Accordion Basics - Play a Million Tunes Look Like a Pro with 3 Chords!

[@gamesclips380]

My grandpa passed away 2 years ago, i remember when as a kid, when i spent a lot of time at my grandparents' house, me and my cousin would always rush to the living room the second we heard our grandpa playing the accordion, no family gathering has been the same without his music

[@devhackmod]

It's time to pick up the tradition... If you still have his accordion or can get another one, start learning! It will be challenging but fun!

[@gamesclips380]

@@devhackmod i talked to my grandma, and she gave me the accordion, i just left it for repairs because its very Old and some keys stick etc. But will resume learning as soon as i get it back

[@devhackmod]

@@gamesclips380 Awesome to hear that you are fixing it. Good on you for picking it up and learning to play... it is an incredible instrument and the more I play and learn the more my mind gets blown on what it can do and how many styles of music can be played! Just wait until you start doing "alternate" bass chords (instead of just the major, minor, dom 7th and aug)! 🪗😃

[@bumpkin6544]

Just started out playing, have both a button and piano according past down through generations. This has got me started and I'm already off and playing. Never played an instrument in my life either. Thanks 😊

[@devhackmod]

Glad to help! I've played piano since I was little, but the accordion makes me think completely differently about music. I just wish I had more time to practice! The way the Stradella bass is arranged is pure genius! Have fun and carry on the tradition, you are lucky to have two of these incredible instruments!

[@nerotrinidad2608]

My Dad is also an accordion player like it ...watching you in Butuan City Philippines ..

[@devhackmod]

Very nice! Thanks for watching. Accordions are great fun instruments to learn and play!

[@HHTV60]

thanks. helpful video. i just sold a russian style two row treble accordion (27/25 Garmoschka) and ordered a used 37 treble key piano accordion. Basically, I have to re-learn everything because the treble keys and bass buttons are totally different.

[@devhackmod]

Yes true, the Russian-style button accordions sometimes called a "Bayan" are supposed to be more versatile for playing really complex pieces. There are some amazing Russian players doing classical repertoires. However, I find that in North America is it much easier to find used piano accordions and they cheaper so most North American viewers are probably going to want to pick up a Stradella-bass piano accordion first. However with experience you can learn both fingerings and adapt to both styles.

[@HazeMazeFive]

Thank you so much! This was so easy to follow and has given me inspiration to learn!

[@devhackmod]

Glad to help! I love learning the accordion, even after decades playing piano, the accordion is a very fun challenge that opened my mind to how music composition and chord progressions work!

[@tandemwings4733]

Do yourself a favour - DO NOT copy his left hand (bass) technique, it is horrendous.

[@nikolaikim4057]

I bought a Hohner Arietta more than two decades ago, always wanted to learn to play it, never had the time for that unfortunately. Your video inspired me greatly again, thanks for that!

[@devhackmod]

Thanks for watching! Yes please start practising and playing, you will get better and better! Good luck and keep making beautiful music on this beautiful instrument!

[@dougfelsenthal]

this was a great video. I've strated using it with my students. The only thing I would add is some sense of triad building to give it some foundations with the tones you are producing. But very straight forward and uplifting for someone just getting started and having quick success.

[@bluefish4999]

Someone just gave me a Paolo Soprani accordion, I've played bass(electric and double) for years but put it down 15 years ago to start a business, been having a hard time getting back into music but just started playing again(on my 76 Gibson Thunderbird) running scales/old songs. This lady said the accordion was her fathers and she'd like to give it to someone who will play it, and, well, I was very intrigued so I took her up on her offer. I never played one before and it's a bit intimidating, I'm pretty fascinated with it though. Looks to be a good quality instrument, made in Italy, not sure how old it is but looks somewhat vintage.

[@EattItUp]

Very good video. My father passed down his Paolo Soprani that he got when he was very young (he was born 1952)The reeds need rewaxing but at the same time I got myself another accordion to play as its getting repaired.

[@FoxArmy]

i just got one that my father had but never touched. its a Scandalli. its my first time ever actually using an instrument but i really love the way it feels and sounds

[@devhackmod]

Enjoy! You are very lucky! It is a hard instrument to learn, and that's coming from me who played piano for 40 years! But as with anything, practice practice practice! I love the challenge and the accordion has taught me a lot about musical theory that has enhanced my piano playing.

[@clarklimbaugh822]

I learned quite a lot from this, thank you

[@devhackmod]

Thanks for watching! I hope to do more accordion videos soon!

[@paulattea989]

I found this so helpful, thankyou for posting!

[@devhackmod]

Thanks! I'm working on another video, play 1 billion tunes with only 4 chords... hope to release it soon!

[@ulttari5192]

I have an 5 row accordion just started practising. How does it differ from the 6 row?

[@devhackmod]

Congratulations on starting your accordion journey! A 6-column has the diminished chords. The 5 columns you have are probably: 1. counterbass, 2. root bass, 3. major, 4. minor, and 5. 7th chords. The 6th is diminished. It is not used that often but there are some circumstances where I do reach for it to make some interesting chords (often for jazz). What's good to have is extended upper/lower ends of the bass system. For example, there are only 12 notes in a scale. So technically to get all possible combinations you only need 12 rows x 6 columns = 72. But my accordion has 120 buttons, which means 20 rows x 6 columns! The reason is that at the top and bottom ends of the bass buttons are repeated. I get another 4 rows (repeating the bottom) at the top, and another 4 rows (repeating the top) at the bottom, hence another 8 rows that are interlinked mechanically so they are actually doing the same thing (you'll see other buttons press down at the same time). This is to allow you to play in different keys near the top or bottom range of your scales without having to "jump" awkwardly down or up when you are near the end of the bass system. Have fun, it's a fantastic instrument!

[@Lines-In-The-Sand1]

"That to me is a C" * plays a D * I laughed but excellent video just the same lol

[@devhackmod]

LOL

[@jFruino38]

I am beginer and im getin acordation of 60 bas is it enough

[@Renato_Medina]

Yes

[@devhackmod]

Congratulations! Never too late to start! It's a wonderful instrument! I believe 60 bass should be a good start. It will give you 5x12 (5 rows) which is 1. counter bass, 2. bass root, 3. major, 4. minor, 5. major 7th. You are really only missing the diminished column which you will rarely use anyways. The only issue with 12 rows (instead of the 20 of the 120 bass) is you have to jump around a bit when you are reaching the top and bottom ends of your rows, but you otherwise have pretty much all the sounds there (but diminished column). The 120 bass just repeats the bottom and top 4 rows on each end of the 12 which is why you end up with 20 rows instead of 12, but the buttons are just linked internally (same reeds playing). Good luck and have fun!

[@tandemwings4733]

Absolutely 60 bass is enough to keep you busy for a Lo-o-o-o-o-o-ng time.

[@Thomcat1954]

Thank You so Much

[@devhackmod]

Glad to help, thanks for watching and have fun playing!

[@austin.700]

Do you have any tips for learning hand independence? I can play either side individually fine but when I try to add them together I sound horrible!

[@devhackmod]

I suggest going very slowly and just playing a simple "pattern" on the bass hand... or even just one button repeatedly like a metronome. If it helps to tap your foot or shake your head with the beat, sometimes that helps. Repeat repeat repeat, slowly, keeping the timing right, then you increase speed and create more complex patterns. Your brain will eventually coordinate both hands! Good luck!

[@musicforgospelmariadasthur1785]

Thank you Brother

[@devhackmod]

Happy Accordioning! 🪗

[@seap9570]

My math teacher in school was an old ukrainian guy that played at all the weddings. Grew up in a town with this man my entire life. Passed away a few years ago. Man I should have hit him up for a lesson. Took those skills with him. Completely lost. Sad.

[@devhackmod]

Sad but not completely lost... if he inspired you to take up the accordion, go for it! There are still many people out there who would be happy to help you pick up skills and tons of lesson resources and books online!

[@vaclavsicha4312]

As someone who has never played piano, "just improvise something" is really painfull to hear :c Still trying my best with a few missclicks (10:22 my average experience)

[@devhackmod]

Haha! Don't worry you will get there with some practice. If you feel inclined, a cheap used electronic keyboard may be a way to mess around and learn more easily while you see they keys in front of you. Then you can transfer this experience to the accordion keyboard. Years on the piano definitely helped me learn the accordion faster, although accordion is still a very different instrument which I find extremely challenging but also fun. Keep on practicing and good luck!

[@sajmonator2000]

The right way to play the bass is with 4,3,2 so you should use that. Just a tip.

[@devhackmod]

Ok thanks! I love the accordion, as frustrating to play as it is, the challenge is worth it!

[@morganschannel4085]

How much you pay for yours? I want to do more chalino Sanchez style accordion

[@devhackmod]

You can buy a fairly decent used piano accordion anywhere from $500-1000. However, there is a wide price range depending on number of tones (reed switches), size, bass number, weight, age, brand, and location. You can be lucky and pick up a used accordion from local classifieds for $50-100 or you can go to a store and get one that has been checked out, tuned and guaranteed to be in good condition for $1000. Hard to say... really depends on many factors. Good luck and whatever you end up buying, enjoy and play it!

[@Clause4761]

Is this the first video in this series?

[@Don10466]

Thanks for the video

[@devhackmod]

Happy Accordioning!

[@Don10466]

Everyday......I go by the 100 hour rule..look it up

[@stewartross1233]

Are the dark glasses necessary?

[@robertvavra414]

The glasses look cool. All he needs is a tin cup to go with it. Ha!

[@eddysanta1213]

Thanks!!

[@MichaelSmith-on1ig]

Not like a pro but like a somewhat musical literate person with one year of practice

[@rocksteadyish]

I bet you’re fun at parties

[@devhackmod]

LOL! Yes thanks! This is one hard instrument to learn and master but I love the challenge!

[@devhackmod]

@@rocksteadyish Not as much fun as Weird Al Yankovic in the movie kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ3WYWadpbmdjZY

[@JakeyTheLoveryboiTurk]

Sounds perfectly where I wanna be compared to what I was playing this afternoon

[@robertvavra414]

Fake it 'till you make it!

[@devhackmod]

How true!

[@tandemwings4733]

So obviously self taught. Your left hand technique is terribly wrong.

[@devhackmod]

It is true that I am self taught but if you have any suggestions on how to improve my left hand technique, please let me know or point me to a good tutorial video online so I can work on it. Thanks!

[@tandemwings4733]

@@devhackmod Wow, an honest and humble man. So rare.

[@tandemwings4733]

@@devhackmod You are playing a (very different) type of 3-2 bass fingering which, if you make correct, will do well for you. You should not be playing the alternating root note with your 2nd finger. You WILL find yourself struggling when you get further along your accordion journey. I believe that you will benefit greatly from watching this;- kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZurdI2NmdSjqbM In your case, I feel that you would not benefit by changing to a 4-3 fingering. It is better in some ways, but is quite confusing to pick up. There's a lot of noise about using the 3-4 method, but I am yet to be convinced that it is worth all the extra work to learn. You probably will struggle to get out of your current bass fingering habit, but it WILL pay off soon. Please keep in touch and let us see how you progress.

[@WaterCFairyBear]

@@tandemwings4733my daughter is self-teaching as there are no tutors around. This comment was helpful. Can you recommend online tutorials or virtual instructors? Thank you!

[@tandemwings4733]

​@WaterCFairyBear I actual learned from books. The Sedlon Method was (I found) best for bass instruction, as well as the Palmer Hughes series.

[@edwardgray154]

got news for you that 3-2 whent out of style in the 1940.s all good players today use the 4-3 style. and small accordions suck those are for kids just learning the box.when a kid gets to be 12 or 14 he should be using a full size box 19 inch or more keyboard on right hand side. 3/4 size acc are for girls.

[@djteako]

really have to dissagree with you. I won't say I'm a good player, but I am self taught for the first several years. I didn't know any better, so I did/do the 3-2. I have taken several lessons, from different teachers, and NONE of them try to correct me on 3-2. Matter of fact, just as stated here, its a matter of what you are most comfortable with. As well, my main accordions are all 3/4 size, and I'm not a girl. Talk to any music stores and they will tell you the 3/4 size is the most popular size sond. Its even recomended for people unger 5'10'' tall, and or under 150 lbs! They are also the best for people that play gigs, as they are much easier to transport, and lots of stages just don't have the room to accomidate someone with a full size accordion - especially if you are in a large group 5+ !!!! Basically what I'm saying is everything you are saying is just a matter of opinion, and neither of you are wrong

[@mcaito]

Not sure that's accurate, I took formal lessons on the piano accordion as a child from 1972 to 1978, was taught 3-2 bass fingering (a full 30 years after you say it 'went out of style.') I can play 4-3, but 3-2 has served me well.

[@PINENEEDLE910]

Your rebuttal is so correct. Because almost nothing goes out of style. Unfortunately, not even "know it all, condescending, opinionated idiots," obviously. LOL!! I would never pick this @edwardgrayward person for my music teacher. The attitude wreaks of narcissism. @@djteako 😝!!

[@tandemwings4733]

Got some NEWS for you. YOU ARE WRONG..!!! Obviously, you've got tickets on yourself. Arrogance exudes. Classically trained students are still being taught 3-2 in many instances. I play 3-2 with a little bit of 4-3 when it is handy. I am perfectly comfortable with 3-2 and I play a wide range of music styles/genres. And who are you to tell someone that "small" accordions suck? I have one for traveling. And they're not just for girls, we call them "Ladies models" and they are very handy.

[@tandemwings4733]

@@djteako I totally agree with you.