Squeezebox StudioD/G melodeon, Anahata layout
The Anahata layout is a D/G melodeon with a fourth-button start. Every button except the accidentals moves one place down the row, so the home notes, D and G, sit on button 4 instead of button 3, and the top button of each row goes.
The two new low buttons are what make it the Anahata layout rather than a plain fourth-button start. The low F♯ push on the D row becomes G, and the low D pull on the G row becomes C, which gives you a whole G scale down to the G below the usual one, with a C natural on the way.
Every button
| Button | Push | Pull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G♯4 | B♭4 | accidental |
| 2 | G3 | A3 | |
| 3 | A3 | C♯4 | |
| 4 | D4 | E4 | home note |
| 5 | F♯4 | G4 | |
| 6 | A4 | B4 | |
| 7 | D5 | C♯5 | |
| 8 | F♯5 | E5 | |
| 9 | A5 | G5 | |
| 10 | D6 | B5 | |
| 11 | F♯6 | C♯6 |
| Button | Push | Pull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1′ | F5 | E♭5 | accidental |
| 2′ | B3 | C4 | |
| 3′ | D4 | F♯4 | |
| 4′ | G4 | A4 | home note |
| 5′ | B4 | C5 | |
| 6′ | D5 | E5 | |
| 7′ | G5 | F♯5 | |
| 8′ | B5 | A5 | |
| 9′ | D6 | C6 | |
| 10′ | G6 | E6 |
Range
The treble side runs from G3 to G6, exactly three octaves. In that range it lacks 8 of the semitones, and those gaps are why tunes in some keys don't fit.
Notes you can play two ways
These notes are on more than one button, often one on the push and one on the pull. That choice is what lets you avoid a change of bellows in the middle of a run, and it's where different fingerings come from.
| Note | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| A3 | 2 pull, 3 push |
| D4 | 4 push, 3' push |
| F♯4 | 5 push, 3' pull |
| G4 | 5 pull, 4' push |
| A4 | 6 push, 4' pull |
| B4 | 6 pull, 5' push |
| D5 | 7 push, 6' push |
| E5 | 8 pull, 6' pull |
| F♯5 | 8 push, 7' pull |
| G5 | 9 pull, 7' push |
| A5 | 9 push, 8' pull |
| B5 | 10 pull, 8' push |
| D6 | 10 push, 9' push |
The bass side
The bass side is the usual eight-bass D/G: D and G on the push of the outer row with A and D on the pull, then B with E minor, and C both ways, on the inner row.
| Row | Button | Push | Pull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer | Chord | D | A |
| Bass | D | A | |
| Chord | G | D | |
| Bass | G | D | |
| Inner | Chord | B | Em |
| Bass | B | E | |
| Chord | C | C | |
| Bass | C | C |
Other versions of this layout
Makers differ on the G-row accidental here too: some charts have F on the push and E♭ on the pull, others the reverse.
Two Castagnari charts print C rather than C♯ for the top pull on the D row, though a third chart from the same seller agrees with this one. If you have a Castagnari fourth-button start, check that button by ear.
Squeezebox Studio doesn't have this layout built in. To use it, open My Boxes, copy the D/G layout and change the buttons to match this chart.
Where this chart comes from
This layout was checked note for note against these charts and descriptions:
- Lester Bailey, 'D/G - 21 - G Scale with accidentals' (Mel Forum: 'D/G G Scale (aka Anahata Layout)')
- Acorn Instruments, 'Castagnari Jilly DG Anahata Layout (4th Button Start)'
- Acorn Instruments, 'Castagnari Brincu Special DG Anahata Layout (4th Button Start)'
- Acorn Instruments, 'Castagnari 1914 DG Layout (4th Button Start) with 12 Bass'
- Chris Ryall, Melodeon Explorer presets (chords.js)
- Mel Forum topic 16251, 'Layout Question - Anahata/G-Scale Layout'
- Mel Forum topics 21174 and 26162 (Anahata, Gena Crisman, Steve_freereeder)
- Red Cow Music, Hohner Pokerwork D/G product page
- Mel Forum topic 6426, 'fourth button start?'
Other charts: D/G melodeon, G/C melodeon, B/C button accordion.