Squeezebox vs. Accordion — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 6, 2023
Squeezebox is a general term for any musical instrument that is played by squeezing air through reeds, such as accordions and concertinas. An accordion specifically is a type of squeezebox with a set of reeds, a bellows, and keys or buttons.
Difference Between Squeezebox and Accordion
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Squeezebox is a colloquial term that encompasses a family of hand-held bellows-driven free-reed instruments, including the accordion. Accordion, however, refers to a specific instrument within this family, characterized by its keyboard and distinct bass-chording buttons. Both instruments create music by the player compressing and expanding the bellows to force air over reeds, producing sound.
The term squeezebox often implies a more casual or folk context, whereas the accordion is associated with a wide range of music from classical to folk to contemporary. The squeezebox is synonymous with simplicity and portability, which aligns with many folk traditions. Conversely, accordions have a complex system of reeds and often multiple keyboards, and can thus create a vast array of sounds and dynamic playing.
While any accordion can be called a squeezebox, not all squeezeboxes are accordions. For example, a concertina is a type of squeezebox but is not an accordion. Accordion players might play classical compositions, folk tunes, or even jazz, while squeezebox players are generally thought to play simpler, folk-based music.
In terms of construction, a squeezebox may have a simpler mechanism and fewer options for musical variation. An accordion, on the other hand, typically includes a treble keyboard, bass buttons, and may have various switches to change the timbre. Despite these differences, both require a similar skill set to play and maintain.
Lastly, the term squeezebox might be used in a more endearing or informal way, while the term accordion is technical and specific. Both the squeezebox and the accordion hold important places in the musical traditions of many cultures, and both require skill and practice to master.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A broad term for bellows-driven instruments.
A specific type of squeezebox with keyboards.
Types Included
Includes accordions, concertinas, etc.
Only refers to the traditional keyboard-based design.
Usage in Music
Often associated with folk music.
Used in various genres from folk to classical.
Complexity
Can be simpler in design.
Often more complex with multiple keyboards and registers.
Terminology
Casual or informal reference.
Formal and specific musical term.
Compare with Definitions
Squeezebox
Folk instruments often associated with traditional music.
(At the festival, squeezebox tunes filled the air.)
Accordion
A keyboard-based bellows-driven reed instrument.
(The band's accordion player started the song with a lively melody.)
Squeezebox
A casual name for instruments like the accordion or concertina.
(The old sailor played shanties on his squeezebox.)
Accordion
A versatile instrument used in many music genres worldwide.
(They danced all night to the vibrant sounds of the accordion.)
Squeezebox
Any musical instrument that creates sound through bellows and reeds.
(She gifted me a small squeezebox for my birthday.)
Accordion
A musical instrument with distinct bass-chording buttons.
(His fingers flew across the accordion, drawing out a complex harmony.)
Squeezebox
Hand-held reed instruments played by compressing and expanding air.
(He learned to play the squeezebox from his grandfather.)
Accordion
A squeezebox characterized by a right-hand keyboard.
(Learning the accordion can be challenging, but it is very rewarding.)
Squeezebox
A generic term for portable bellows-driven musical instruments.
(The musician charmed the crowd with her colorful squeezebox.)
Accordion
An instrument with expandable bellows that force air through reeds.
(The room was silent except for the melancholic whisper of the accordion.)
Squeezebox
The term squeezebox (also squeeze box, squeeze-box) is a colloquial expression referring to any musical instrument of the general class of hand-held bellows-driven free reed aerophones such as the accordion and the concertina. The term is so applied because such instruments are generally in the shape of a rectangular prism or box, and the bellows is operated by squeezing in and drawing out.
Accordion
(GUI) A vertical list of items that can be individually expanded and collapsed to reveal their contents.
Squeezebox
An accordion.
Accordion
Accordions (from 19th-century German Akkordeon, from Akkord—"musical chord, concord of sounds") are a family of box-shaped musical instruments of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone type, colloquially referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist.
Squeezebox
Synonym of accordion}} or {{en.
Accordion
A musical instrument played by stretching and squeezing with the hands to work a central bellows that blows air over metal reeds, the melody and chords being sounded by buttons or keys.
Her five brothers and sisters were singing to the accompaniment of an accordion
An accordion player
Squeezebox
Alternative form of squeeze box.
Accordion
A portable wind instrument with a small keyboard and free metal reeds that sound when air is forced past them by pleated bellows operated by the player.
Accordion
Having folds or bends like the bellows of an accordion
Accordion pleats.
Accordion blinds.
Accordion
A box-shaped musical instrument with means of keys and buttons, whose tones are generated by play of the wind from a squeezed bellows upon free metallic reeds.
Accordion
(figurative) A set of items (concepts, links, or otherwise) that can be packed and unpacked cognitively, or their representation as a set of virtual object. en
Accordion
To fold up, in the manner of an accordion
Accordion
A small, portable, keyed wind instrument, whose tones are generated by play of the wind upon free metallic reeds.
Accordion
A portable box-shaped free-reed instrument; the reeds are made to vibrate by air from the bellows controlled by the player
Accordion
Arranged in parallel folds;
Plicate leaves
Common Curiosities
What types of music are squeezeboxes used in?
Squeezeboxes are commonly used in folk, world, and traditional music genres.
How is an accordion different from other squeezeboxes?
An accordion specifically has a set of keys or buttons and bass mechanisms, while other squeezeboxes may have different features.
What genres is the accordion typically found in?
The accordion is used in various genres, including classical, folk, pop, rock, and world music.
Are squeezeboxes still popular?
Yes, squeezeboxes remain popular in folk music and have seen a resurgence in contemporary music.
Can the terms squeezebox and accordion be used interchangeably?
While an accordion is a type of squeezebox, not all squeezeboxes are accordions, so they are not always interchangeable.
Are there different sizes of squeezeboxes?
Yes, squeezeboxes come in various sizes from small, one-row diatonic instruments to larger, more complex ones.
What is a squeezebox?
A squeezebox is a term for any bellows-driven musical instrument like the accordion or concertina.
Is the squeezebox considered a serious musical instrument?
Yes, it is taken seriously in many cultural musical traditions and can be quite complex.
What's the learning curve like for the accordion?
The accordion can be challenging due to its size, layout, and the coordination required to play.
How do you maintain an accordion?
Regular cleaning, careful handling of the bellows, and sometimes professional tuning are needed to maintain an accordion.
Are electronic versions of squeezeboxes and accordions available?
Yes, electronic versions of both exist, emulating their sounds using digital technology.
Is the accordion difficult to transport?
Depending on its size, it can be cumbersome, but there are portable options available.
Do squeezeboxes have different tunings?
Yes, squeezeboxes can be found in a variety of tunings, often specific to the music genre they are used in.
What is the range of an accordion?
Accordions have a wide range, capable of bass, chord, and melody lines, varying by the type and size of the instrument.
Can you play chords on a squeezebox?
Some squeezeboxes, like the accordion, are designed to play chords with specific buttons.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
