Feature Request: Add "合奏用アコーディオン (SATB Ensemble Accordion)" to MuseScore Instrument List
Hello MuseScore Team,
I would like to request the addition of a new instrument group for 合奏用アコーディオン (Gassouyou Accordion), a SATB-style ensemble accordion setup widely used in Japanese accordion orchestras and schools.
The ensemble organizes as:
- Soprano Accordion
- Alto Accordion
- Tenor Accordion
- Bass Accordion
🔗 Example Manufacturers
- [Tombo Ensemble Accordions](https://www.tombo-mfg.co.jp/product_category/accordion/)
- (and others such as Tokai Gakki)
🎵 Standard Ranges (written)
| Instrument | Approx. Written Range | Clef (Default) | Sounds at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano Accordion | C4 – G6 | Treble | As written |
| Alto Accordion | F3 – C6 | Treble | As written |
| Tenor Accordion | F3 – C6 | Treble (default, 8va down) | Sounds one octave lower than written |
| Bass Accordion | F1 – C4 | Bass | As written |
🛠️ Staff Properties Example
| Instrument | Clef (Default) | Transposition | Staff Lines | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano Accordion | Treble | None | 5 | - |
| Alto Accordion | Treble | None | 5 | - |
| Tenor Accordion | Treble (octave transposing) | Down 8va | 5 | Written one octave higher |
| Bass Accordion | Bass | None | 5 | - |
Special:
- Tenor Accordion: By default, use Treble clef with automatic 8va-down playback, matching standard notation practice.
- Optional alternative: Allow manual selection of Bass Clef if a user prefers it without octave transposition.
### 📄 Proposed instruments.xml Entries (attached as a file)
🚀 Why this is important:
- Ensemble accordions are common in Japan’s educational system and amateur orchestras.
- Current MuseScore lacks ready-to-use SATB accordion support, requiring cumbersome manual adjustments.
- Adding proper clefs and transpositions would mirror real-world practice, improving accuracy and accessibility for ensemble scores.
Thank you very much for considering this feature!
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| instruments.xml | 1.29 KB |
Comments
Why needing entries in instruments.xml of a properly set up template would do?
.
Like this?
In reply to Like this? by Jojo-Schmitz
Hi, thank you for the template and the comment.
A template can be useful, but it doesn’t fully address this case. These ensemble accordions (SATB: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) are used extensively in Japanese primary school music, especially in 器楽合奏 (kigaku gassō) programs. They’re not niche or one-off—publishers like Music Eight regularly arrange for them.
(Ref.: https://www.music8.com/products/category2.php)
For example, in SK228 《夕焼けこやけ》変奏曲, the published score includes:
• Melody & harmony instruments:
Recorder, Keyboard Harmonica, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Bass Accordions, Piano, Flute
• Percussion:
Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Conga, Triangle, Crash/Suspended Cymbals, Claves, Maracas, Castanets, Vibraslap, Timpani
(Ref.: https://www.music8.com/products/detail3923.php)
This SATB accordion format is standard in hundreds of school arrangements across Japan. Having them directly in instruments.xml allows users to:
• Add them from the instrument panel (I) like any other instrument
• Use them in partial arrangements (e.g. just Alto + Tenor)
• Generate parts automatically with correct clef and range
Templates can’t support that granularity or visibility. These aren’t just custom setups—they’re real, recurring instruments in a widely used educational context.
Thank you again for considering it.
In reply to Hi, thank you for the… by ck61i6
OK, file that request on GitHub then
In reply to OK, file that request on… by Jojo-Schmitz
Thank you. Will do.
In reply to Thank you. Will do. by ck61i6
Thanks for https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore/issues/27922