High-end professional accordions often feature a "converter" switch that toggles the left-hand buttons between Stradella (chords) and Free Bass (melodies) modes. 2. Specialized "Bass Accordions"
The most common system. Buttons are arranged in rows and columns based on the Circle of Fifths . Bass Accordions
Unlike Stradella, every button plays a single individual note across several octaves. This allows the left hand to play complex melodies or custom-voiced chords, similar to a piano's left hand. Buttons are arranged in rows and columns based
They typically use multiple ranks of deep reeds (8', 16', and 32') to provide the "foundation" sound for an orchestra, similar to a double bass or tuba. They typically use multiple ranks of deep reeds
Most accordions have a dedicated bass section for the left hand. There are two primary mechanical systems used to play these notes:
Pressing one "chord" button actually triggers a combination of three or more reeds internally.