Place your right hand on the piano keyboard. Care should be taken when picking up the instrument - they are reasonably heavy so try to keep your back straight when lifting. The accordion should be close to your body and I would advise that you sit when you first start to play, as you will find you have more control and will manage the bellows more easily than you would standing.

It is also important to have the ’main block’ (the part on the front where the accordion maker’s name usually appears) central to your sternum. Then I would advise you to use a back strap - preferably one with some flexibility, so that the instrument is not too close to your chin and you don’t feel choked by it! I use a pair of tights or a scarf as I feel that factory produced leather back straps do not allow enough flexibility.

Piano Accordions come in all different sizes (categorized by the number of basses) and I prefer playing the 72 bass models as they have an adequate bass range for folk music accompaniment and the same range on the right hand (keyboard side) as a fiddle. I would suggest that if you are playing a 72 bass size accordion or smaller, sit with your legs slightly apart, so that the accordion rests comfortably.

If you are playing a larger accordion than that, sit with your legs apart and adjust your straps so that the keyboard side (the side next to your wrist, not your knees) leans onto your right thigh. I believe that posture with the accordion is very important and if you keep to these suggestions you should not encounter any backache or tendon-related problems.