How to Choose Your First Accordion
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The three things that matter most are size, weight and tuning - in that order - and of those, weight is the one people most often get wrong. Your own size matters more than anything else when choosing. An accordion sits against your chest with its full weight on your shoulders, so the right instrument is the one that fits your frame and your reach
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The rest of this guide explains how to decide each of those, and what you can safely ignore until later.
Start with the size
The number in an accordion's name - 48 bass, 72 bass, 120 bass - is the count of buttons on the left hand side. It's often the standard shorthand for how big the instrument is, and it broadly tracks everything else: the number of treble keys, the weight, and the price.
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8 to 32 bass.
Children's instruments and very small adult models. Genuinely light, often under 6kg. Limited chord range, so most adults outgrow them, but they're the right answer for a young child or someone who simply cannot manage the weight of anything larger.
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48 bass.
The smallest size with a full working chord set, usually paired with 26 treble keys. Around 5 to 7kg. Suits smaller adults, older children, and anyone who wants to be certain the weight won't be a problem.
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72 bass.
Usually 34 treble keys, though compact 26 and 30 key versions exist. Typically 6.5 to 9kg. Enough range for most repertoire without the bulk of a full-size instrument.
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96 bass.
A good compromise at 34 or 37 keys, around 8.5 to 11.5kg. More range than most beginners need on day one, but it won't hold you back later.
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120 bass.
The full-size instrument, traditionally 41 treble keys, usually 9.5 to 14kg. This size is the most versatile accordion on the market gives you all the notes you need and would be idea for the larger player.
What you get for your money
Real prices, from what we currently have on the floor.
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Under £500. Small children's instruments, and pre-owned or clearance stock sold as seen. At this level you're buying something to find out whether you enjoy playing, not something to keep. Perfectly reasonable if that's the plan — just go in knowing it.
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£500 to £1,500. Entry-level new instruments and good quality pre-owned ones. This is where most sensible first purchases sit. A used German or Italian instrument at £1,000 will usually outplay a new Chinese-built one at the same price, though it won't come with the same guarantee.
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£1,500 to £3,000. Solid intermediate territory. New instruments from established makers with several years' guarantee, or very good pre-owned professional models. If you're reasonably sure you'll stick with it, buying here rather than at the bottom saves you upgrading in two years.
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£3,000 to £7,500. Professional standard. Hand-finished reeds, better response, cassotto chambers on many models. More than a beginner needs, but this is where players end up.
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Above £7,500. Top-tier hand-built instruments, largely Italian. Bought by working professionals and serious amateurs who know exactly what they want.
Tuning: the thing nobody knows to ask about
Two identical-looking accordions can sound completely different, and the reason is tuning. This catches out almost every first-time buyer, because it isn't visible and it isn't obvious from a photograph.
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Accordions have multiple sets of reeds that sound together. How those sets are tuned against each other determines the character of the instrument.
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Dry, or straight tuning. The reed sets are tuned to each other precisely. Clean and focused, with no wobble. Suits jazz, classical, eastern european and tango playing.
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Tremolo. One reed set is tuned slightly sharp against another, producing a gentle waver. Warmer and more traditional-sounding. This is what most people picture as an accordion sound.
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Musette. A stronger version of the same idea, usually with three reed sets. Bright, rich and unmistakable - the French café sound, and heavily used in Scottish dance music.
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Double octave. Reed sets an octave apart, giving depth and power rather than tremolo. Common on larger instruments.
New or used?
Both are reasonable. It depends on what you value.
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New gives you a full manufacturer's warranty, no wear, and the ability to specify exactly what you want - tuning, finish, configuration - if you're ordering from the factory. Guarantees run up to five years depending on the instrument.
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Used gets you more instrument for the money. A well-cared-for Italian or German accordion from the 1970s or 80s, properly serviced, can outperform a great deal of what's sold new today. Every pre-owned instrument we sell is checked and serviced before it goes on the floor, and comes with a guarantee.
Common questions
Your own size matters more than anything else when choosing. An accordion sits against your chest with its full weight on your shoulders, so the right instrument is the one that fits your frame and your reach
If you can't play it comfortably for forty minutes, it's too heavy. If you have any back or shoulder problems, say so before you buy - it changes the recommendation entirely.
Both work. New gives you a full warranty and no wear; used gets you considerably more instrument for the money. A serviced pre-owned Italian or German accordion is often the better buy at the same price.
No, and most first-time buyers can't. We'll demonstrate instruments for you and talk you through what to listen for.
Most people can play simple tunes within a few weeks. The bass side takes longer than the treble side because it's played by feel rather than by sight, but it comes with practice.
Yes. We take accordions in part exchange against anything in stock, which is how a great many players move up from their first instrument.