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.