Button Accordion Tips for Beginners
Those wanting to learn the button accordion should familiarize themselves with certain tips to make the most out of their practice sessions. These will enable them to get the most from their learning experience.
Step one is selecting an instrument with enough keys for your level of skill and expertise, and finding an accordion instructor who can offer more specialized help.
1. Don’t Forget the Bass Buttons
One of the key aspects of learning accordion for novice players is remembering to press down on all five bass buttons at once. This is particularly essential when starting out on this instrument for the first time.
Most accordions utilize what is commonly referred to as the Stradella bass system or standard bass (sometimes abbreviated to “Stradella bass”) which uses columns of buttons arranged in a circle of fifths on the left side of their instrument.
In this layout, the central C button is marked with a bump for easy identification by touch. Just above it are an F and Bb keys; further along comes an M.
As well as these bass buttons, accordions also feature so-called chord buttons constructed on the same root note of their bass row notes, creating major and minor triads, dominant seventh chords (minus their fifth note) and fully diminished 7th chords.
2. Pay Attention to Your Finger Position
One of the key aspects of button accordion playing is being aware of your finger position. Failing to position them correctly could prove costly when it comes to playing bass buttons effectively and creating the best possible sound.
Not to forget is that the layout of the bass buttons on your accordion also plays an integral part in whether or not they will be easy for you to play, with some models featuring stepped bass button boards which make thumb placement simpler.
However, this can be uncomfortable as your thumb becomes constrained by the bass strap and may result in poor posture.
To avoid this scenario, it is wise to begin your accordion playing journey on the inside row of its bass board – this will give your hands a better idea of where they should go when playing on both the inner and outer button boards of an accordion bass board.
3. Practice Makes Perfect
Many have heard the saying that, “practice makes perfect.” It can serve as an encouragement for individuals to put in effort in something and strive to do their best.
As part of learning an accordion, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with all the different buttons on the instrument. Each button can help produce various sounds and create melodies of its own.
Learning how to play diatonic or chromatic button accordions requires becoming familiar with how different kinds of buttons affect the sound that you create.
Diatonic button accordions consist of 2 or 3 rows of buttons tuned to specific keys, making this popular type of accordion suitable for playing a wide range of musical genres.
This system also makes chord-playing much simpler by eliminating the need to identify all of its constituent notes; an invaluable asset for beginners who might otherwise feel intimidated by having to figure out how to play multi-octave chords on a keyboard.
4. Keep Your Fingers Healthy
Playing the accordion puts your fingers under extreme strain, so it makes sense to protect their health as much as possible. One effective strategy for doing so is limiting how much bellow pressure you apply to each button while at the same time moving your fingers quickly and efficiently.
To do so, it will be necessary to learn some essential techniques. First of all, find the appropriate hand position for each note – this will make playing much simpler and less demanding on your fingers.
Pay special attention to the other button accordion for sale, particularly its bass buttons, which are especially vital for newcomers to the instrument. Utilizing them correctly will allow you to play more notes consecutively – an essential skill for beginners – as well as keep your hands from cramping during long songs.