INSTRUMENT GUIDE
Bandoneon
A bandoneon is a free-reed instrument played by moving a bellows between two button ends. It developed in Germany and became central to Argentine tango. The 142-tone Rheinische layout shown here is one widely used tango system, not the layout of every bandoneon.
What makes a bandoneon sound?
A pressed button opens an air path. Opening or closing the bellows drives air past a metal reed, making it vibrate. The bellows shape the phrase and volume; the buttons select notes on both sides.
See the free-reed sound mechanism →How is the 142-tone keyboard arranged?
The Rheinische example has 71 physical buttons: 33 on the left and 38 on the right. “142 tones” counts the notes available in the two bellows directions, not 142 buttons. The chart is credited to Omar Caccia and shows the opening and closing notes separately.
Bandoneon
This complete 142-tone Rheinische chart gives an individual note for each button and bellows direction. Some notes occur in more than one place. Read the left and right halves separately when finding a fingering.
Original 142-tone keyboard chart: Omar Caccia · 142-tone Rheinische chart
Does a button change note on push and pull?
On this bisonoric tango system, the note for a button usually changes when the bellows reverse. The two directions therefore form two related keyboard maps. Other bandoneon systems include unisonoric layouts, so check the system before applying this chart to another instrument.
How is it different from an accordion?
A standard-bass accordion puts preset chord buttons on its left side. The 142-tone bandoneon chart instead shows individual notes on both sides, allowing the player to build chords from separate buttons. Concertinas also have buttons at both ends, but their English, Anglo and Duet systems use different arrangements.
Why is it linked to tango?
Bandoneons made in Germany were exported to Argentina and Uruguay, where the bisonoric Rheinische system became the established tango keyboard. The association is historical and musical; the instrument has also been used outside tango.
All instrument types →