Can we talk about accordions please?

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: terrier
Date: 20 May 13 - 07:02 AM

Ouch! It'll take a lot of vinegar and brown paper to put that back together again ;)

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 May 13 - 03:52 AM

Exploding accordion:

Todd McLellan

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,The accordion is a singing instrument
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 11:22 PM

I use my accordion to play arrangements of popular songs. It could be a challenge because in the absence of the words of the song and the ultimate instrument - the human voice, the arrangement could become very boring and monotone...But usually I think that my accordion starts singing the song if the arrangement has been done decently...No joke - the accordion is a very versatile instrument and if you practice it will reward you with a lot of fun and emotions...If you like you can watch my performance on youtube (the name of my channel is grigpit)...

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 11:19 AM

i have a bell accordion made in italy with 34 diatonic bcc# treble buttons and 48 chromatic bass buttons. on the front it has casali yerona italia written on. can anyone shed any light on origins etc? my prof who is french has never seen one like it and has renamed it a diabolique! grateful for any info x a dedicated beginner!

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: buttonbox
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 05:00 PM

hi carol

have done exactly what you suggest i.e. thread - button box tutor book - with ;fairly minimal response - trouble is threads drop down out of site within a few hours and only the dedicated few root about for them.
thanks for the idea anyway

anybody else reading this - I will be publishing a comprehensive button box tutor book some time this year covering BC boxes and also the mysterious - or should it be misteriarse- BCC# 3 row boxwhich is the natural progression for the BC player wanting full accordion bass. The third row makes it easier not harder! comments or expressions of interest to this thread or by mudcat personal message

keep squeezing!

bb

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 11:04 PM

Wow. I can't believe I missed the posts that were added since 2000. Thanks for the heads-up, annie111! I'll have to be on the lookout for that one.

dianavan, I think that thread would be the "Can we talk like accordions please?"

;-)

buttonbox, since you don't seem to be getting much of a response in this thread, maybe more people would see your posts if you started a new thread with a title that gives some info about what you're doing. Maybe something with the words, "botton box tutor book", or something along those lines. Anyway, good luck with that.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: buttonbox
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 02:06 PM

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: buttonbox
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 11:59 AM

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 Dec 04 - 05:44 AM

Buttonbox- my daughter is a complete novice so doesn't even know what to ask for, but we'd be very interested to see what you come up with.

Allison

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: dianavan
Date: 30 Nov 04 - 10:59 PM

Carol C. - Try oom pah oom pah and oom pah pah pah.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: buttonbox
Date: 30 Nov 04 - 02:20 PM

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: buttonbox
Date: 28 Nov 04 - 12:10 PM

anybody interested in a comprehensive BC button box tutor which will include comprehensive section on British Chromatic BCC# button box.
comments as to what should/should not be included etc etc welcome as are general expressions of interest.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: annie111
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 06:15 AM

talkin about squeeze boxes,check out"THE SULTANS OF SQUEEZE"Chris Parkinson and John Kirpatrick together! Parkys "GOLDEN TANGO is something else !!

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: buttonbox
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 04:38 AM

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: buttonbox
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 05:38 PM

Am in process of writing a comprehensive button accordion tutor book covering BC button accordion (sometimes refered to as a melodeon) and also the BCC# box with accordion bass as played by the late Sir Jimmy Shand and also by John Kirkpatrick.
The BCC# is the natural box for BC players to move onto if they require a full accordion sound and is also a more natural progression for DG melodeon /diatonic accordion players than is a piano accordion.

Would appreciate any comments/ideas as to what to include/leave out etc.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Bernard
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 07:44 PM

After a bit of thread hopping, here's a link to my website. I've just added an audio file (poor quality, to keep the file size down!) so you can hear what my 'box' sounds like.

Hope you like it - it's 1.5Mb even at 11kHz 8bit mono sample rate... don't forget to save it from your media player (if you want to keep it!).

Visit my Website

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,Kit
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 02:32 PM

Carol, cheers for that site, just been and it looks like fun. Feel like a kid in a sweet shop, Kit

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: oggie
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 11:05 AM

Guest, Hoot & Fidget

Most of the 2 1/2 row melodeons are fully chromatic BUT the bass ends of course aren't. Personal preference of course but I find the beauty of melodeon is the natural double stopping in it's home keys and the strong bass it achieves. Playing in other keys loses a large of part of this and my preference is to acquire other melodeons (C/F) is next on my list and use other instruments to play in rarer (for folk music) keys.

The B/C, C/C# melodeons (usually called accordions) are fully chromatic but the same caveat applies to the bass ends. Really it depends on what you want to play and the effect you want.

All the best

Steve

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 06:44 AM

A good accordion resource, House of Musical Traditions

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,Kit
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 07:13 AM

Carol, that would be great, the waltzes sound brilliant. It would be handy to delay for a couple of weeks - I'm heading to uni on Oct 8th, from which date I'll have my own e-mail address, so I can have personal message exchanges. I'll get Skipjack to pass it on. I don't know my address yet at uni, but as soon as I do I'll get Skipjack to give you that too. Thanks for thinking of me, can't wait to get some new stuff! Kit

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Sep 00 - 09:16 PM

Kit,

Maybe we should get into a sheet music exchange. I have music for some beautiful waltzes that I love, and wouldn't mind sending them to you. If you want, you can have Skipjack send me a personal message with your mailing address if you don't become a member yourself.

Carol

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,Kit
Date: 21 Sep 00 - 01:27 PM

I am indeed a new accordion junkie. Does anyone know the name of some fun tunes to play, either sweet waltzes or some speedy jigs & reels? For an indication, I love both Kate Martin's Waltz & Goodbye Liza Jane. Just getting into it, I really want to pick up some new stuff before I start uni in York & start going to sessions there. If I ask Skipjack nicely he might play them with me. Carol, it's great to have someone who is as new to the scene as me. Kit

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 21 Sep 00 - 12:48 PM

Brought this one back to life for my good friend Kit, who has recently caught a bad dose of accordionitis, and promises to be a very interesting case study.

Also for CarolC, its author, and throughly bloody nice blokess she is too.

Skipjack

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,Hoot & Fidget
Date: 06 Sep 00 - 11:37 AM

Well, I could use a little advice. I currently play an English Concertina and a Hohner 2815 Vienna, D/G melodeon. The melodeon is a lot of fun, but unlike the concertina, it's not fully chromatic. I've been looking at two-and-a-half row button accordions like the Castagnari Mory, Dony, Matty and Benny as I understand the two-and-a-half row instruments are fully chromatic.

Is my understanding correct?

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Sep 00 - 06:01 AM

I want to tell everybody who has contrubuted to this thread, how proud I am to be in the company of so many wonderful people who share my love and appreciation for these fine instruments. This thread is a treasure, and you good people have made it that way. I have difficulty finding the words to express how much I appreciate your input.

I also want to thank Skipjack K8, who has provided me with some very helpful advice, although much of it is not on this thread.

I hope more people will feel inspired to post to this thread, and if they do, I'll probably have more questions. In the meantime, I just wanted to express my heartfelt thanks.

Much love to all,

Carol

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Sep 00 - 03:58 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,Hoot & Fidget
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 07:33 AM

McComiskey play's an Irish button accordeon. To my knowledge he does not play a piano accordeon. Interestingly enough, I have a recording of him playing an Anglo concertina. I played for a couple of friends of mine without telling them who it was. There immediate response was whoever the artist was his primary instrument was a button accordeon; extraordinarily perceptive, I'd say.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Escamillo
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 06:52 AM

Carol, and all who may be interested, in these sites you'll find technical and historical details about bandoneons, and even places to buy one:

Description

General Guide and details

Personality of Anibal Troilo

The music of Astor Piazzolla

There is a wide collection of Piazzolla's music in this last site, where you may find tango, but also jazz fusion and pure classical, symphonic works which will surprise you if you didn't have the experience. If you want to hear how the bandoneon makes the violins cry, listen to Lumiere, Nr.1

There are also lots of links to argentinian music. For anyone who likes tango, and have not listened to Piazzolla, I would say that his music is the most advanced wave of the urban folk, growing from its origins and entering the universe of classics while maintaining its roots. Enjoy.

Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,Sam Pirt
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 05:21 AM

Hi

CarolC, Yes I do have a recording out. I play in a band called 422. YOu can check out ourt website,

www.the-422.co.uk

We have just released a debut album on Fellside records. They are œ12 each, œ13 including post and packageing.

Checks should be made out to '422 CD'

I love the accordion it is a real nice instrument to play. Its just a shame its so heavey!!

Cheers, Sam

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST, Banjo Johnny
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 12:31 AM

Hi again Carol! If you want to hear "serious" accordion, look for recordings by Christian Di Maccio. He is French-Algerian now living in California. Stravinsky called him the genius of the accordion. Absolutely awesome from Baroque to Classical and Romantic. Good luck! == Johnny in OKC

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Margaret V
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 11:47 PM

For Irish stuff, I'm very fond of John Williams; he's very expressive. And a really enjoyable album of accordions and fiddles is "Buttons and Bows." For interesting weird stuff you might have a listen to Pauline Oliveros. Margaret (who couldn't stop herself from buying a perfectly good piano accordion for $10.00 at a garage sale in Wisconsin, but who has mostly spared her neighbors in New York -- who just wouldn't understand -- from having to listen to her try to learn. . .)

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Fadac
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 11:16 PM

Playing on the bass side. Well, once you know what button does what, you can play on the bass side. Usualy it works like this. Find the bass key with the diviot in it. That is C. Go toward the front and your up a third (?) E. Go toward you and you have Cmaj chord. Go back one more and your have C minor, back one more C 7, one more and your on C dim.

That's for a 120 button box. Then when you go toward the top you have similar rows for g,d,a,e,b,f#,C#,G# D# and A#, going down you get F, Bflat and so on down to Bdouble flat. Usualy the smaller buttons drop the diminished Then some of the sharps and flats. You if you can play the haminca, you could play tunes on the bass side.

My 140 button bass has four voices on the bass side. The lowest note is an Ab at about 80 cps. Sounds like a 20' pipe in a pipe organ. Then you can add the voices in various combonations to sound like differant parts of the ochastra.

I wish I was worthy of my instrument. But in a few more years I might make it. :) I plan on going back for more lessons this fall.

Good luck. and Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Gypsy
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 10:22 PM

Gotta listen to John Whelan, too. When better half was playing the boxes, he started off with Mallys Melodeon Method..out of print, but could probably find used. Very good books, clear instruction. Like you, he started off with an (almost gift) piano accordian, which gave him tremendous headaches, from the weight of the strap across his shoulders. Switched to melodeons which are limited in key, but considerably lighter. There is a video out "Tuning your diatonic accordian" available thru Lark in the Morning. John Paul has been the local button box whiz forever around here, and the video might be useful to you for care and feeding and tuning.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 07:50 PM

Andres - yes, please, I would love a tour.

Sam Pirt, thanks. Do you have any recordings out?

Carol

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 07:53 AM

That's him, Carol

Skipjack

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,Sam Pirt
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 07:40 AM

Hi Folks

I have just got back from the Tnder Folk Festival in Denmark with 422. I play a 96 piano accordion with a convtor bass (which means it has free bass as well) I belive the accordion although it is, lets face it, very mechanical can be a very expresive instrument. I play a range of folk music from around the world and with the emegence of players like Karen Tweed and Ian Lowthian they have helped give the accordion a name for itself. The accordion is fantastic. How many instruments can you play the melody and accompany yourself so successfully on. It is so versitile that all you need is a good imagination and anything is possible.

Cheers, Sam

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Escamillo
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 06:56 AM

Carol, IKS (I know very little) about accordions, but I could find and refer you to information on a very interesting instrument of the same family: the Argentinian BANDONEON, the heart of the tango, raised to the level of symphonic masterworks by the genius of Astor Piazzolla. This instrument lacks a piano keyboard, it is always hold on your knees, has two sets of buttons, a very wide extension and is totally chromatic.

The bandoneon does not sound. It CRIES. It would be impossible to play tango in any other instrument. It is sad, melancholic, romantic and pretentious as we Argentinians are.

However it is not a local invention. It came with Italian and Mid-European immigrants by the end of the 19th century and suffered minor modifications. Today, the gratest living bandoneonists could be Dino Saluzzi, with a long and succesful European career, and Osvaldo Piro in Buenos Aires. If someone is interested, please tell me and I'll prepare a Web tour.

Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 04:47 AM

Ok, I hope some of you are still hanging around for this discussion.

It's pretty clear that I'm going to have to make a trip down to the city (Washington DC area) and go shopping for CDs. I want to check out all of the recommendations that you good people have made.

I played my box in a session for the first time recently. I just played the basses underneath the other instruments. It worked out very well. The other musicians said it was like having a bass fiddle playing with them. It was quite enjoyable for me, to say the least. I have been attempting to incorporate the advice that has been given in this thread, and some of it is starting to sink in, although, clearly, I still have a long way to go.

I will be following the advice of some of you re: the Palmer & Huges books.

julie u (if you're still around), would you mind telling me the names of some of the classical pieces that you play? I must admit that I hadn't ever considered playing classical music on an accordion, but I think it's certainly worth a try. I'm thinking that Bach could sound pretty interesting, but I'm not sure what the left hand would be doing. Also, I only have about two and a half octaves on the right. I guess that could be an impediment.

My box is second-hand, but it was given to me, so I had no opportunity to check into it's history. I understand that it spent most of it's approximately 20 years in storage. I think it needs to be re-waxed because I get an annoying, buzzing sound on some of the basses. It has two voices on the right. One is plain, and the other sounds like two notes with some vibrato. No vibrato on the left.

Ranks, do you play a piano accordion? If so, did you find it at all difficult to adapt the way you use your right hand to the styles of music that you've been playing?

Dan Milner, does Billy McComiskey play a piano accordion, or a button accordion? I've been wondering if it is possible to play Irish music well on a piano accordion.

Fadac, you said that your instructor sometimes plays the tune on the basses, and the chords on the keyboard. Is this possible with only 72 basses, or do you have to have one of the big monster accordions for this?

Also, I want to ask anyone who would care to answer, how do you deal with the issue of the heaviness of the instrument? I play sitting down with my accordion resting on my knees. I don't think this is the best way to do it, but I have a ruptured disk in my neck, and when I try to play standing up, it makes my neck hurt a lot.

Best regards,

Carol

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 07:01 PM

To everyone:

I want all of you to know that I'm in accordion heaven right now. It's this type of back and forth discussion that is the most helpful for me to learn as much as possible about these instruments. I think I'm going to have questions, but I need some time to absorb everything that's been said first.

Many, many, thanks,

Carol

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Fadac
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 03:39 PM

Nick, Hmmm, I have a 140 button bass, with hand made reeds and I can bend some of the notes. I go for the lower note and just crack the valve (press the key) then pull! The reed will bend!. On some concetinas you can bend notes too. I can on my cheep Stagi, however it has accordion reeds in it. The "proper" concertina reeds could be bent I suppose, but I have watched some folks almost pull theirs appart trying to do what I did.

I'm in a pause mode in my accordion lessons, I plan to start up again this fall. However my instructor (we are trying to get him to do a CD.) is out of this world. I watched him play all the "heavys" like "Flight of the bumble bee, Hall of the mountian king, and he makes even simple tunes sound grand. He plays some of the old rag time tunes, then swtiches from playing the bass on the left to playing the tune there and the chords on the pinano keyboard. Sounds like all the tubas came alive. Someday I'll get there. BTW I using the Palmer & Hughes books. These books have been teaching accordion (classic style) for over 50 years and still work great.

Good luck and keep squeezing!

-fadac

"Cut your strings! Free the Reeds!"

No, I don't know Lady of Spain or the Beer Barrel Polks.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 01:01 PM

Bending notes on the accordion as mentioned in recent post will not work if you have high quality hand made reeds as they do NOT go out of tune with increased air pressure. The only way is to lower the key so the reed is only just sounding and then increase the bellows pressure and then you will hear the note bend in pitch. It's a great trick if you get it right!

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 01:00 PM

If you are interested in Irish music played on the accordion - although there are many great players (Joe Burke, Paddy O'Brien, Jackie Daly, and more) - you should have a listen to Billy McComiskey who has recorded solo, with The Irish Tradition, with Trian and with me. Billy is a complete player in the sense that he's great on songs as well as tunes.

All the best,
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,julie u
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:59 AM

hi ranks & carol, a melodeon does not have a specific sound to it. reeds are reeds, but, some are better than others. the parrot is a good basic instrument, has some nice options and very reasonably priced. my friend is quite pleased with "the bird" , a recent acquisition. if you want to do tex-mex then get with the program. only do the melody, its the job of the guitar to supply the bass. some guys even take out the basses and glue the holes shut so no air leaks out. not advisable.... back to bellowing - control the bellows and you rule the world.please avoid shift changes mid note and gulping. to confuse you even more notes do not sound exactly the same in both directions. not an issue for most traditional music. long live the free reeds.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Ranks
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 07:45 AM

Hi Carol,

in my previous postage I made a mistake, the words in brackets should be

(EVEN CHROMATIC INSTRUMENTS)

Ranks

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Ranks
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 07:17 AM

Hi Carol,

the accordion is made for any kind of music. The first thing that you have to learn is how the instrument reacts on pushing and pulling (even diatonic instruments). I taught myself accordion with playing along with the OLD SWAN BAND Records. Rod stradling plays a melodeon though, so at the end my Accordion Style sounded like a melodeon. The you can along with POlka Bands an adapt their Style, also playing along with Tex Mex BAnds ( for example Flaco Jimenez) gives you a lot of fun. Now I am starting playing along to old Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae Pieces The Tuning of your instrument is very important to. My Instrument (Parrot which is a chines made Hohner) sounds nearly exactly like a melodeon, which is Ideal for me. That is why I do not buy the more expensive ones which are more sophisticated, but do not fit to the haunting simplicity of the music I play.

Any more questions?

Greetings

Ranks

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,julie u
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 05:17 AM

72 hohner - you can do anything!!. i play with the irish here (my preference is balkan and scanderwegian and classical, but, not around here)and we do lots of jigs (you syncopate the alternations). start learning alternating basses ie d - dmajor - a- dmajor, hold just the bass or the chord for some parts, play with the basses. in addition to the above suggestions - listening to the music you like and experimenting is the way to get things done.The bellows are the breath control of the instrument, the reeds its vocal chords. unlike a piano, pounding harder on the keys does not make more sound. i too have a dilemna with monotonous basses -ompahpah- and am still working on that, makes the piece more interesting for the listener as well as the player. re mysterious: you have found the right instrument - additional accordion references: Loreena Mckenna, arabic music (they use is alot), "The tango project" cd, "planet squeezebox" dittoes, Guy Kluveschek (jazz, contemporary). listen, watch, and give yourself time. Palmer-Hughes has some good books on the market, a series 1-10 - don't get hung up on the pieces used, look for the concepts expressed.---i am assuming you got this instrument 2nd hand and that it is a double middle on the right and no shifts on the left. the bass should be dry ie, no/minimal vibrato. the right, vibrato but clean. was it been tuned/cleaned before your purchase? enjoy.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: pastorpest
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 11:00 PM

From the Mudcat Links you can go to Len Wallace's website. Len's command of piano accordian is nothing short of amazing. His CD, "Midnight Shift" is full of virtuosic playing to inspire any budding player of the instrument.

Subject: Bending Notes
From: GUEST,Hoot & Fidget
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:05 PM

I play a Hohner melodeon (D/G) and an English concertina...same family of instrument. I bend notes by starting a normal push or pull on the bellows and then put a little more muscle to it. The result is a louder sound but the tone bends. If I shake the bellows on the push or pull I get a vibrato. The trick is to not overdo it. Remember, less is more.

Have a good time. You might want to give Planet Squeezebox a listen for the incredible variety of music played on free-reed instruments.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:42 PM

Quite a few posts back, Carol C. asked if I play the accordion, but I haven't been around to answer. No, I don't play the accordion, but I like the sound of it, and I understand it can be great fun to play. I'm glad that more players are contributing here.

To me, the accordion sounds friendly. I also like the way it takes the whine out of a fiddle. Sort of like adding chocolate to tomato sauce to mellow it.

Good luck with your playing.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 08:05 PM

selby, thanks.

julie u,

I have a 72 button Hohner (piano), and I'm trying to find out what it's capable of (as well as finding out about the other kinds that are out there, and what they are good for). I'm not in a position to buy another one right now, but I think it would help me use my instrument to best advantage if I learned as much as I can about accordions in general and what they are capable of.

So far, I've mostly played a lot of different kinds of traditional and quasi-traditional dance music. I don't know if what I am doing is appropriate for the kind of music I'm playing.

For the most part, I've been playing the melody with my right hand (naturally), and playing bass, chord, chord, or bass, chord, bass, chord, depending on the time signature, as accompaniment to the melody.

I've played all kinds of waltzes, and some reels, and schottishes this way, but I can't play jigs like this. They just end up sounding stupid (to my ear). And even with the the other kinds of dances that I can make work, I don't know if what I'm doing is appropriate.

How do you bend notes with an accordion?

I really prefer playing music that is more fluid and mysterious than most of the kinds of dance music that I listed above. The problem is that since I've never played any other accordion than the one I have, I don't know if that kind of music played on my accordion (the way I've been doing it) would sound cheesy to someone who knows how it's supposed to sound.

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far. I truly value your input.

Best wishes,

Carol

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,julie u, again
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 10:07 AM

re Hohner - good instrument, can't go wrong. if you are starting out then go with the student grade. they have a nice sound, responsive. i have an 80 bass that travels with me. it fits quite nicely in the overhead compartment of the airplane, has sufficient ranges for the traditional folk repetoire (unless you like to play in eflat). 40 basses also are nice for folk and makes the instrument even more compact. 2. Sound -go for a least a double middle (2 reed banks on the right). gives you some variation. some folks cannot live without 4 banks of reeds in the R and multiples in the L also , but, the more you ask for, just like the extras on the car, the more you pay. you can always upgrade if this is your bag. 3. accoridons do not like to be left in the sun, in the shower, smoke environs, extreme cold (you can break reeds) they like AC and clean dry homes

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,julie u
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:56 AM

1. the accordion was the premiere jazz instrument until the 50' when the shift went the guitar and then the electronic keyboard. you can bend notes with an accordion, just like a harmonica. 2. sounds - which model to buy. just like a car, depends on what you want it for. each instrument has a different voice. the reeds vary in quality (student grade and up). then its the bellows that are use to give the expression and vocal quality to those reeds. 3. sexy - tango - mostly done on bandoneon ( another member of the family) suggest Astor Piazzola or another- "The tango project" think scent of a woman. they are the trio (violin, accordion, piano) playing in the background. you want earth - then the king "Cliton Chenier" zydeco (he plalys the piano, not the button box) - 4. finnish - tend to play chromatic button - they are known for their tangos - REALLY- 5. the bass configuration is really quite simple. circle of 5ths, and the counter basses are a 1/2 note down. makes it easy to change key. - this does not work for the freebasses which are individual keys - ergo you can play piano music, l and r hands, as written.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: selby
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 08:35 AM

Returned from Whitby Folk Week on Saturday after attending some accordian workshops the overall drift at the moment is get used to your LEFT hand by playing simple tune's on the Bass buttons ( apparently nursery rhymes are good for this ).The buttons are laid out in an uncomplicated manner apparently ( must be different to mine ).According to the great John Kirkpatrick this method, later on allows you to add intresting harmonies,also the guitarist three cord trick can be used effectivley. Sam Pirt is at the present moment I believe at the Tonder Festival in Denmark but I will get a message to him that this thread is live on his return. Must go practice Bobby Shafto on the left hand

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 08:05 AM

Thanks Nick, it shall be done. (Probably within the next 2 to 3 days.)

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 07:05 AM

Hi Carol!

No one is giving you any proper replies so I thought that I would. I play mainly English dance music on mine plus some Irish and French etc. You should listen to John Kirkpatrick as he is the boss! Although his right hand is all buttons (B C C#) his left hand is the same as ours and he actually uses the bass buttons. Phil Cunningham is great of course but doesn't really use the bass so if you copy him you'll end up not knowing what they're all for and as for Sam Pirt, unless he's done a deal with the Devil recently at the Crossroads he's nothing to me (based on playing in a session with him a few years ago, things may have improved though). Mail me if you want to chat in detail about all this [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 27 Aug 00 - 10:22 PM

Ok, I've got some questions.

Scabby Doug, what make is your accordion? Is it a piano accordion? Did you ever play accordion before you bought that one? Do you have any particular type of sound that you want to get from your accordion (softly melodic, fast and spirited, oom pah pah, etc.)? Will you be playing Phil Cunningham type of music on it? Anything else?

Does anyone know if people who play Finnish music on the accordion (and know what they are doing), think that a Honer is acceptable for that kind of music?

Are Honers good for anything besides oom pah pah?

I would love it if other people with piano accordions would tell me about their instruments and how they feel about them, and also about the type of music that they play on them. If they are uncomfortable about doing this on a thread, they could send me a PM.

I think I saw Sam Pirt's name in the Rick and Susan face England thread. I'm assuming he's a Mudcat member? Sam, if you're there, would you be willing to contribute to this discussion?

Scabby Doug, thanks for peeking out of the closet. It's a brave thing that you've done.

Best wishes,

Carol

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 07:19 AM

But Sam Pirt's the finest mere mortal!

Skipjack

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 07:17 AM

What an embarrassing omission, Lox.

Its Shazza diatonically, and Phil chromatically, agreed?

Skipjack

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Lox
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 07:13 AM

(baby...)

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Lox
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 07:03 AM

Don't forget Sharon Shannon

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 06:37 AM

Tush, Carol, you reject the true accordion threads for the only one with a troll taking part!

Like Scabs says, Phil's the man. Hoping to see him next month with the saintly Aly Bain, in Lincolnshire, UK. Can't wait

Skipjack

ps. Carol, do you ever sleep?

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,Scabby Doug (poking head from the closet)
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 03:59 AM

Hi, umm. confession time. I bought a second-hand accordion the other week. It was £18, and got it at the Barras - the fleamarket in Glasgow.

I don't play - yet - but I will. It seems to be mreo or less in tune, and although it is eveidently elderly, it has a great rich sound.

Carol - take heart - you are not alone.

For real accordion music - check out Phil Cunningham.

He is the man.

Cheers

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 01:09 AM

leeneia,

Do you play the accordion? I'm enjoying the hell out of the little game the boys and I have been playing, but I would love some serious discussion as well.

I started this thread because I was having an interesting discussion about accordions on another, rather lengthy, and unrelated thread. I thought I should bring it here, but it seems that all of the accordion players have gone back into the closet.

Best wishes,

Carol

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 01:03 AM

If you want sexy accordion music, see if you can get hold of the recordings called "The Tango Project" which were issued by Nonesuch as (gasp!) vinyl LP's in the 1980's. They were so good, perhaps they are now available in another form.

There is actually a college-level program in accordion at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. I believe it is the only one in the world. The department has to submit to constant harrassment of the form you are now enduring from certain puerile Mudcatters, but nonetheless it soldiers on.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 12:55 AM

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Lox
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 12:53 AM

....noticing her ample cleavage, he asked if she would show him her squeezebox....

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 12:42 AM

Spaw, you can't even begin to imagine...(Ahem. Never mind.)

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 12:38 AM

ROTFLMAO= Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Ass Off

Carol, since most accordion players only know two tunes, one of which is "Lady of Spain" and the other isn't...........Playing something sexy will depend upon the size of your breasts.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Lox
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 12:30 AM

What does ROTFLMAO mean?

No matter how I try and say it, it just won't trip lightly off the tongue.

(I can't find it in the (in a very posh voice) 'Oxford English Dictionary', either.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 12:25 AM

Ahhhh.....A man after my own heart.

Thanks Lox

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 12:20 AM

PLEASE IGNORE THOSE OTHER ACCORDION THREADS. THIS IS THE REAL ACCORDION THREAD. THE OTHERS ARE IMPOSTERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Troll
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 11:49 PM

Lox:

ROTFLMAO! Thats GREAT!!!

troll

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Lox
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 11:32 PM

Humphry Bogart pulled his hat down over his eyes and dropped his cigarette on the shiny wet cobblestones.

With a fizz, it died, leaving a small ashy residue at it's tip.

Plucking up his courage, he tucked himself deeper into his coat and hurried down the alley between the high walls of the houses on either side, making sure not to get caught in the gushing overflow that poured out from one of the many balconies that loomed overhead.

He rounded a corner, and stopped dead. His worst fears had been confirmed.

There she was! She was dressed in white trousers and a straw hat. She had bells tied to her ankles and was cavorting gaily with a troop of similarly attired men and women.

Lighting another cigarette, he faced the dreadful truth. She was a closet morris dancer.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Troll
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 10:47 PM

Sorry Lox. This looks promising. Pray continue.

troll

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 10:46 PM

No, Lox, keep going.

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Lox
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 10:42 PM

The place .... Paris

The year .... 1952

The weather ... etc...

(quick somebody stop me)

Lox ;^)

Subject: RE: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 10:37 PM

You can probably play sexy music with anything. Why not with an accordion? I've seen some amazing stuff played on the accordion, and I only wish I had the ability...or the time...or whatever. You know how it is.

Subject: Can we talk about accordions please?
From: CarolC
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 10:28 PM

I'm discovering that there are more accordion people around here than I previously suspected. I've just started learning to play (about four months), and there are no people I know of in my area who also play the piano accordion. I could really use some input from people who have more experience/knowledge than me. What kind do you play? What do you like about it? What differences have you noticed between different makes? Can you play sexy music with a Hohner? What kind of music do you play? (Etc, etc, etc.)

Can we talk?