Accordion instruments are played all over the world today. Their initial rejection by the established music world is still felt today. Despite this, they are enjoying growing recognition and popularity in wide circles. Their technical development has been driven forward. An expansion to the artistic level began around 1930 with the first original compositions for accordion. The introduction of the single-tone MIII manual expanded the playing possibilities compared to the standard bass with fixed, coupled chords. Today, the accordion is used and recognized in all musical genres. In addition to the chromatic accordion as a piano or button-fingered instrument, the other accordion instruments, with their wide variety of types, have their fans; the currently growing popularity of the diatonic accordion is a prime example.
 In this instrument study, harmonica instruments are first placed within the general category of musical instruments. A historical review highlights important stages in the development of instrument construction. The presentation of the elementary principles of musical acoustics is intended to help open the reader's eyes to physical processes in the field of music. The processes involved in tone production using the reed are extremely complex. The description of the instrument types provides an overview of the variety of instruments and their musical possibilities. A further chapter presents tuning and register. Consideration of the selection criteria discussed can be useful when purchasing an instrument. The chapter on treatment and care contains valuable tips for treating the instrument with care. The glossary of technical terms helps to correctly interpret technical terms. The bibliography should encourage readers interested in additional information to expand and deepen their knowledge of harmonica instruments by studying further specialist literature.
 Historical overview, basics of musical acoustics, instrument types, tuning, registers, notation, treatment and care, instrument selection, glossary, bibliography, 118 pages, 93 illustrations, 11 of which are in color, DIN A4 format, paperback, 1st edition 1998, ISBN 3-00-002633-9