Atzarin Accordion Design - Button size and spacing.

Atzarin enables an open playing style, similar to the fingering style used on an international diatonic accordion, with quarts or quints between the rows, eliminating the need to "cross" fingers when playing scale type movements. This uncomfortable crossing of a finger over or under another finger in preparation to play the next note is typical of Irish type bisonoric accordions and international chromatic accordions.

The open, fast and comfortable playing technique is enabled by the unique layout. However, the distance, in buttons, between the tonic note of any chord and its major third is greater than on either conventional "diatonic" or bisonoric accordions or international chromatic accordions. When playing certain chords shapes, using large, accordion type buttons, between 14mm and 16mm, spaced at 18mm, 19mm or 20mm, the distance can become uncomfortable.

Smaller buttons, aproximately 13mm as commonly found on "diatonic" or bisonoric accordions are more suitable for an Atzarin layout as they allow the spacing to be reduced but without the risk of unintentionally pressing down neighbouring buttons with the target button. Apart from making playing technique more comfortable, the reduced spacing makes it easier to play very broadly voiced chords, as on the Atzarin bandonion.

On chromatic accordions the minimum spacing between buttons along the same row is, in fact, found on the bass side, where the spacing is often 15mm, using smaller, rather uncomfortable peg like buttons between 6mm and 9mm. Concertinas, which often have a very compact spacing, 16mm on a Hayden concertina for example, also tend to make use of uncomfortable, scrawny pegs that dig into the player's finger tips. On an Atzarin accordion, the preferred spacing between buttons, both along the same row and along diagonals between adjacent rows, is 17mm measured from button centre to button centre.

Apart from practical considerations, 13mm buttons spaced at 17mm are also preferable for aesthetic reasons. Bearing in mind that the Atzarin accordion is aimed mainly at people migrating from other bisonoric bellows instruments, the smaller buttons and compact spacing make for a compact instrument more in keeping with the aesthetics of conventional diatonic or bisonoric accordions.