Melodeons > GCa-tuning
A demo of the Roland FR18 by Alain Pennec
In addition to the pre-programmed melodeons, you can program your own melodeons. And don't forget: you can use headphones so you don't disturb the neighbors in the evening. Unprecedented possibilities, but you have to like it. Unfortunately, Roland has stopped producing the Roland FR18 and this digital accordion is only available second-hand.
See tablature for an explanation.
As far as I know, the Roland FR18d is the only digital melodeon. There are 12 tablatures programmed. A tablature is actually the tuning of a melodeon. So there are 12 melodeons programmed, which you can also play in any key. In addition, you can set the sound of a large number of instruments.
Some of the arrangements are made for the Roland FR18d Tablature 7; a 2½ row with 18 basses. You can of course play with Tablature 7 in any key. The diagram above is made for GC tuning with a third row that serves as a "escape lane". I call this the GCa tuning, where the "a" stands for accidentals (notes that do not occur in the diatonic scales of G and C. So an escape lane.
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The arrangements are made according to this scheme. I honestly have no idea whether there are other melodeons with the same tuning.
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On the bass side, the minor chords in the above scheme are indicated with a "minus", e.g. A- and the major chords with a "plus", e.g. G+.
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The numbering of the buttons in the tablature is the same as in the GC tuning, except for the first two buttons at the top. This means that you can also play a number of tunes on an melodeon in GC tuning.
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If you want to know more about the Roland FR18d, you can view the manual.