Accordions come with a certain image. They’re often seen as large, cumbersome instruments associated with polkas and waltzes, and they are usually thought of as more traditional types of instruments.
But, one thing instrument makers have learned over the centuries is that instruments need to be carried, held, and played…so they’ve come up with ways to keep weight down. Besides, accordions only “look” large, remember…they are largely empty frames with some, light-weight inner workings.
Although the traditional piano accordion may be large and heavy for some musicians, not all accordions are so cumbersome. There are some small, lightweight accordions available on the market and some models are actually designed to be handheld. If you’re concerned about the weight and size of the instrument, consider learning a smaller variety.
If you’re concerned about lugging a behemoth instrument around, I promise that not all accordions are nearly as heavy as they look.
In this article we’re going to look at the three main types of accordions:
- Piano Accordions
- Button Accordions
- Concertinas
I’m only covering the weight and physical style of the three main types of accordions here, but I go into details about the cost of each accordion over here in this article.
How Much Does A Piano Accordion Weigh?
On average, piano accordions weigh 15 to 20 lbs. Lighter varieties, such as the Hohner BR48R-N Accordion, weigh just 12 lbs while heavier models, such as the Quagliardi Castelfidardo Piano Accordion, weigh more than 20 lbs.
Typically, beginner accordions weigh less than professional instruments simply because they have fewer keys, buttons, and accouterment. However, as you improve at the accordion, you’ll likely advance to larger instruments with wider ranges, more components, and heavier weights. For this reason, most players choose to sit down while they play the piano accordion.
Sure, 20 pounds sounds like a lot of weight to hold up and maneuver…and it is. Luckily, most piano accordions have shoulder straps. A good should strap puts all the weight on your body, like holding a backpack (except on the front of your body,) leaving your arms free to play the instrument.
Piano Accordions
This is the standard accordion made from a keyboard, bellows, and a set of internal reeds. They are fairly large and are associated with jazz, classical, polka, and waltzes.
How Much Does A Button Accordion Weigh?
On average, a button accordion will weigh around 8 to 10 lbs. They are several pounds lighter than piano accordions due to having fewer notes, thus having fewer reeds, brass settings, and other internal components.
There are a few key differences between a piano and a button accordion. The first and most obvious difference is the number of keys on each instrument. A piano accordion can have up to 48 piano-style keys, while a button accordion typically has between 26 and 36 small buttons.
Additionally, the button accordion has buttons on the right-hand side that are played with the fingers, while the left-hand side houses the bellows. Finally, the button accordion produces a different sound than a piano, which is typically described as more “boomy.”
Button Accordions
This type of accordion uses buttons rather than a keyboard and is more commonly used in folk traditions. It’s smaller and lighter than a piano accordion since it doesn’t require a keyboard.
How Much Does A Concertina Weigh?
In general, Anglo concertinas weigh 2 to 3 pounds while German concertinas weigh about 8 pounds. The difference in weight is due to German-style concertinas being larger and having a few more buttons than their English counterparts.
A concertina is a small hand-held instrument that closely resembles an accordion but is not actually an accordion. Concertinas were first invented in 1829 by Sir Charles Wheatstone and then independently invented again by Carl Friedrich Uhlig in Germany five years later. They were designed to be smaller and easier to use than an accordion, though with a shorter musical range.
The main difference between a concertina and an accordion is that a concertina has buttons on the ends of its bellows that allow the player to control the airflow, while an accordion has a keyboard that the player presses to control the airflow. This allows the concertina to be much smaller and lighter since the keys are directly embedded into the bellows.
Concertina Accordions
The concertina is a small hand-held bellows-driven instrument with one or more rows of buttons instead of a keyboard. It is much smaller than both the piano and button accordion.
What Is The Lightest Weight Accordion?
The lightest accordion is likely the Hohner CAJUNIV 10-Key Accordion which weighs 4.4 pounds. Its low weight is due to it only having 10 keys and being constructed of wood and thin metal. The lightest full-size accordion is the Hohner Compadre GCF Accordion, which weighs 9.9 lbs.
If you count concertinas, the lightest weight accordion is likely the Morse Co. Ceili Anglo concertina which weighs just 2 pounds, 1.7 ounces. It is made entirely from wood, helping to keep it light and manageable in your hands.
Keep in mind, though, that as you continue to improve on the accordion, you may have to invest in larger, heavier instruments to reach the full range of possible notes. But if you’re a beginner, it’s recommended that you start small and then work your way up to larger instruments.
What Is The Heaviest Accordion?
The heaviest accordion weighs around 200lbs. It is more than 8 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide. It is fully operable and produces a loud booming sound that can be heard from a great distance.
The instrument currently resides in Castelfidardo, Italy where owner Giancarlo Francenella keeps it on display for visitors to view.
To play the instrument, two people must grab either side of the accordion and push and pull the keyboards to operate the bellows. It’s not the easiest of accordions to play but it is something to see.
Final Thoughts
The size and weight of an accordion vary depending on the type of accordion and its features. Chromatic piano accordions are typically larger and heavier than other types of accordions because they have more keys and internal parts. On the other hand, concertinas are much lighter but offer a shorter musical range.
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