition to the 19 notes readily available on the diatonic harmonica, players can play other notes by adjusting their embouchure and forcing the reed to resonate at a different pitch. One does this by relaxing and coordinating muscles in the throat, mouth, and lips. This technique is called "bending", a term borrowed from guitarists, who literally "bend" a string in order to create subtle changes in pitch. Using bending, a player can reach all the notes on the major sc ...

See also:

Harmonica, Harmonica - Parts of the harmonica, Harmonica - Harmonica types, Harmonica - The diatonic harmonica, Harmonica - The Chromatic harmonica, Harmonica - The Tremolo Harmonica, Harmonica - The Octave Harmonica, Harmonica - The Orchestral harmonicas, Harmonica - New Developments, Harmonica - The Pitch Pipe, Harmonica - Harmonica Techniques, Harmonica - Bending and other techniques, Harmonica - Positions, Harmonica - Breaking in a Harmonica, Harmonica - History, Harmonica - Europe and North America, Harmonica - East Asia, Harmonica - Related instruments, Harmonica - Harmonica community, Harmonica - Harmonica manufacturers, Harmonica - Some famous harmonicists

Read more here: » Harmonica: Encyclopedia II - Harmonica - Harmonica Techniques

Modern accordions consists of a body in two parts, each generally rectangular in shape, separated by a bellows. On each part of the body is a keyboard containing buttons, levers or piano-style keys. When pressed, the buttons travel in a direction perpendicular to the motion of the bellows (towards the performer). Most, but not all modern accordions also have buttons capable of producing entire chords, where ...

See also:

Accordion, Accordion - Physical description, Accordion - History, Accordion - Piano accordions, Accordion - Button accordions, Accordion - Stradella bass system, Accordion - Free bass systems, Accordion - Audio samples, Accordion - Related instruments, Accordion - Squeezeboxes, Accordion - Other free-reeds, Accordion - Trivia

Read more here: » Accordion: Encyclopedia II - Accordion - Physical description

The Stradella Bass System uses rows of buttons arranged in a circle of fifths; this places the principal major chords of a key in three adjacent rows. Each row contains, in order: A major third (the "counter-bass" note), the root note, the major chord, the minor chord, the seventh chord, and the diminished seventh chord. Depending on the price, size or origin of the instrument, some rows may be missing completely or in different positions. In most Russian layouts the diminished seventh chord row is moved by one button, so that ...

See also:

Accordion, Accordion - Physical description, Accordion - History, Accordion - Piano accordions, Accordion - Button accordions, Accordion - Stradella bass system, Accordion - Free bass systems, Accordion - Audio samples, Accordion - Related instruments, Accordion - Squeezeboxes, Accordion - Other free-reeds

Read more here: » Accordion: Encyclopedia II - Accordion - Stradella bass system

On button accordions the melody-side keyboard consists of a series of buttons (rather than piano-style keys.) There exists a wide variation in keyboard systems, tuning, action and construction of these instruments. Diatonic button accordions have a melody-side keyboard that is limited to the notes of diatonic scales in a small number of keys (sometimes only one). The bass side usually contains the principal chords of the instr ...

See also:

Accordion, Accordion - Physical description, Accordion - History, Accordion - Piano accordions, Accordion - Button accordions, Accordion - Stradella bass system, Accordion - Free bass systems, Accordion - Audio samples, Accordion - Related instruments, Accordion - Squeezeboxes, Accordion - Other free-reeds

Read more here: » Accordion: Encyclopedia II - Accordion - Button accordions