anyone here ever play an accordion?

chuck3 · #1 08-01-2010, 09:28 PM

They seem enticing. They have many "bass" buttons in the left hand. It's unclear what all those buttons do, or whether you can slap them. Also, most accordions seem to have no electronics at all, much less what I'd prefer - which is to run the left hand through a bass amp, and the right hand through a keyboard amp. So obviously accordions could never replace a bass ... but for two or three songs per gig?

What say you?

ggunn · #2 08-01-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck3

They seem enticing. They have many "bass" buttons in the left hand. It's unclear what all those buttons do, or whether you can slap them. Also, most accordions seem to have no electronics at all, much less what I'd prefer - which is to run the left hand through a bass amp, and the right hand through a keyboard amp. So obviously accordions could never replace a bass ... but for two or three songs per gig?

What say you?

Left and right hands on accordion are not like on piano where left hand is bass. Right hand is single keys and left hand is chord buttons. None of it is in the bass range.

The buttons open passages to pass air over combinations of reeds similar to harmonica reeds to make chords. I have no idea what you mean by wanting to slap them.

Ed Fuqua · #3 08-02-2010, 09:26 AM

There are cordeens with built in pickups, but as was said, the left hand buttons are for chords - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:12...stem_chart.png

jtb · #4 08-02-2010, 09:30 AM

Slap accordion. Interesting concept.

**smperry** · #5 08-02-2010, 08:50 PM

I have a very nice vintage Italian accordion that was given to me by my father-in-law. I'm not good at it by any stretch (the chord buttons are so confusing!) and I'd be happy to improve.

chuck3 · #6 08-03-2010, 09:58 PM

Thanks for the feedback on this admittedly oddball thread. Too bad those left hand buttons aren't really bass frequencies. That would be a good combo, keyboards with your right hand and bass with your left. All that said, I may just give one of these a try. I see that Alex's Accordions is on W. 48th St. right near Rudy's and Sam Ash.

Thunderthumbs73 · #7 08-03-2010, 10:06 PM

I borrow my mother's from time to time, which was given to her by my grandmother. I'll likely inherit it someday. I would like to be better at the bottom/chord side of it. I can play piano, but not so good at accordion left hand...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lirhTDv3xa4

foq1978 · #8 08-04-2010, 06:37 AM

No, but I would love to.
Someone in my family used to play it, but I never had the chance.

ReBass · #9 08-04-2010, 09:26 AM

I once traded a cheap Fender practice amp for an old accordion. I still have the accordion 15 years later and don't miss the amp at all. I've never taken the time to really learn how to play it though. I can fumble around a little bit, that's all. It's still fun and makes the kids laugh!

Nashrakh · #10 08-04-2010, 09:34 AM

My keyboarder plays one on a few songs we do.

It's an interesting sound, but I doubt it could ever replace a bass. Unless the song sounds good without bass and you want to give it a special something.

mrpackerguy · #11 08-04-2010, 10:21 AM

Actually on most full size accordions, the left hand buttons serve the purpose of both bass notes and chords. I know, my dad played one for years in his dance band.

BassesForTheWin · #12 08-04-2010, 10:23 AM

Once, i epicly failed.

Diogenes · #13 08-04-2010, 02:27 PM

I started playing the accordion when I was 5 and still have it although I haven't played it in about 35 years. The keys and buttons are merely for opening air valves which allow air to pass through harmonica style reeds and they're polyphonic. Not exactly sure how the various voices are obtained (mine has 7 keyed voices and 3 bass voices).

I probably wouldn't bother with trying to mic an accordian for bass lines. There's a local band here in Lou-evil name "Squeezebot" who are very good and they use a tuba player in lieu of a bassist. Their rendition of "White Rabbit" is one of my favorite covers which they play on a banjo, accordion, tuba and an old child sized drum kit.

MatticusMania · #14 08-04-2010, 02:32 PM

Played, yes. Well, no.

rappa29 · #15 08-04-2010, 02:38 PM

I used to have one a long time ago. A friend's dad gave it to me. I was in HS. I messed around with it for a few months but ultimately failed.

All I can remember is it took A LOT of effort to keep the air moving and just didn't have the physical endurance to steadily pump it AND play the keys\push the buttons to make anything resembling music. However, in my defense, it wasn't a 'starter' squeezebox gimmick. It was a full blown Weird Al, pro instrument!

I've thought about revisiting it and getting a smaller one to play around on for fun or campfire jams.

BTW - IIRC, I think there are accordions now that you can plug into amp\PA. I know accordions have had MIDI since the mid 90's. There's a small shop where I live that is STRICTLY accordions. Which I think is interesting considering i didn't think accordions were uber popular around here (Largo, FL), but they've been in business for at least 20 years! Pretty cool place. They have everything from small squeezeboxes to full blown MIDI accordion rigs to vintage accordions. They're not cheap either! You think pro bass gear is expensive!

mongo2 · #16 08-04-2010, 03:18 PM

My first instrument in '61 was the accordion. Took lessons on it for about 6 years. My parents wanted me to be the next Myron Floren.

I wanted to play the vibes...instead I got the accordion.

elros · #17 08-04-2010, 04:39 PM

I bought an second hand button accordion about two years ago, because it seemd interesting.
The button accordion is much like the bass guitar in that the patterns remain the same regardless of what key you play in; you just move the starting point.
I have never become a proficient accordionist, but I've had fun and learnt a lot.

The bass side now, it comes in a variety of versions. Mine has six rows.
The second row is only fundamental. The first row is the third.
The third row is a major chord, the fourth row is a minor chord.
The fifth row is a dominant chord, and the sixth row is a diminished chord.
And the rows are the circle of fifths. So it's quite easy to churn out traditional tunes, as well as many jazz standards.
It's kind of tough to play other stuff though: cromatic walking bass for example is a bit of a bother.

Pilgrim · #18 08-04-2010, 06:39 PM

I inherited a concertina from my dad....but haven't learned it. I got the instruction books too, mostly dating to the 1940's and 50's.