Choosing the Right Key for Your Accordion

Diatonic Accordion players have a difficult choice to make when choosing an instrument, which key of accordion should you purchase? The answer to that question depends on a number of factors. Host Aaron Salinas of the Conjunto Heritage Taller walks you through choosing the right accordion.
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[@geeegeee]

I own a GCF accordion and an EAD accordion, I play a few Ramon Ayala songs and I sing as well so I usually drop them half a key so their not so high.

[@eggsmann594]

cool, I have the GFC and want an EAD for the TexMex stuff, but I see a lot of Eb to F on youtube south texas style, it seems. ............welp, I'll have 3 of them one of these days.

[@Pingaplastica]

Hohner Panthet GCF. Love it. Wish there was more diatonic accordion lessons on youtube.

[@peterreece6547]

Although I like diatonic box’s and I have the Hohner 2 row poker work accordion. I much prefer my 5 row chromatic box where there is no problem about what key to play in. I play folk music and stuff I make up. I like 5 row chromatics as once I learn a tune I can play it in many keys using the same finger pattern. They are so easy to transpose into different keys, they look complicated but once you start on them they are easier than my piano accordion, which I now don’t play since getting the 5 row. The biggest down side between 5 row and piano acc against your diatonic is the weight. My 120 bass P accordion weights 28lb and my 96 bass 5 row is 20lb. So I have to sit down to play where’s my small 2 row Hohner I stand up to play it and I can walk about whilst playing

[@daniellangeac]

I play a 5 row chromatic, Saltarelle, 6,5 kg !

[@peterreece6547]

@@daniellangeac my 5 row is a Fantini 3 voice low set of reeds and 2 tremolo sets of reeds. My standard of playing is now going down hill age and arthritis are a lousy leveller of folk’s ability but the boxes still get an airing on a regular basis.

[@bwoak]

I bought a GCF Panther from Alamo (via Amazon) as my 1st box & that got me started. I did not yet know what type of music I wanted to play, but picking a box keyed to tunes easy & familiar made sense as a starting point. I now play mainly on a two row in DG due to main genre of tunes, but I also like the slightly lower pitch of CF. After playing DG for so long the GC box seems too low unless played on the upper octave on the G row. Thank you for the video - although accordions are expensive they retain value and it’s as important to get started . . . You can refine your choice of box later or “learn the whole box” as the video suggests.

[@stangetz534]

Norteno is definitely FBbEb accordion. La bemol is Ramon Ayala's jam. I think Flaco Jimenez said in Tex Mex its mainly GCF

[@SwatTheKid]

My 31 button Rossetti 12 bass GCF will be here Thursday !! Can’t wait to get started

[@goldbatonlady]

Thank you for explaining about how we can learn on a GCF box and then transpose over to boxes in other keys. I had not thought of that.

[@jlm5078]

I own to acordeones, a Gabbanelli and a Hohner Corona II, both in FBbEb; but the Gabbanelli is Wet tuning while the Hohner has a Dry Tuning.

[@adambarras6566]

Have you heard of wayne toups? Im a guitarists and recently interested in learning accordian. Wayne toups uses one with much less buttons compared to the ones i see on youtube. It doesnt have traditional piano looking keys and only a handfull of them. What kind of accordian is that and what key would i need to play his music? "Take my hand" is one id like to learn

[@jamesbentrod6124]

Thank you! Just what I was looking for. I did send email with info and question.

[@stangetz534]

I was pretty good and could learn any song but I had 3 accordions. I didn't know you could play mi bemol, la bemol, and mi on a GCF. Thanks

[@arnyacosta1430]

Thank you for your help!! Can you send your fees to teach?

[@aarondanielsalinas]

Alamo Music does not give accordion lessons. You can inquire about Accordion lessons with the Conjunto Heritage Taller. Please visit our website www.conjuntoheritagetaller.com for more information about our lesson and fees.

[@clarancebradley6109]

I have a guy that can teach via Skype great guy and teaches all types of music

[@Charleythegod]

You should do a review on those two hohner corona ii, the key is different but also the accordion. Topic would be more for an intermediate user. Classic vs plastic classic? If you already own an Anacleto you might still want a classic Hohner corona ii for recordings or that one specific sound or style. ⚠️ tuning might be off on older used classic coronas might have to tune instruments to the accordion. The old off key can’t be pulled off in any other accordion than a classic Hohner.

[@yjersey]

Vallenatos? Specificamente Los Diablitos? Is that wet sound, also?

[@johnathanriojas2530]

I have one in FBbEb and another one in GCF.

[@officialchilo7312]

For Cumbia Colombiana I use the Corona III in tunes of GCF & BEA. For Norteño I use a Corona II FBE & EAD.

[@josway2682]

What accordion is more suitable for Mexican rancheras? Or just Mexican band music overall

[@eggsmann594]

Nice clip you have here, thx, but it wasn't here when I bought one a year and half ago ! I opted back then for the GFC because Cajun single row all seemed to be C key and I wanted that configuration at least. But, TexMex is what I wanted ultimately and GCF seemed to fit the bill. ... then I see on youtube certain songs require certain keys for least amount of movement (push/pull) ...dam, its always somthin.

[@daniellangeac]

Play the 5 row chromatic. Key and transposing is a no brainer.

[@FilVega]

Do you give lessons at Alamo Music downtown?

[@aarondanielsalinas]

Alamo Music does not give accordion lessons. You can inquire about Accordion lessons with the Conjunto Heritage Taller. Please visit our website www.conjuntoheritagetaller.com for more information.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

T 2:36.. Irish Music. The majority of Irish Musi is played not on a strict diatonic system but on a two row B/C or a C#/D. The C#/D being closer to diatonic and a push/pull system. But, still chromatic. The B/C is more legator and is also fully chromatic. There are players of the one, to include me, who play a single row D melodeon. Some one row players also use a C box. Irish players do not use a D/G box as it is not suited to Irish music. D/G is the most common key system played in England. The most common key system around the world is G/C or G/C/F. followed by C/Fand D/G or D/G Acc. then A/D and A/D/G. Many French and other European players use a G/C/Accidental third row. The Quebec players are mostly single row D and some C and the three row G/C/F. Cajun is played mostly on a C box but they commonly play it in G. My favorite player of the Conjunto, Tex Mex style is Santiago Sr, the original of the style borrowed from the Czechs, Germans and Bohemians. My second favorite. by a long shot. is Santiago Jimenez Jr. I very much enjoy Flaco's playing , but Santiago is "the man". What Sr. and Jr. have in common. is that they both primarily played on a 2 row G/C accordeon. My favorite for the music style. The three row playing came much later. I believe there is only one note on the F row that is not somewhere else on a G/C box. If I were to start playing accordeon again, I would not be playing Irish, Quebec and European styles , I would be playing the Tex/Mex, Conjunto music and Cumbia and Panamanian, and Dominican styles.. all brilliant. Thanks for an excellent video. I wish I was closer to take lessons from you. PS.. I have owned about 50 diatonic accordeons.. my favorite brand is Castagnari from Italy , one of the best made accordeons in the world, and also the simple Hohner Erica and Poker work.but rebuilt and retuned.

[@RenatoVargas]

I appreciate you making the video, but I wouod like a few options, like if you play this type of music get this one, if you play this other, then get this one. For a beginner "it all comes down to your personal preference" does not work because you don't have a personal preference yet. Especially if it will be your first time learning music theory too. Jazz, this one, gospel, this one, tex mex, this one, vallenato, this one, french stereotypical music, this one, polka, this one, etc. And they are so expensive that "get all of them" also is unreal.

[@MattScottMusic]

“If you play Irish music, maybe you need an accordion in D. The two accordions are the keys of G , C, & F or F, Bb, & Eb…” You said that a few times now. I don’t see a D key anywhere on those accordions. Er…?

[@MattScottMusic]

Alamo? Maybe if I google Alamo it will be more clear? (Wasn’t that General Custer?)

[@smilyjr5097]

How about actually showing the difference in sounds

[@MichaelSmith-on1ig]

I play chromatic accordions. Diatonic accordions seem inherently inferior to me.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Inferior how? Many diatonic accordeons are configured so they can be played chromatically. such as the G/C/ACC. And there is a sound and a punch that cannot be duplicated on a piano accordeon or a Continental Chromatic. I like them all.

[@eltiburonjaws1]

F# Bmaj Emaj

[@smilyjr5097]

unhelpful video . which is the standard?