Diatonic Accordions

The first diatonic accordion Handharmonika or Ziehharmonika was constructed in Berlin in 1822 by Friedrich Buschmann, developed from Mundharmonika (harmonica or mouth organ) created by the same master in 1821. This larger instrument included a triangular bellows resembling an open book, and one could play melody on it. Such primitive instruments were produced as toys.

A few years later Viennese organ constructor Kiril Demian constructed an accordion which basic shape is in use till the present. This instrument was played on the knees, it had melody keys on one end and base on the other. The tone was produced by metallic reeds that vibrated in air. Demian put two different pitch reeds under each button that provided different tones according to the movement of the bellows. Thus a relatively small instrument could play wide range melodies. Accordion became quickly very popular and spread all over the world. It has been developed into many bellows instruments: accordion, concertina, bandoneon, Russian type button-key instrument bayan, squeeze-box, etc.