Handful of Buttons

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:

http://www.bushtraditions.org/tutors/inrow.htm

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

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.

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

Finger Friendly

Benefits

Consistent fingering and arm form are necessary for playing well. Fingering will vary based on notes of the music, but some guidelines are useful to determine the best fingering for you.

The following link is a good place to start. Determining which fingers to use is a purposeful, problem-solving activity requiring musical analysis and trial and error. 

https://www.key-notes.com/blog/piano-fingering

Guidelines for the Right Hand

Arm form begins at the shoulder and ends at the ends of the fingers directly over the buttons. The fingering motion is directly down and up. This position requires that the elbow be forward with the wrist, hand, and fingers in a relaxed, natural arc.

Play each different button with a different digit (thumb and four fingers). Maintain a steady hand position with fingers positioned over the notes. In this way a specific note is a specific finger. The lower notes are under the lower fingers, and the higher notes are under the higher fingers.

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. 

The Practice

The accordionist G. Gerritsen has posted at the link below some sheet music and audio files on his web site that you could use to determine your fingering patterns. Develop your own patterns. What works for one person does not necessarily work for someone else.

http://knopaccordeon.ggms.nl/bladmuzieke.html

Absolute Notes

Benefits

Playing "absolute notes" is to use only the outside three rows for the right hand and to play only one button for a specific note. Generally use three fingers, one for each row of buttons.

In other words, play the chromatic button accordion as you do the piano accordion, that is, each note is a specific key.

The advantage is to associate a specific button with a specific note. This patterns the muscles and the brain to one position per note. 

 

The Practice

The first note to memorize is middle C. Get where you can automatically put your finger on the "C" button.

Now play all of your music exclusively using this approach until you mentally and physically know the position of every note and note pattern.

When you fumble for a note, stop and play that note correctly several times.

Continue to do this for every note you miss.

Continue to do this until you no longer miss notes. This may take several weeks depending on how much you practice.

The goal is to eliminate the tendency to finger an incorrect button.

 

Music Book Resources

Benefits

These  two music books for accordion provide a wide range of styles and also a means to progress from simple to complex tunes.

Eastern European Folk Tunes for Accordion

The accordionist Merima Kljuco has arranged and sequenced 33 to introduce you to the characteristic scales, rhythms, and music styles of southeastern Europe.

The book includes a CD of her playing all of the tunes with characteristic ornamentation added.

Amazon sells the book.

http://www.amazon.com/Eastern-European-Folk-Tunes-Accordion/dp/1847611397

The book contains an introduction to the music styles as well as comments about each tune.

The text is in English, French, and German.

Pinewoods International Collection

The accordionist Tom Pixton has collected and arranged over 400 dance tunes and songs complete with lyrics and English translations from southeastern Europe and areas nearby and afar.

The 354-page wire-bound 8-1/2 by 11 inch volume is available from the following web page.

http://pinewoodscollection.pixton.org/

The web page also provides videos, audio, tune index, and scanned pages.

This book would be a welcome addition to any music collection.


To further your learning, performances of many of the songs and dances are available online.

Gerard Gerritsen of The Netherlands

The accordionist G. Gerritsen has a web site for the beginning player of the B-grif chromatic accordion.

http://knopaccordeon.ggms.nl/indexe.html

The site includes videos, sheet music, audio files, links, and directions for ordering print materials.


Gerard Gerritsen is a piano accordion player who learned to play the chromatic accordion. He published his web site to help others beginning to play the B-grif chromatic accordion.

Intervals, Keyboard Layout, and Fingering

Benefits

Use intervals to analyze music, both notation and sound.

Apply intervals to keyboard layout.

Use fingering based on intervals on the keyboard layout.

 

The Music

"Gankino Horo" from Northern Bulgaria----

Sheet music is posted at:

https://musescore.com/jmib/gankino-horo-traditionnel-bulgare

Performance video is posted at:

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

 

 

The Practice

Apply the keyboard's direction for half steps and whole step (two half steps).

This is best applied where music is scale-wise with accidentals.

For example, on a B-System half steps go diagonal from left to the right and whole steps go diagonal from right to the left.

The reverse is true for a C-System where whole steps go diagonal from left to the right and half steps go diagonal from the right to the left.

So, where the music moves up or down by half step, use the half-step diagonal.

Where the music moves up or down by whole step, use the whole-step diagonal.

 

 

The Application

Using the music example above, analyze measure one for note for note by interval.

Apply the keyboard's direction for half steps and whole step (two half steps).


The time signature is 11/8 (2 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 2) with the third beat being the longest and strongest.


--Measure One--

The grace note to beat two is a whole step below beat two, so is fingered using the whole-step diagonal.

Apply the keyboard's direction for half steps and whole step (two half steps).

The last four eighth notes of measure one are a descending whole step, followed by a descending half step, and followed next by a descending whole step.

So the fingering descends on the whole step diagonal, followed by a descent on the half-step diagonal, and followed next by a descent on the whole step row.


--Measure Two--

Measure two begins with an ascending minor third (three half steps), which on either B-System or C-System is the button directly below.

Then beats one and two of measure two is a descending half step, followed by a descending whole step, and followed next by a descending half step.

(Recall that the naturally occurring half steps are between C-B and F-E.)

Measure two contains examples of the two naturally occurring half steps. One is at beat one and the other is at the last beat of the measure.

After analyzing the intervals in measure two, we see that the measure contains every interval between a half step and a major third (four half-steps).


So far we have covered fingering a half step, a whole step (two half-steps), and a minor third (three half-steps).


Using this information we can figure out the fingering for the major third (four half-steps). It is a minor third (three half-steps) plus another half step.

In this case the major third is ascending and located in measure two at the later part of beat three (the "F" going up to "A"). So, relative to the "F" the "A" is the button directly below plus one button down the half-step diagonal.

 

 

The Larger Intervals

An critical area for practice is accuracy on the larger intervals, for example fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and octave.

A large interval often has smaller intervals, half-step through thirds, nearby.

So, by considering the fingering of small intervals, you can improve the analysis and fingering of the music.


--Line Two, Measure One--

Using the music example above, on the second line, the first measure going into beat four ("G#") is a descending half step after an ascending fifth. By applying what you know about playing descending half steps, you can improve your confidence in playing the "A" then the "G#."

Often patterns repeat. So getting confident on the "A" to "G#" pattern, you get more confident for the same interval is measures two, three, and four of line two.


--Section Three, Measure Two--

Another large interval pattern is used on the line three going into measure two ("A" "E" "F#" "D"). The intervals are an ascending fifth, followed by an ascending whole step, and followed next by a descending major third.

This pattern repeats on the last line going into measure two ("D" "A" "B" "G").

 

 

Summary

Analyzing and fingering music based on intervals will improve your understanding, accuracy, and performance of music.

 

Reading and Playing Music Notation

Benefits

Link notes, chords, scales, intervals and keys to music notation.

Link music notation to keyboard finger location and patterns.

Use the notated music to analyze musical structure and determine best fingering note fingering.

Link rhythm notation to rhythm patterns.

Play the music using three different fingering patterns: first the scale based on finger 1, then the scale based on finger 2, and finally the scale based on finger 3.

The Music

A useful collection of music is posted at:

http://www.bushtraditions.org/tutors/inrow.htm

The Practice

Select a tune.

Using finger position 1, locate and play the tune's notes. Then play the tune in rhythm at a slow steady tempo. 

Using finger position 2, do the same.

Using finger position 3, do the same.

With practice, increase the tempo of the tune up to dance speed.

Select another tune and do the same steps to play the tune in each finger position.

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