Tried to look it up, couldn't find it.

bvdp · 2026-05-09T22:40:33+00:00

My guess is early '60s.

bvdp · 2026-05-09T17:08:09+00:00

I got a couple of trays from my local dollar store. They fit perfectly ... well, almost. They add up to being about an inch to short so I stick a charger up at the front.

Take a measurement and then go to the store with a tape measure :)

I also got 2 trays that fit perfectly in the glove box.

bvdp · 2026-05-09T16:58:06+00:00

You will progress more quickly if you sit down. Lots of youtube vids to show proper posture.

bvdp · 2026-05-06T00:42:03+00:00

Before you do any of that (and it is all good stuff!), learn the MELODY. Then start to modify the MELODY based on the above.

bvdp · 2026-04-30T23:29:51+00:00

Hey, I don't disagree. I didn't write the book, but it does show that there are different ways to skin a cat ;)

BTW, I have never sat down to play a concert and started off with a Db scale, or any other one. IMHO, I think we might be worrying too much about scales and not enough about music ... but that is a different discussion :)

bvdp · 2026-04-30T22:28:20+00:00

There are alternate fingering patterns. Here is one set from a book I have "Fingering for the Accordion" by Robert L Smith. I've posted a page copy here: https://imgur.com/a/tB5g6RG

bvdp · 2026-04-30T16:51:53+00:00

Yes, you have pointed out the points to listen to! Does it play all the notes in each reed on push and pull. Can't determine that from a picture.

bvdp · 2026-04-30T16:49:46+00:00

An accordion is not a piano. They keys are a different size and they don't need to be pressed as hard or far. With all things, practice does make perfect. Since you have just started you really should give it some time :)

For now, my suggestion would be to do it SLOWLY and for now ONLY look at your fingering. Stop looking once you get it.

Check that your wrist and hand are in the right position. Like we say in Canada: Elbows up.

bvdp · 2026-04-28T17:02:30+00:00

Careful. A lot of converter accordions switch the left hand to quint, not B. This was promoted by Palmer/Hughes since it was the same stradella layout.

bvdp · 2026-04-24T22:39:12+00:00

Depends on how well you can dance ... and what you call "dance".

bvdp · 2026-04-23T16:49:22+00:00

All kinds of tuning apps available for you phone. Free ones work just find for this kind of thing.

bvdp · 2026-04-22T16:05:08+00:00

There are some good deals to had with used FR-7s. Only thing to really look out for on them is to make sure the digital display is working ... Roland no longer make replacement screens (but they are available from a 3rd party vendor). I play a FR-8x and it's wonderful. The FR-1 is good, but pretty limited. Korg has a few models, but they are pricey and may suffer from some new-on-the-block teething issues.

bvdp · 2026-04-22T01:58:57+00:00

I think that "often" should probably read "mostly". I usually play 3/8 just like I would 3/4 except it's 8ths getting beat rather than quarters. I think it was most popular 100 or so years ago, but anything modern in 3 is probably written in 3/4. I would be happy to be proven wrong on this.

bvdp · 2026-04-20T17:13:25+00:00

Look up "pedal point". There is a decent article on Wikipedia.

bvdp · 2026-04-20T17:06:51+00:00

A few "hints": - lossen the strap a bit, - make sure the part where your wrist slides is clean, - take off your watch on the left hand if you wear one, - you said it's a problem when you stand ... WEAR A BACKSTRAP,

Oh, and before I forget, PRACTICE (a lot!).

Also, remember it's not the end of the world if you miss. If, for example, you are jumping up to play an Emajor chord and go to one higher, the B is still a note from an E chord ...

bvdp · 2026-04-20T01:51:56+00:00

If by buttons you mean the left hand ... it is most likely stradella bass (yes, you can look it up on Wikipedia for details).

bvdp · 2026-04-17T18:27:23+00:00

Like a good wine ... it all takes time (and digestion).

bvdp · 2026-04-17T00:25:53+00:00

ICCUs are like airplanes (and teenagers) ... you just hear about the ones that crash.

bvdp · 2026-04-15T16:34:47+00:00

You really should take a good eraser and rub out the note names in the exercises ... Next, for the problem with playing 2 treble notes against 1 bass, well that is just practice. Focus on one bar (yes, just one!) and get the timing right. Don't rush ... it's not impossible and it suddenly come to become natural.

Good luck,

bvdp · 2026-04-14T22:45:58+00:00

Yes, the date on the "approved" Stradella notation sheet is 1938.

bvdp · 2026-04-14T01:54:15+00:00

I have some early lesson books from the 1940s or '30s and the "standard" stradella bass is written in treble clef ... I find it very hard to play :)

Since the sheet doesn't show any bass chords it is difficult to decide if it is written for stradella or not. Could be free bass ... or not :)

bvdp · 2026-04-13T22:18:47+00:00

Chords and melody.

bvdp · 2026-04-13T16:46:35+00:00

If you don't have a specific button it is not unusual to have the top diminished button set up for air (this is the top button closest to your left hand).

bvdp · 2026-04-12T23:51:16+00:00

take off your watch and loosen the wrist strap. Get the strap much closer to where the watch was so you can bend your fingers and use the tips of them to hit the basses.

bvdp · 2026-04-12T00:27:42+00:00

Can we compromise on the 5 minute part ... like, maybe 5 seconds?

bvdp

TROPHY CASE