An Approach to Playing the CBA

What follows is an approach to playing the chromatic button accordion (CBA) given an existing proficiency with the piano accordion. Focus will be on the right-hand button keyboard. 

Assumption is that the left hand is playing the usual Stradella bass format, which is top row being a counter-bass a major third above the second row (which is the root bass note). The third row is the major chord, the fourth row is the minor chord, the fifth row is the seventh chord, and the sixth row is the diminished chord. A Serbian-style (Dugmetara) accordion may add a top row counter bass which is a minor third above the root row, which is now the third row. The chord columns are arranged in the circle of fifth, descending below "C" column and ascending above "C" column.

Keyboard Layout

The first goal is to learn the keyboard layout so that you can label the notes on a blank keyboard layout. Your keyboard is based on one of two types, each being a mirror of the other.

When wearing and looking down from the top of the accordion, the white keys of the C-System (Western Europe) angle down to the right, whereas the white keys of the B-System (Eastern Europe) angle up to the right. Learn the keyboard pattern that matches your keyboard.

Below is the link to AccordionLab's page on Chromatic Accordions (C and B systems).

http://accordionlab.com/accordionlab/EducationResearch/ChromaticAccordion.pdf