Posts Tagged: Folk Instrument
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.
Best Concertinas
The concertina is directly related to the symphonium. Wheatstone suggested that the bellows could be used to supply air to the reeds. He soon put his ideas into practice. The instrument that is bellows-driven could be bigger, as the reeds would not have to be placed so close to the mouthpiece. You can add more notes to a concertina, which has 48 keys as opposed to the 16 on a symphonium. There is also more space for fingers to move on larger keyboards.
Wheatstone maintained the alternating-note arrangement. Wheatstone’s concertina has a different arrangement to the accordion or piano. A melody requires that each hand plays some notes. It is difficult to play both a melody or accompaniment at once, but it is possible with skilled players. If I were a skilled player, this is where I would include a link to my playing. I don’t.
Wheatstone and other manufacturers also made concertinas, which combined Wheatstone’s basic instrument design along with key arrangements that were different from the original English alternating-note system. The most popular of these modifications, which most importantly restored the intuitive order in which high and low notes are placed on the right and left respectively, was the one that borrowed the keyboard layout from a German instrument, which is also the basis of the modern button accordion. The resulting “Anglo-German” concertina–confusingly abbreviated after World War I to just “Anglo”–is the kind Jonsi is pretending to play in Game of Thrones. Even more confusingly, Anglo concertinas are very popular among traditional Irish musicians today.
Although accordion manufacturing was easily adapted to mass production in order to meet the growing demand, concertina production was never truly automated. This has led to acoustic variations between the instruments. For example, accordion reeds are mounted in rectangular blocks and attached to the soundboard with wax. Concertina reeds can be fitted manually in individual reed chambers that are held in place by friction.
Despite being run by Wheatstone, C Wheatstone & Co., Concertina Makers still exists. However, the instrument is very expensive and production numbers are low. A concertina that sells for less than a few thousand dollars will almost always be made from parts borrowed from accordions or, worse, harmonicas.
Hundreds of thousands of concertinas have been made in the 20th and 21st centuries. Many of these instruments are still in use and can be restored to their original condition for a fraction of the cost of new instruments. A surprising number of concertinas used today, including my own two, are antiques. They were built to Wheatstone’s pre-industrial design at least 100 years ago. This design uses materials that are rare to find: keys made from bone, reed chambers sealed with chamois and rubber. It is possible that the concertina technology has been influenced by the age of individual instruments and the components.
However, real medieval artisans would not have been able to build concertinas even if they had the idea. Although screw fasteners were well-known in Europe at the end of the Middle Ages, they were very expensive to make. All threads had to be filed manually. A concertina has more than 200.
Trinity River TRTB1 Tenor Banjo
The Nato wood resonanceator is similar to a lower-quality mahogany model, but it’s lighter and absorbs more sound.
The banjo’s projection is not as good as a mahogany model, but the overall tone it produces remains decent and warm. You can also get a Remo head made of plastic coated which gives your tone a little more depth.
If you are just beginning to learn the banjo or have a limited budget, this is a great choice. Although the tone isn’t as good as the more expensive products, it’s still a decent value for money.
Remo head – This adds a bit more meat and depth to the instrument’s tone.
Gigbag – For the price, it’s a generous deal to get a case as well.
Hohner 1305
We’re now going to talk about piano accordion fans. As we have already mentioned in the previous section of this guide, Hohner is one the most well-known accordion makers in the world. It’s difficult not to include them on this list. They’re well-known for producing quality products at all price points. We have the Hohner 1305, a budget-friendly option.
Its full name 1305-RED Student Honnica is what explains the instrument’s intended purpose. This accordion is great for beginners. It is definitely worth the price. An instrument such as this will allow you to perform at intermediate or even advanced levels, for smaller performances.
It’s clear from the features that Hohner spent a lot of time perfecting this accordion model. The mechanism has been improved to provide better response from the keys. This instrument is also very loud due to its resonant construction. We also recommend tremolo tuned Reeds as an additional great feature.
There are 72 buttons in total, 34 keys for piano, and 5 buttons to control the shaping of tone properties. The range of the buttons is G to E, low-high.
Fever F3112 – MX Button Accordion
Fever F3112MX Button Accordion is one of the most popular accordions. The accordion features 31 treble keys and 12 bass buttons on the GFC key. It also has 20 fold bellows to improve sound quality. The accordion features Italian-style decorations in pearlescent colors. It is made from sheepskin, which makes it last longer.
Hooks allow for one strap to be attached to the Fever Accordion. This allows for left-hand adjustable leather straps. This allows you to adjust the straps to your liking.
The F3112MX Accordion also has a key mechanism that allows them to move freely and without sticking. The pearl buttons and custom grill add a touch of sophistication. This adds beauty and elegance to the accordion.
Do your due deligence before you make a purchasing decision on button accordion for sale
The grill cloth has been designed to produce an acoustic and rich sound. The side lever’s air valve allows for faster air intake. The accordion comes with a lock case to protect it. The accordion can be carried easily without causing any damage.
Musicians of all levels will find the Fever Accordion to be a great investment as it provides the most smooth operation.