# What do these buttons on my newly acquired accordion do?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-buttons-on-my-newly-acquired-accordion-do/437096>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 10, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-buttons-on-my-newly-acquired-accordion-do/437096 "2008-02-10T23:52:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aluminumdisc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@aluminumdisc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aluminumdisc)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-buttons-on-my-newly-acquired-accordion-do/437096/1 "2008-02-10T23:52:31Z")

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I just picked up this accordion at the local swap meet and it’s the first one I have owned, I’m not sure what these seven black and white square looking buttons do that are above the keyboard or the three chrome ones on the button side. I am bracing myself for all of the accordion jokes so bring them on but I would like the straight dope on this animal. Also can you tell me what kind of accordion this might be, not brand name but what type, I didn’t know there were so many kinds till I started looking up info in this. thanks for your help!

[![](https://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x158/buywax/squeeze002.jpg) ](https://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x158/buywax/squeeze002.jpg)

[![](https://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x158/buywax/squeeze003.jpg) ](https://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x158/buywax/squeeze003.jpg)

[![](https://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x158/buywax/squeeze004.jpg) ](https://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x158/buywax/squeeze004.jpg)

[![](https://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x158/buywax/squeeze006.jpg) ](https://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x158/buywax/squeeze006.jpg)

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**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-buttons-on-my-newly-acquired-accordion-do/437096/2 "2008-02-11T00:34:34Z")

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I believe those are register keys, which select sets of reeds for different tonal qualities.

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**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-these-buttons-on-my-newly-acquired-accordion-do/437096/3 "2008-02-11T03:06:21Z")

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Although I have played accordion, I’m far from an expert and it’s been many years, but I think **yabob** is right. What happens when you press them? Does the sound change? (You’ll have to play it to find out, of course.)

It looks like a pretty nice, full-size model, but more than that I can’t say.