Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 01:58 AM

Button accordions: either hold it upside down - seen quite a few people do this, or just bite the bullet and learn it 'normally'.

Piano Accordion:
Good Luck - if you have BIG pockets, you could get one specially made for about the price of a small car (you will need a 'reverse stradella' bass side too!) and about 6 - 12 months wait. Second hand - I doubt it - I never heard of any made.

If it is a 'small' one - about 32 bass, just hold it upside down. Big ones with 'chin masters' and other fancy stuff will not work though.

Practically, just bite the bullet and learn it 'normally'. The straps will need to be swapped around, and for big ones, you may need to get the strap mounting fittings moved. No existing accordion course will cope with a 'reverse stradella' bass side, or even with you playing the bass side 'with the wrong fingers'.

You will find it difficult to sell a left handed instrument too.


Technique: Piano Accordion for The Recycled Muso

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: GUEST,SunnySpain
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 01:46 AM

I am left handed and really want to learn to play the accordion it totally slipped my mind that it would be the wrong way round.

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 24 Mar 06 - 05:30 AM

Just seat the audience on the other side mate!

Simple minds find simple solutions...

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: Dead Horse
Date: 24 Mar 06 - 05:03 AM

HiHo Silver, "When assembled right side up the keys will be against your body."
Ya just haveta walk roun ta the other side!
(Thinking about it, I may see a slight flaw developing. Ya back would be to the audience!!!)

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 08:21 PM

& here thread.cfm?threadid=49150#977020


When I first pulled up the older thread, I thought my memry must b playing tricks, as the first post for it is down to Mooman.

However, as I scrolled down, I found my iniating post of this thread.

I guess the great crash affected Mudcat in manifold & mysterious ways!

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 08:13 PM

Early, and good modern recorders come with holes to fit either hand - the unwanted ones are intended to be blocked with wax. On some $2 cheapie plastic ones, the bottom section rotates to suit either hand.

Just try crossing your wrists when you sit at the piano - some Classical Music was intended to be played this way! :-)

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 07:53 PM

see here thread.cfm?threadid=49150

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 07:13 PM

FT,

know what you mean,I taught myself to play tin whistle the 'wrong' way - right hand above left - but since it still works for me ok that way, I see know valid reason to change.

Its an interesting point, which didn't come up in the previous discussion, that some instruments truly lend themselves to ambidextriosity [?- is that a word?] as above,

* the whistle - but not recorders/flutes etc cos the holes/buttons are wrong way round.

* harmonicas can be played either way

* also most squeezables - that is if you can manage to reach the air button!

* I guess harps [the strung kind] would fall in this category too.

what else?

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 06:54 PM

Mr Happy

When I taught myself the 'Tabor Pipe and drum' I did not know that traditionally the pipe was in the left hand (supposedly because the rhythm was considered the most important!) so played the pipe right handed.

Actually I do have a slight MMD (micro motor coordination) problem which means that I have immense difficulty in handling the 'traditional style' tabor pipe (either hand) because of the the thumb hole. A reason I have never bought a 'real instrument' - little point in having an instrument if I can't play it! I can however play very well (when in practice!!!) by using the three fingers on 3 finger holes and not 2 fingers and a thumb hole (I bodgied up my own pipes from existing whistles!). I have no problem holding and balancing the instrument.

After all the main technical thing with the instrument is the breath control, which is identical for a normal whistle anyway - one can do most of the same over-blowing 'tricks' by just keeping the fingers on the other hand in place all the time. OK, the instruments are designed slightly different, but I'll ignore that for the moment. Actually, on some whistles I have, it is easier to get the highest notes more in tune this way, rather than the 'correct way'!!!!

I would consider buying an instrument 'made for me' but probably couldn't afford it these days.

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: Toenails John
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 03:20 PM

Never heard of a left handed accordion, certainly not a button one anyway. Once met a traveler who through lack of knowldege taught himself the box upside down, and when he was told, he re learnt the right way, and could subsequently play it either way

As far as i know, there is a company setting up for leftie's producing left handed Bodhrahns, and spoons!
any takers?

Tee Hee
Tj

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: HiHo_Silver
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 03:20 PM

To Dead Horse: Although your solution is Simple; unfortunately it is not that simple as in reassembly the buttons or keys are still upside down. When assembled right side up the keys will be against your body.

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: Dead Horse
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 04:24 AM

All you need to do is unscrew the ends from the bellows and change em round.
Simple really, like me!

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 12:19 PM

Actually when I first picked up the accordion, years ago, I did try playing it upside down and found it no more difficult than the right way! (I'm left-handed, but play all instruments right-handed through starting so young on the fiddle - left-handed 8th-sized violins are very very very rare)!

About two years ago I started using false nails for picking guitar, and that put paid to the accordion - I had to re-learn everything on the duet concertina because it has buttons and room for nails.

Now I've just spent an hour playing accordion upside down again, with mixed results it has to be said! But at least the nails don't clack and jam between the keys (cos they're on the buttons)!

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: Mr Happy
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 12:01 PM

I initiated a thread some time ago on the topic of Left v. Right Instruments.

the essence of my thoughts was that on some instruments, the melody is played with right hand, while on others its done with the left.

piano & keyboards: melody right, accompaniment left

guitars, fiddles etc: melody left, acc. right.

so as Americans say: go figure?

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: jonm
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 07:31 AM

I play piano box upside down, melody with the left always seems more logical, after all the high notes are at the top!

I have seen an Italian instrument where the bass buttons were all reversed (slanting the other way and order of keys reversed) for the right hand of a left handed player, but I cannot understand why this would be necessary. It's just as easy to operate the bass buttons the way they are.

I am always careful not to buy instruments where the strap bracket on the bottom is half way up the back of the instrument, that tends to result in a Chad-like "wot no musician" effect when turned upside-down.

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: IanC
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 04:34 AM

Hi

The relatively small number of left handed players I've met have just played the box in the usual way. I've never seen anyone play one upside down.

If you're seriously interested in having a melodeon or concertina adapted for left hand use, I'm pretty sure I could do the job for you relatively easily.

It would be quite an interesting project.

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 04:25 AM

I seem to remember that the Canadian duo Two Tall Women use a left-handed accordion - which Beth plays upside-down - i.e. right-handed! (But I may have dreamed it)

No-doubt somone here knows...

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Mar 06 - 10:54 PM

I never heard of, or saw any piano or button or meledeon accordion DESIGNED reversely for left hand.

Concertinas (English & Anglo) however may be equally easy to use 'backwards', but no tutor book will make sense. The piano accordion would have to built 'from scratch', as many placements of the components of the instrument would need to be physically relocated.

I have played my piano accordion upside down...

Seriously, when learning a physical motor skill, I have found that if I do it 'offhanded' for a bit, it accelerates massively my physical capabilities. I have some MMD, and have found that while trying the skill other handed, I can get it quickly by mentally 'mirror imaging' the movements. When coming back to the right handed style, it has strongly helped the mental imprinting of the physical motor skills.

When learning the whistle, I swapped 'upper and lower hands' for a while too. Same with the fencing foil, etc.

OK, may not work for everybody, but what the hell do I care if anybody else wants to do it?! :-)

I just turned the accordion upside down - you can't read the switch register labels for the keyboard, etc, and you have to play with the straps if you want it comfortable, but it WORKS!

I once saw a guy playing a small button box upside down - he had no teacher, so he just played with it till he could get tunes - he was playing it very well upside down. I do believe that he then learnt 'right way up'.


Try a look at Technique: Piano Accordion for The Recycled Muso

Subject: RE: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Mar 06 - 09:07 PM

I heard a left handed harmonica played-he did it upside down- really!

Subject: Tech: Info on left Handed Accordion
From: HiHo_Silver
Date: 21 Mar 06 - 08:19 PM

Curious as to whether or not there is such an instrument as an accordion ( either piano or button) for a left handed player. I have never seen or heard tell of one. The few left handed players I have met played a right handed accordion inverted.