I have the First Act jr. Accordion, and consequently the tablature in these pages is based on it. The instrument is made for right handed humans; my apologies to South paws and Venutians. See the official documentation here for more information.
Hold the instrument and notice the seven buttons on the right side and the three on the left side. Those seven on the right are the individual notes, and are numbered 1 through 7 in the tab system starting with the topmost button. Of the three buttons on the left, the first two are garbage chords- don't bother with them. The bottom button on the left is the Air Valve (aka. breather key). Since there is a small capacity in the bellows you'll find yourself using it often. However, it is not included in the tabs. You will have to decide when to use it for for yourself.
Key to the tabs:
Positive numbers: These numbers indicate to depress the corresponding key on the right side of the instrument and contract the bellows.
Negative numbers: These numbers indicate to depress the corresponding key on the right side of the instrument and expand the bellows.
Forward slash "/": This symbol represents a "rest".
Periods ".": Periods are used to show a note should be held (sustained) for a little longer than other notes.
Up and down line "|"):
The | character is not used in all songs, and it simply shows the divisions of "measures". You may safely ignore it.
An attempt was made to distinguish shorter notes by placing them closer to each other, and spacing other notes more evenly. However, this method leaves something to be desired in the way of accuracy. Familiarity with a tune can be helpful. Example MP3s are included with some of the tabs to try to help, they are certainly less than perfect performances. If it's any consolation: I'm no musician. Persons with sensitive ears and/or heart conditions, you have been warned. For better information concerning a song, go to a library and check out the sheet music.
This instrument is diatonic; it therefore plays a diatonic scale, which has no sharps or flats. Due to the limitations of this and the range of the fourteen notes that it can play, some Chanties that I would have liked to include- I had to leave out; notably "Fifteen Men on a Dead Man's Chest" among others.
The Scale:
| Key | Note |
| 1 | C |
| -1 | D |
| 2 | E |
| -2 | F |
| 3 | G |
| -3 | A |
| -4 | B |
| 4 | C |
| -5 | D |
| 5 | E |
| -6 | F |
| 6 | G |
| -7 | A |
| 7 | C |