# Any accordion players here? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 17, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519 "2026-03-17T12:52:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/1 "2026-03-17T12:52:56Z")
I am curious as to the muscle development that was specific to your instrument? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/2 "2026-03-17T13:50:50Z")
I’m not sure I understand the question. I had accordion lessons when I was 7 and my parents bought me a 3/4 size Carelli in blue - pretty!! The major muscle development was strength to lug it around in its case. My dad had an adult size accordion and while I could play it, the challenge was playing when seated - it hit my chin. FWIW, I haven’t played in ages and I sold it some years back to one of my sister’s friends. But other than having to carry the cased instrument, I don’t think I encountered any unusual development. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/3 "2026-03-17T15:01:05Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > FWIW, I haven’t played in ages and I sold it some years back to one of my sister’s friends. But other than having to carry the cased instrument, I don’t think I encountered any unusual development. I was thinking more in terms of adults who have played for many years. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/4 "2026-03-17T15:22:42Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I am curious as to the muscle development that was specific to your instrument? What prompted the question? Are you thinking of taking up the instrument? (Guitarist here, never even touched an accordion. Though I did put a synthesized one on a song arrangement last year…) ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/5 "2026-03-17T15:31:17Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > What prompted the question? Are you thinking of taking up the instrument? I recently developed an exercise machine that uses a bellow as a source of resistance. Someone recently joked that I should hook it up to a musical instrument and it just got me thinking. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/6 "2026-03-17T15:39:20Z")
FWIW, Weird Al is rumored to lurk here. If you get an excellent explanation, filled with snark and humor, it could be from him. Sucks you’re not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Al! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/7 "2026-03-17T15:41:59Z")
I also played for several years as a kid. I never felt the weight was an issue, except as mentioned, when lugging the suitcase it was stored in around. We mostly played sitting for classes, and the competition and concert we played at, but we also had monthly “shows.” We had to play a solo standing. No issues with the weight standing instead of sitting. The straps were supportive and comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/8 "2026-03-17T16:37:59Z")
I play, though it’s more of an occasional instrument I picked up as a keyboard player. The effort it takes to operate the bellows is minimal. It’s mostly the supporting and moving of the right-hand side of the instrument, which while it might weigh 5-10lb (~ less than half the weight of the instrument), is mostly carried by your back/body via straps. I’m sure someone could easily measure the force that needs to be applied to get different volumes out of it, but I don’t think it’s enough where one playing regularly would develop much strength. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/9 "2026-03-17T16:47:11Z")
I play piano which is also has keys so I assume I could play accordion half decent. Just joking, I fall flat on my face every single time I’ve tried to play one. The keyboard is arguably the easy part with the other hand on the tone buttons and both shoulders working in unison but also in tempo with the music. It’s sort of like drumming or strumming while playing piano. I can play piano with both hands and sometimes use more than one pedal and I can drum with four limbs but I’ve been well humbled by accordion. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/10 "2026-03-17T18:32:36Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > FWIW, Weird Al is rumored to lurk here. Yeah, I just entered the thread to sniff around suspiciously. Hi Al, we love you! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/11 "2026-03-17T23:22:35Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Just joking, I fall flat on my face every single time I’ve tried to play one. The keyboard is arguably the easy part with the other hand on the tone buttons and both shoulders working in unison but also in tempo with the music. It’s sort of like drumming or strumming while playing piano. I can play piano with both hands and sometimes use more than one pedal and I can drum with four limbs but I’ve been well humbled by accordion. I can still remember the frustration I felt when trying to coordinate both hands. Once I found the right method, it became second nature. But getting to that point was very difficult for a seven year old. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-accordion-players-here/1028519/12 "2026-03-18T00:00:20Z")
And then I have my writing buddies and gals, who are mostly pretty equally bad writers. About a year ago, I started getting these AI-generated stories to read, saying AI had just corrected the spelling and made minor changes. I dropped out of the group, it got as bad. I might appreciate it more if they gave me both versions, but judging by other things they have written, I am pretty sure they would not resemble one another.