Benefits
Chromatic button accordions have their three basic rows to the right. An essential goal is to play well using those three rows. When you are ready for an additional challenge, you want to play across the keyboard from left to right using the additional rows. These rows duplicate the basic rows. You may have one, two, or three additional rows.
The first use of these additional rows is to play individual notes instead of using the basic rows for that note to achieve a more natural open hand position, depending on the music. For example, instead of reaching back to row one you reach to the left to row four or row five.
A second use of these additional rows is to play across the keyboard in a piano-like motion using all of the fingers as needed. In this approach reposition your hand with your fingers on notes used in the musical phrase. For example, an ascending scale would be played left to right then move down to the next cross row to finish the scale left to right.
The Music
A useful collection of music is posted at:
The Practice
Select a tune.
Develop an alternate fingering and mark the music with fingering reminders. Practice that fingering until you can play it comfortably. Then work on another musical section or tune. Eventually you may identify and use several different alternative fingering patterns for the same music.
As written earlier in the blog article "Reading and Playing Music Notation,"
as you scan ahead on the music, you see notes that are higher or lower than your current position. So you have to transition the position of the right hand and fingers.
Transition the hand using a reference button. For example, replace a current finger on a button with a different finger. Shift the remaining fingers to the new notes. Play the notes, then shift the hand again using a reference button.
Consider adjusting the wrist and hand angle up or down the keyboard to better fit the selection of buttons. Consider alternate fingerings and buttons in other rows. Consider using some awkward positions to get to a good position for a particular section of music.
Mark fingerings in the music and play them consistently. If you discover a better fingering, update your finger markings.
The goal is to play in a relaxed and confident manner without thinking of fingering.
Videos of Two Playing Styles
Comparing the playing of the Monti Czardas,
Frederic Langlais uses a linear three-row style,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmnTH_dY9tQ
Frederic Langlais uses a linear three-row style,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmnTH_dY9tQ
whereas, Oleg Sharov uses a full-keyboard style on a B system,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX9onEyUiGY
and Vilma uses a full-keyboard style on a C system.
