This type of accordion is prevalent throughout the United States and various European and South American regions. The right hand can vary from 25 to 45 keys while the left hand basses can range from 12 to 140 buttons. It can come in a variety of solid colors as well as multi color although solid black is the most common. The model pictured here has been decorated with rhine stones cosmetics common to various ethnic and folk dancing.

This type of accordion typically is more popular in the northern regions of Europe. The right hand can vary from 3 rows to 5 rows arranged in a chromatic layout. "B" and "C" layout systems are in use. They left hand is very similar with the piano accordion (above). Size for size, these instruments offer a wider range of notes and alternative fingering choices over a piano accordion.

This type of accordion often shares the same right hand features of either a Piano accordion or a Chromatic accordion. The major difference is in the left bass side. The bass side is setup in a chromatic layout which enables one to play a much wider range of bass notes as well as generate more diverse bass chord patterns. This class of instrument represents the highest achievements in acoustic accordions. They can be manufactured with dedicated chromatic only bass layouts (as shown here), with converter setups (which change to/from standard bass/chromatic bass) or with a combi system (which has separate standard bass and chromatic bass buttons). These accordions are also known as "Bayans". Because of the maximum note flexibility, they are mostly seen in conservatory performances of classical music. They are also popular with Jazz musicians.

This is a diatonic instrument meaning it sounds different notes on the same buttons depending on if one is pushing or pulling the bellows. The right hand can be designed with one, two or three vertical stepped rows with each row playing a particular scale. A more common set up is a 3 row using G/C/F scales in a stepped layout. Others scales and layouts are possible. Chromatic scales can be achieved by borrowing notes from the adjacent scales (ie rows), This type of accordion is popular in French, Canadian, Tex-Mex and European cafe "club" styles of music.

This is a diatonic instrument similar to the accordion above in that its sounds different notes on the push and pull of the bellows. The right hand typically comes in 2 rows with the difference being that the vertical rows (ie. scales) are B/C or C/C# layouts. The keyboards are also often a non-stepped design. That enables playing chromatic scales and easier note sliding using very different fingering from the diatonic "club" accordion above. These instruments are the most common with traditional Irish music.

This is a diatonic Cajun accordion - some times called a Melodeon. Although its roots are from Germany, various immigration of Canadian French and Africans settling in areas around Louisiana, helped evolve this instrument with a unique accordion sound for their cajun style music. Its button layout is common with the above diatonic accordions in that it represents a common single row scale however, playing in multiple scales is difficult and limited. Playing full chromatic scales is not possible. Given that, Cajun accordion players often use multiple instruments with each instrument tuned to a different key.

This is a concertina. It is a diatonic instrument with each button sounding a different note on a push/pull of the bellows. The main difference with the above diatonic accordions is that concertina scales are generated across both the left and right hands often in various alternating left-right finger patterns. This type of accordion is very popular in English and Contra Dance circles and often is used to accompany a minstrel style singer. It is also commonly stereotyped with ship shanty type music.