Just click the bass buttons or piano keys with your mouse and get going. For a faster response, connect it to your computer keyboard instead. The instrument is designed to mimic a real piano accordion.
On one side, there is a vertical keyboard to the right; this is melody side. The left side has Stradella bass button so you can play both rhythm and harmony. When you play, the bellows in the middle breathe automatically. Or you can drag them sideways to create manual expression and volume.
How to Use the Virtual Accordion
The instrument feature a right-hand two-octave keyboard and left-hand bass buttons. From the top of the keyboard it range from C4; C6. This arrangement of keys mirrors how you would hold real-life accordion vertically. Simply click on each key either white or black to sound that note.
If you prefer to use your computer keyboard then the keys are slightly more responsive for play. The white keys is played using the keys A-K. The black notes (flats & sharps) are played with the keys W, E, T, Y, and U. Hold down as many keys as you want to play chords. Sliding your finger along the screen produce similar results.
There are six columns of round bass button. Below that there is six columns of round bass buttons on the left-hand side. They are set out in rows. The top row is for single bass notes, the middle row is for full major chord, and the bottom row is for minor chords. Each column match a specific note from the circle of fifths.
By clicking on one of these buttons (Bass/Major/Minor) you can alter which row on the computer keyboard controls it. If Bass is chosen then keys 1. 6 will sound bass notes. With either Major or Minor selected you can perform complete chords at the touch of a key.
Between the bass buttons and the keyboard, there is where the bellows are located. Here you can pull the sides of the bellows (click and drag) to hand-pump air in and out. Pulling to the left will close the bellows making the sounds softer. Pushing the bellows to the right will open them making the volume louder. An arrow appears to show when you are pulling or pushing. When you let go of the mouse then it returns to normal. It makes the music swell and fade like sound you would expect from an accordion.
By adjusting the register you can alter the timbre of the instrument. With the Clarinet setting you have a single-reed that sounds dry. On the Master setting you have the rich, full sound of the usual double-reed accordion. With the Bassoon setting, the pitch move down an octave giving a deep woody tone.
There’s a musette button you can switch on and off too. If engaged alongside the master register it bring in a sparkling detuned layer of reeds. It is a characteristic feature of street and French folk music. To cycle between register settings quickly hit ‘B’ key on your keyboard.
In the Waltz demo, you can hear that it is playing a basic tune in C major. It demonstrate what your hands do and which buttons light up when it plays. Note that the example shows the classic oom-pah-pah rhythm. In this rhythm, the bass notes falls on the down beat. The off beats are filled in with the chord. If you click on the button again it will stop and start from where you left it so you can use it as a visual aid for learning about bass accompaniment rhythms.
Use the transport bar‘s volume slider to control the master volume, keeping it comfortabley for you at all times. This ensures the sound remains comfortable regardless of your system settings. Use the fullscreen button to make the widget bigger (more space). It hide distractions while providing you a bigger play area. If you’ve forgotten the keyboard mappings use the help button and it shows you the quick reference guide right there in the interface. You should of checked it first!
Experimenting with dragging the bellows gently will produce a dynamic swell. Begin with some simple bass notes, then move onto full chords. Use the number keys for a left-hand chord and play a melody on the right hand simultaneousy. Listen to what’s happening with the breathing bellows as this visual feedback connect your playing to the sound.
Explore each register. Find the tone that matches your musical taste. When you’re ready, take your time, and enjoy experimenting. Your virtual accordion is ready to play.