Atzarin keyboard layout chord shapes

As Atzarin layouts are fully chromatic in both directions of the bellows, each kind of chord can be found both opening and closing the bellows. However, because each note is repeated at a different key or button in a different row, the chord shape can be different in each direction of the bellows.

The bisonoric nature of the layout makes it possible to have two different kinds of chord shape for each chord type. Whilst the piano or unisonoric bellows instruments do not have this feature, the guitar is similar in that the same chord, at the same pitch, can be played with different chord shapes. Consequently, the illustrations on these pages show two different chord shapes for each chord type.

The chord shapes shown on the left are for chords that can be played on two adajacent rows, be it the middle and inner row, nearest the bellows, or the middle and outer row, furthest from the bellows. These chords have the same unchanging chord shape in all 12 musical keys! Although the chord shape stays the same, some chords are played with that shape in one direction of the bellows whilst other chords are played with that shape in the opposite direction.

The chord shapes shown on the right are for chords that are played on rows separated by one other row of buttons or keys. On a three row layout, chords types that are played on the inner and outer rows have the same unchanging shape in 8 different musical keys, on the push in 4 keys and on the draw in another 4 musical keys.

Choose from the menu on the left below for general information on chords or from the menu on the right for information specific to chords in an Atzarin layout