Mystery of the wet-tuned Cajun accordion.

[@luke144]

Last one hits my ear in all the right ways. It sounds like someone is chewing a locomotive with hobos playing the harmonica on it.

[@brothergoodfoot]

So cool!! I love that sound! To me, these Cajun boxes really shine on the dry settings, but it's great how versatile this accordion is.

[@capnjimmy805]

Excellent video on the many virtues & versatility of having a Cajun Accordeon tuned "1/2 - Wet'" (as Jr. Martin once described to me - it having more "Character"), where if you have all 4 stops up, you get a pleasingly "Wet", Tremelo sound - not too "wavering" as in a "Full-Wet" sound (which has yet another row of the four Reed banks tuned "Wet" as well), which I had set up in my Larry Miller (Bon-Tee) "C" box for one distinct sound I wanted to get - which no matter what you do, it still results in a "Wet" sound. When I bought my 1st Cajun box (C) from Jr., I went for his suggestion to have it tuned the "1/2 Wet" way & just pushed down the one middle row stop (as you demonstrate here) so I could also play straight out "Dry" for a more distinct popular Cajun sound in addition other 10-Button Cajun & Zydeco sounds that are noticeably "Wetter". Therefore, I had him do the same for my two other Martin boxes (D & B-flat) & have kept these last two the same all these years with much satisfaction. However, after playing a lot of Cajun "Dry" music with my band a while back, I sent my Martin "C" back to Jr. & had it tuned full "Dry," thinking it would help me get a more full, distinct "Dry" Cajun sound, since my Bon-Tee "C" box was "Full-Wet". Although it did make my "C" Martin box a somewhat tiny bit louder, it turned out to not make that much difference to justify losing the great option of being able to play it with a "Wet", "Musette" sound (much like the Piano Accordions that have that particular Switch) whenever desired & I still regret having it done to this day. In other words, although the Cajun Accordeon looks the "Coolest" when all 4 Stops are pulled up, the most versatile Cajun Box IMO is one in which the one "Middle Row" set of reeds is tuned Wet, so you can play either "Wet" or "Dry" whenever you want to, in addition to all the other "High & Low Register" tones you show here. You're also right about the Falcon "Multi-Keyed" Boxes just playing on 3 Reed banks, BTW - another "Proof of the Pudding" on pushing that one "Middle-Stop" down to play "Dry" on a regular "One-Keyed" 4-Stopped Box. An interesting note I may add, is that some Cajun Box builders have stated that you should "Leave the Stops alone & keep them full up, as how they were 'designed' to be". However, I just can't agree with this kind of Logic, as this kind of Accordeon being the early predecessor of the modern "Piano" Accordion, it possesses the same type of 4-Reed tone-changing capabilities (via the 4-Stop "Switches") as a regular "Modern" Piano-Key Accordion that has a variety of Switches on it doing the very same thing. Thank you for this great demonstration - it is the best I've seen at "Demystifying" this very confusing topic.

[@naardebioscoop]

if you want a quick comparison with the same melody: wet at 1:12 dry at 2:22

[@bveracka]

I really like this video as it shows the range of sounds you can get from a single-row diatonic. I've only played a Panther and have been considering upgrading to another 3-row or a 2-row, but this video makes me want to get into playing the single-row cajun style. The four sets of reeds, each with its own stop, is really appealing to me. Great video post!

[@shanea60]

Great demo, thanks for sharing

[@jeffhildreth9244]

There are varying degrees of wet tuning. Anything but unison tuning is wet.

[@jeffslade1892]

On a piano accordion your "wet" is called "musette", the notes beat. The triple courses on a piano are tuned something like this too, sharp, flat, and middle, but only out by a 1 to 4 cents.

[@mdcorreia]

Hi, thanks so much for the video. I just got one and love it! If you know how many cents the wet reeds are tuned higher than the 440. Mine is old, I just like to check it out. I would really appreciate a little little help. Thank You!

[@s.leemccauley7302]

I think if you had a wet tined and a dry tuned playing at the same time it would be awesome. But then I think Zydeco is awesome anytime.

[@shiningarmor2838]

On an organ, this effect is called "Celeste"

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Nope.

[@TheCaliforniacajun]

I'm hearing it would be so expensive to retune one and wet it up a little for Irish music I would be better off just buying a new one. Do you agree? Love the sound of your accordion and your playing buy the way Ganey! Thanks , Bill

[@monilith811]

Your videos are very informative. I just started playing accordion and I'm in an area where there are no teachers. Are there any books or sites with tablature to learn? I have one already.

[@TheCaliforniacajun]

I have an Acadian in D I'm thinking of converting to an Irish Box. If I have it re tuned with the flatted thirds taken out and go about 15 /20 cents on one of the mid rows you think that would do it. I love the tone of your Accordion. Bill Murphy

[@GaneyArsement]

I'm not an expert on tuning, but I think would do it. Their tuning requires even tempering meaning the same distance between notes like a piano. 15/20 cents is a lot of tremelo. Post a video when you get it.

[@TheCaliforniacajun]

Thanks Ganey. I think your right. That could be too wet ! I'll keep you posted!

[@TerrapinCreations666]

Can you post who makes the accordion and how much it cost?

[@alandon9284]

What song are you playing at 2:52?

[@GaneyArsement]

La Valse de Marie. I play it again at 3:11.

[@alandon9284]

@@GaneyArsement i like the way you play it i cant seem to find anything else like it can you make a slow lesson on that exact way you play it i would love to play it

[@TheCaliforniacajun]

Hi Ganey, Do you know if the reeds in Cajun accordions are waxed into the shell of the box or in removable blocks? Say a Savoy Box?

[@GaneyArsement]

To my knowledge, all of the Cajun builders glue their reed blocks in and wax the reeds. They are not removable. Some add screws to the reeds after waxing to secure them better.

[@thegooch3311]

Song at 2:53?

[@GaneyArsement]

La valse de Marie!

[@buckhillbilly4287]

I wanna know why they cost so much

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Because the parts are expensive and the labor is intensive.

[@tattoodboop]

Now for the dumbest question of them all. Does each button on the right play 2 sounds? In verses out? I'm assuming that's what the Honer button boxes do. My old concertina does.

[@jpthibeau4755]

tattoodbo

[@iamhe999]

when ordering a cajun accordion, what are the various ways you can choose to have them tuned? do they make them 100% dry? or do all of them have a middle set of reeds tuned sharp?

[@iamhe999]

the thirds are tempered? please explain one set of middle reeds are........ the other set is tuned a little sharp... please explain which reeds have their thirds "tempered"? something extra is done to the thirds...? flatened? sharpened? by how much?

[@naardebioscoop]

meaning tuned to just rather than equal temperament. So the 3rd and 7th would be a bit lower than on say a piano. Just google "cajun accordion tuning" for info

[@jeffhildreth9244]

@@naardebioscoop There are many ways to "Cajun" tune and accordeon. such as flatting and sharping. One famous self absorbed builder is lazy, he flats only one note.

[@joegancher3720]

And, if you don't mind, how much is one of these and how do I order ?

[@ryandelahoussaye1996]

Hello I live in south east Texas where can I fine a. Accordion to learn to play on in this Area

[@GaneyArsement]

+ryan delahoussaye All of my accordions, including the one in this video, were handmade by my good friend, Jude Moreau. Jude lives in Groves, Tx and can be reached at [e-mail].

[@ryandelahoussaye1996]

Well I got a accordion now in need of a teacher lol

[@SmeeUncleJoe]

And how much do these cost ?

[@AndrejSvarny]

Hi Beautiful instrument. Sounds great !! Could You please say what material are reed plates made off ? What quality class reeds are please ? Best Regards Andrej

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Aluminum.

[@rcmoot]

You should also try and keep up answering people's questions.

[@TQyarrow]

Do you do lessons via Skype? If so how do we get in touch?

[@jonbyron38]

🙂

[@garyleblanc1022]

Hard to choose I have a dry and sands base but not a wet yet.

[@SuperGTRman]

I think the .."wet tuning"..sounds too much like a .."harmonica.... good for .."zydeco..

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Not possible on a simple diatonic harmonica such as the Hohner Blues etc.. It takes two reeds to tune wet.