The word garmon' (Russian: гармонь) literally means "accordion," in Russian although it usually usually refers to a specific class of Russian accordions that have two rows of buttons on the right side, which play the notes of a diatonic scale, and at least two rows of buttons on the left side, which play the primary chords in the key of the instrument as well as its relative harmonic minor key. Many instruments have additional right-hand buttons with useful accidental notes, additional left-hand chords for playing in related keys, and a row of free-bass buttons, to facilitate playing of bass melodies.
Unlike most of the button accordions made and used in Western Europe and the Americas, the garmon' is unisonoric , meaning that each button plays the same note or chord when the bellows is being expanded as it does when being compressed.
The garmon' is also known by the names Tula accordion (Russian: Тульская гармонь), garmoshka (Russian: гармошка), garmonika (Russian: гармоника) and Hromka (Russian: Хромка).
