Chords - Arpeggiated Melodies

Many melodies are chord notes played in sequence with occasional scale notes added. So, many melodies can be played by placing fingers over chord patterns. The thumb (finger 1) becomes useful for playing the lowest notes in a chord.

A song that demonstrates an arpeggiated melody is Clarinet Polka. 
["The Clarinet Polka" or "A Hupfata"^[1] (Polish "Polka Dziadek", Estonian "Vanaisa polka", Russian "Полька Дедушка" – Grandpa Polka)]

https://www.google.com/search?q=clarinet+polka&safe=off&espv=210&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=W237UofrEIrJ0gGV_YDACw&ved=0CCkQsAQ&biw=932&bih=687

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WCMzRLov58

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarinet_Polka

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqKxcNVtm9k

Perfect Practice Makes Perfect Performance

At the beginning of each practice session, reestablish and reinforce perfect performance of the basics before introducing work on a new skill.

Scale and chord patterns are based on using three vertical rows of buttons.

Finger 2 in the Left-most Vertical Row of Three Rows

The primary pattern begins with finger 2 in the left-most vertical row of buttons.

Begin with two-octave chromatic scales up and down. When you have played them several times correctly, evenly, and crisply, move on to the next skill.

Play major scale two octaves up and down.  After several correct performances, move to the next skill.

Play natural minor scale two octaves up and down.  After several correct performances, move to the next skill.

Play major and minor scale segments of three to six notes up and down.

Finger 3 in the Center Vertical Row of Three Rows

Move the hand to the left one row and perform the above sequence beginning with finger 3 in the center of the three vertical rows.

Finger 4 in the Right Vertical Row of Three Rows

Move the hand to the left one row and perform the above sequence beginning with finger 4 in the right of the three vertical rows.

Chord Notes as Melody

As you play more music, adapt the basic playing techniques to the requirements of the music. 

For example, you start with a finger 2 pattern, but a certain section fits more easily using a finger 3 pattern.  Experiment with blending various fingering patterns to best fit the music requirements.

Chord Patterns

The primary pattern begins with finger 2 in the left-most vertical row of buttons.

Perform a major chord arpeggio two octaves up and down.

Then perform a minor chord arpeggio two octaves up and down.

Then perform a dominant seventh arpeggio two octaves up and down.

Alternating Pairs of Fingering

Minka Variations

The Cossack song "Minka" offers a good opportunity for practicing alternating pairings of fingerings. The pair of notes played is usually the melody note and a harmonizing note that is the interval of a third or sixth away. As the melody moves and the notes change, the notes are played by alternating pairs of fingers. Notes played by the even fingers (2 and 4) are followed by notes played by the odd fingers (3 and 5), followed by notes played by the even fingers, and so on.

Play C Major scale up and down using only fingers 4 and 5. Begin with the finger 5 on the "C" in the middle of the keyboard on row 3 (counting the rows from right (outside) to left (inside).

[on B-System:]

[note:  C  D  E  F  G  A  B  C]

[row:    3  4  2  4  2  3   1  3]

[finger: 5  4  5  4  5  4  5  4]  


Then play the C natural minor scale (3 flats) using fingers 4 and 5.

[on B-System:]

[note:  C  D  Eb  F  G  Ab Bb C]

[row:    3  4  3   4  2   4   2  3]

[finger: 5  4  5   4  5   4   5  4]  

Play Minka with fingers 4 and 5.

C Eb  C Eb C Eb  D  C  B  D  B  D  B  D  C  B
       [repeat 2x]                [repeat 2x]          
4  5   4  5  4  5   4  5  4  5  4   5   4  5  5  4      


C Eb  C Eb C Eb  D  C  B  D  G  B  C  D
       [repeat 2x]                          
4  5   4  5  4  5   4  5  4  4   5  4  5  4  


Eb G Eb G Eb G   F  Eb  D  F  D  F  D  F  Eb D  
       [repeat 2x]                [repeat 2x]          
4  5   4  5  4  5   4  5  4  5  4   5   4  5  4   5        


C Eb  C Eb C Eb  D  C  B  D  G  B  C  Eb  C
       [repeat 2x]                          
4  5   4  5  4  5   4  5  4  4  5  4   4  5   4    

              
Play Minka with harmonizing notes a sixth below played with finger 2 when finger 4 is used, and with finger 3 when finger 5 is used.

Harmonizing notes for Minka to be played at the same time as the melody above.

Eb G Eb G Eb G   F  Eb  D  F  D  F  D  F  Eb D
       [repeat 2x]                [repeat 2x]          
2   3  2  3  2  3   2  3   2  3   2  3  2  3  3   2    


Eb G Eb G Eb G   F  Eb  D  F  B  D  Eb F  
       [repeat 2x]                          
2  3   2  3  2  3   2  3   2  2   3  2  3   2      


G Bb G Bb G  Bb  Ab  G  F  Ab  F  Ab  F  Ab G  F
       [repeat 2x]                    [repeat 2x]          
2  3  2  3  2   3    2   3  2  3   2  3  2  3   2   3           


Eb G Eb G Eb G   F  Eb  D  F   B  D  Eb  G  Eb
       [repeat 2x]                          
2  3   2  3   2  3  2  3   2   2   3  2   2   3   2     

When playing Minka, fingering is adjusted based on the melody line. Sometimes the same set of fingers jump to play a next set of notes. Sometimes the lower finger will now play the note that was previously played by the higher finger. Another skill to develop is to play the same note or notes with alternating fingers, which repeats the notes as in a tremolo.

Below are some recordings of Minka.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLvFilT5HoE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxKjQEO-i1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp88c6IeGBI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5JE6s9FeGc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YisgJFlKlg

Scale Pattern Based on Finger 3

You initially began playing the chromatic scale and Major scale beginning with finger 2. The scales use three vertical rows of buttons.

As you did earlier, play a chromatic scale and a Major scale starting with finger 2 on "C."

For a B System:
Now shift your right hand one button to the left, so that finger 3 is on "C" and finger 2 is on "B." 

For a C System:
Now shift your right hand one button to the right, so that finger 3 is on "C" and finger 4 is on "B." 

Play a C chromatic scale and a C Major scale using "B" as a pick-up note.

Notice that the Major scale pattern is different when basing the scale on finger 3.

Some songs may seem easier to play when using finger 3 as the basis for the scale rather than finger 2.


Play the song "Dark Eyes" using a scale based on finger 3.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Eyes_(song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXNh_4K287g&list=RDVdWBdqkxHKg


F# G Ab G    F# G  Ab G   G C     C B   D Eb      D C   Eb F

G Dom 7               C-minor         G Dom 7        C-minor


Eb D Ab       D Eb  D C G   F# G   Ab G    D Eb   C

F-minor                C-minor          G Dom 7        C-minor

Play Cossack Song

The following song uses the elements covered in the previous Post.

Йихав козак за Дунай (A Cossack Rides Beyond the Danube)

[ehaf  kozak za dunai] (transliteration)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtRQ2m0F_Gc



Use the chords and fingerings you have used.

Add scale notes to fill in the tune.

Briefly shift one button down the keyboard and play two chords

Then shift back up one button and replay the first part of the song



Place finger 2 on "C" and finger 4 on the octave "C."

Play the song with finger 3.


F Ab G F   E G F E    F Ab G F   E G Bb G   F 

F-minor    C Dom 7   F-minor    C Dom 7   F-minor


[Shift fingers 2 and 4 down one button to Eb]

G [finger 3]  Ab C Bb Ab

Eb Dom 7     Ab-major


[Shift fingers 2 and 4 back up one button to C]

G [finger 3]  Bb Ab G   F Ab G F   E G Bb G  F 

C Dom 7      C Dom 7   F-minor    C Dom 7   F-minor

Train Right Hand for the Keyboard

Now that you mentally know the keyboard layout, It's time to train your fingers to play the notes. Step one is to establish a stable, consistent and comfortable position for the accordion with respect to the keyboard and your right hand and finger positions. After some practicing and adjusting, you should reach a specific position that you should always assume when playing. Consistent playing requires a consistent holding of the instrument.

Rock-Steady Keyboard

A position that works for me is seated forward on an arm-less chair. Arch your chest up and slightly lean forward. Position the bottom outside corner of the keyboard against your upper inner thigh. Set the body of the accordion on top of your left thigh. Adjust the shoulder straps to fit snugly in this position.

Position your right hand over the keyboard with your main fingers (2,3 and 4 [considering the thumb as finger 1]) pointing downward with the tips of the fingers positioned over a slanting row of buttons that go chromatically (for the B-System) diagonally down to the right or (for the C-System) diagonally down to the left.

As you practice the patterns below to achieve a consistent playing of the correct notes, adjust the instrument, arm and hand positions until you settle on a final positioning.

Chromatic Scale (Twelve Half-Steps per Octave)

Begin with note "C." While holding the root "C" note in the left hand, play a C chromatic scale up and down an octave. Practice in accent groupings of two, three and four. On the B-System start with fingers 2, 3 and 4 (thumb is 1) or on the C-System start with fingers 4, 3 and 2. As mentioned above, adjust the instrument, arm and hand positions until you settle on a final positioning.

Then come up the left-hand row to note "G" and in the right hand, play the G chromatic scale.

Then continue up the bass row to D, then A, then E, etc.

Then start back at C."

Then continue down the bass row to F, then Bb, then Eb, then Ab, etc.

Major Scale (Seven Scale Steps per Octave)

Begin with note "C." While holding the root "C" note in the left hand, play a C Major scale up and down an octave using the same notes and fingerings of the chromatic scale except that you skip past the five notes that are not in the C Major scale (C#, Eb, F#, Ab and Bb). 

Practice in accent groupings of two, three and four. On the B-System start with fingers 2, 3 and 4 (thumb is 1) or on the C-System start with fingers 4, 3 and 2. As mentioned above, adjust the instrument, arm and hand positions until you settle on a final positioning.

Then come up the left-hand row to note "G" and in the right hand, play the G Major scale.

Then continue up the bass row to D, then A, then E, etc.

Then start back at C."

Then continue down the bass row to F, then Bb, then Eb, then Ab, etc.

Octave and Intervals

Octave:

Play a "C" with finger 2 and add the octave-higher "C" with finger 4 in the same row.

Play octave intervals for every note using fingers 2 and 4.

Major Chord:

Play a "C" with finger 2 and add the octave-higher "C" with finger 4 in the same row. Using finger 3, play "F", which on a B-System is on the next row in. (On a C- System, play "F" which is two rows in.) Then using the same finger, play "A", which is in the same row and one button above the octave "C." On the left hand play "F" Major and alternate playing the various notes on the right hand.

Dominant Seventh Chord:

Play a "C" with finger 2 and add the octave-higher "C" with finger 4 in the same row. Using finger 3, play "E", then "G" and then "Bb," which on a B-System are two rows in. (On a C- System, using finger 3, play "E", then "G" and then "Bb" which is the next row in.) On the left hand play "C" Dominant Seventh and alternate playing the various notes on the right hand.

Play Major Chord alternating with Dominant Seventh Chord.

Minor Chords:

Play a "C" with finger 2 and add the octave-higher "C" with finger 4 in the same row. Using finger 3, play "F", which on a B-System is on the next row in. (On a C- System, play "F" which is two rows in.) Then using the same finger, play "Ab", which is on the same row as the "F", then play the octave "C." On the left hand play "F" Minor and alternate playing the various notes on the right hand.

Play a "C" with finger 2 and add the octave-higher "C" with finger 4 in the same row. Using finger 3, play "Eb", which below the lower "C". Then using finger 3, play "G," which on a B-System is two rows in. (On a C- System, play "G" which is on the next row in.) Then play the octave "C." On the left hand play "C" Minor and alternate playing the various notes on the right hand.

Play alternating Minor Chords "F" then "C."

Repeat the above chord sequence in various keys. Start the next sequence with octave "G" notes on the right hand and "C" Major on the left hand.

Move up the left hand row. So the next sequence start with "D" octave notes in the right hand and "G" Major in the left hand.

Once all of the higher left hand buttons have been played, start back with the first pattern of "C" octave notes.

Then repeat the above chord sequence in various keys starting the next sequence down the left hand row by playing octave "F" notes on the right hand and "Bb" Major on the left hand.

Continue the sequence going down the left hand row.

You are learning the patterns and building strength and flexibility in the right hand.

An Approach to Playing the CBA

What follows is an approach to playing the chromatic button accordion (CBA) given an existing proficiency with the piano accordion. Focus will be on the right-hand button keyboard. 

Assumption is that the left hand is playing the usual Stradella bass format, which is top row being a counter-bass a major third above the second row (which is the root bass note). The third row is the major chord, the fourth row is the minor chord, the fifth row is the seventh chord, and the sixth row is the diminished chord. A Serbian-style (Dugmetara) accordion may add a top row counter bass which is a minor third above the root row, which is now the third row. The chord columns are arranged in the circle of fifth, descending below "C" column and ascending above "C" column.

Keyboard Layout

The first goal is to learn the keyboard layout so that you can label the notes on a blank keyboard layout. Your keyboard is based on one of two types, each being a mirror of the other.

When wearing and looking down from the top of the accordion, the white keys of the C-System (Western Europe) angle down to the right, whereas the white keys of the B-System (Eastern Europe) angle up to the right. Learn the keyboard pattern that matches your keyboard.

Below is the link to AccordionLab's page on Chromatic Accordions (C and B systems).

http://accordionlab.com/accordionlab/EducationResearch/ChromaticAccordion.pdf