Flexible Fingering Patterns

To reestablish basic finger flexibility, accuracy, and patterns, begin and end each practice day with scales and chords in every key throughout the keyboard and use the three fingering patterns, those based on finger 2, on finger 3 and finger 4.

During the practice day, when working on current and new music projects, you notice that the scale used in various musical sections shifts, usually to a related key based on the Circle of Fifths.

You notice that you are playing a scale pattern but the basic pattern is now based on a different finger.  For example, you start playing the first section using a scale pattern based on finger 2. In the next section the scale and chords shift to a related key with a pattern based on finger 4.

So rather than always shifting your fingers to play scales based on finger 2, by playing scales equally well based on fingers 2, 3, and 4, you don't have to move your hand position, which helps playing accuracy.

Finger and Mental Flexibility Exercise

On a C major scale, start on G with finger 3 and play down to C and back up to G. (Notice that the C was played with finger 2.) 

Using the same major scale, start on G with finger 4 and play down to C and back up to G. (Notice that the C was played with finger 3.) 

Using the same major scale, start on G with finger 2 and play down to C and back up to G. (Notice that the C was played with finger 4.) 

Now mix up the patterns by playing alternate buttons on half of the pattern. For example, start with finger 3 on G and end with finger 4 on C. Then shift the finger 4 on C to finger 3. Start playing the pattern upwards and half way up shift to alternate buttons and end on G with finger 2. Mix the pattern up into its various combinations.

For practice, work out various fingerings on Irish jigs and reels. 

http://www.irishtune.info/session/tunes.php

http://www.novasession.org/sheetmusic.html#.Uyj8yPldVyJ

http://www.thegrotonsession.com/tuneindex.html

Fingering Patterns for Chromatic Accordion

Searching the internet confirms this idea of combining fingering patterns.

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

Types of Fingering

On the left hand, use finger 3 as the basis for the scale.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Accordion/Left_hand/Lesson_4 

Robert Smith, although for piano accordion, explores the variety of fingering styles that you can adapt to your practice.

http://www.ksanti.net/free-reed/reviews/smith-rl_fingering.html

Eric Butterworth has amassed a resource for Bulgarian folk accordion music. He recommends fingering based on fingers 1 (thumb), 2 and 3. His fingering drills are an excellent resource to adapt to your current fingering practice.

http://www.goldov.com/butterw/emdb/

http://www.goldov.com/butterw/emdb/tutorial.html

Sandra Milosevic plays Serbian and Bulgarian folk music on piano accordion using primarily fingers 1, 2, and 3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ8Vr9bs8ag&list=RDr72harldNuU 

However, for chromatic button accordion, use fingers 2, 3, and 4, as shown in the link below by Danijela Predic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyIHsDOANY8

Super Mario Theme on CBA

How about some chordal playing? The left hand is in Free Bass mode, playing single notes on all buttons. This feature is not commonly available.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GI2a7_XfKaI

Add Grace Note Patterns Throughout the Keyboard

Simple tunes become more interesting when embellishments (grace notes) are added to the basic melody.

Now that you are comfortable with scale and chord patterns throughout the keyboard based on one finger pattern, adding a grace note pattern to each note adds flexibility to your playing. Embellishments often use notes a half step below and above the main note. Hence, you are incorporating non-scale notes into your playing. Hence interest to the music. 

Because you are adding non-scale notes, you want to be very secure with scales and chords before adding grace notes. Otherwise, you become confused and frustrated.

Embellishments

The basic grace note is playing a half step below or above the main note before playing the main note.

The turn embellishment is playing a half step below the main note, then playing the main note, then playing a half step above the main note, then playing the main note or beginning a half step above the main note and reversing the pattern.

The following link lists various types of embellishments. 


http://dictionary.onmusic.org/appendix/topics/ornaments

Stylistic Musical Ornamentation

Various musical styles often involve particular types of ornamentation.


For example, Bulgarian at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfM1tX1efeQ


For example, Irish at the link below.

http://www.tradschool.com/en/tunes/ornamentation-in-irish-music


For example, ornament performance at the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGvRUIO170w


For example, Serbian at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCrNORbMuR0


For example, Romanian at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrjIFrGr5Gc


Noam Oxman plays a song in its original style, then in Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, and Macedonian styles. Notice the different use of grace notes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t17BI-tHI-4

Getting Around the Keyboard

Now you want to really settle in a scale pattern. 

For example, the major scale with the fingering that starts with finger 2.


The goal is to be comfortable and accurate throughout the keyboard.

The outcome you are working for is to be play the pattern naturally without thinking about it. Then increase speed while maintaining consistent rhythm and accuracy.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Begin with the lowest note on the keyboard than has two rows of buttons to the right so that you can play the finger 2 pattern.

Play the major scale to the highest note then back down using fingers 2, 3 and 4.

Then play the scale's major chord from the beginning note to the highest chord note and back down using fingers 2, 3, and 4.

In the left hand play the root and major chord while the right hand is playing the corresponding scale and chord.


Now go up a half step and do the same thing on half step higher. Begin with finger 2 on a button that has two rows to the right. Use the same fingers and the same pattern.  Play the scale then the chord while playing the root and major chord with the left hand.

Continue going up by half steps until you have played all of the major scales.


Again, the goal is to become comfortable and accurate throughout the keyboard at various tempos (speeds).  


Next would be to do the same thing using the natural minor scale.

Then harmonic minor scale.

Then melodic minor scale.

Then dominant seventh scale.

Then minor seventh scale.

Then diminished scale


You notice that the consistent fingering of starting with finger 2 is increasing your confidence to play anywhere on the keyboard. 

Natural Minor Scales using song "Apple" (Яблочко)

Natural Minor Scale

The Russian Sailor Dance "Яблочко" (transliterated Ya-bloch-ka) uses all of the notes of the natural minor scale.

The natural minor scale uses the notes of its related major scale.  The natural minor of "C" Major is "A" natural minor. So a natural minor scale based on "C" Major are the notes from "A" to "A."

So practice the major scales using the three fingering patterns (finger 2 on C, finger 3 on C, and finger 4 on C).

Then go down two steps and practice the same scales from "A" to "A."

A lot of songs use minor keys, so it is good to get comfortable with the fingering pattern of a minor scale. 

After you get comfortable with the natural minor scale, add in chords, arpeggios, note patterns and chromatics.

Theme and Variations

A lot of songs are played in the form of theme and variations, in which more and different notes are played each time the song is repeated.

The following video demonstrates this style of playing using the song "Яблочко."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi4jV4BAWEY

The song's notes:

A   A   E F G      E  F  D   A  E  C      A  D  D  A  B  C      C   B   A  B  C   A  

A  D  D  A  B  C      C  B  A  B  C  A